David Castañeda to Star on Season Two of Roku’s “Most Dangerous Game”

It’s Game on for David Castañeda

The 31-year-old Mexican-American actor will star in the second season of Roku’s Most Dangerous Game.

David Castañeda

Set in New York, the series will be headlined by newly added lead Castañeda and Christoph Waltz, reprising the role of Miles Sellers. Creator Nick Santora returns as writer and executive producer.

Most Dangerous Game is among the first Quibi series to get a renewal by Roku, which acquired the library of the short-lived streaming service earlier this year.

Castañeda stars as Victor Suero, a down on his luck fighter who springs into action to protect his sister after learning she’s in trouble. He’ll make a fortune if he survives. Out of love for his sister— he’s determined to live.

Miles is the CEO of The Tiro Fund— a front for a centuries-old game in which hunters pay exorbitant fees for the privilege of hunting the most cunning and dangerous prey there is.

“When I read the script I couldn’t sleep for a few days. Thinking of a man given the opportunity of making money to provide for his sister— it reminded me of my family, their struggle and ingenuity in necessity,” Castañeda said in a statement. “This story will connect with them and hopefully many more. Also, Christoph Waltz is the man. I can’t wait to jump on this opportunity with Roku and bring the streamers along for a thrilling ride.”

Season 1 of the action-thriller, based on a classic short story by Richard Connell, centers on Dodge (Liam Hemsworth), a Detroit everyman up to his eyeballs in debt, who is looking to secure the financial future of his wife and unborn child before he succumbs to a terminal illness. After meeting a mysterious businessman named Miles, Dodge finds the opportunity to just that—by agreeing to participate in a 24-hour game, in which he’ll be hunted for sport.

The first season earned two Emmy nominations, for Short Form Comedy or Drama Series and Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series (Waltz).

Castañeda is known for his portrayal of Diego Hargreeves in Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy. Up next, he’ll be seen in Antoine Fuqua’s The Guilty also for Netflix, where he’ll collaborate with Jake Gyllenhaal and Ethan Hawke.

Roku Acquires Quibi’s Programming, Including Nicole Richie’s “Nikki Fre$h” Series

Nicole Richie is freshening up Roku

Roku has acquired the exclusive global distribution rights to the portfolio of Quibi’s programs, including the 39-year-old part-Mexican American actress & television personality’s series Nikki Fre$h.

Nicole Richie

In its biggest original programming foray to date, Roku’s acquisition covers most of the recently shuttered mobile-only streaming venture’s library, while some daily news shows aren’t part of the package.

A key draw for Roku is the talent, a roster including Richie, Idris Elba, Kevin Hart, Liam Hemsworth, Anna Kendrick, Chrissy Teigen and Lena Waithe.

The lineup includes titles like Most Dangerous Game, Dummy, Murder House Flip and the Reno 911 reboot, starring Carlos Alazraqui.

Financial terms weren’t disclosed, though the valuation is said to be less than $100 million, according to insiders. Roku shares rose 5% to $398.60 on the news. At one point early in the trading day, they reached $402.81, an all-time high.

The programming will be available for free starting later this year. Shows will have advertising, as they did on the $5-a-month Quibi service, and they’ll be housed on the Roku Channel. The hub for free and premium streaming channels, including 150-plus free live, linear offerings, has become a mainstay of the company’s strategy since Roku launched it in 2017. By the fourth quarter of 2020, it was being viewed by households representing an estimated 61.8 million people, the company said, double its reach at the end of 2019.

“The most creative and imaginative minds in Hollywood created groundbreaking content for Quibi that exceeded our expectations,” said Quibi Founder Jeffrey Katzenberg. “We are thrilled that these stories, from the surreal to the sublime, have found a new home on The Roku Channel.”

Aguilera Records “We Remain” for “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” Soundtrack

Christina Aguilera’s musical career us catching fire

The 32-year-old half-Ecuadorian singer and The Voice coach will appear on The Hunger Games: Catching Fire soundtrack.

Christina Aguilera

Aguilera’s track, titled “We Remain,” joins the previously released piano ballad “Atlas,” written and performed by Coldplay, as well as The National‘s “Lean.”

Aguilera made the announcement via Twitter on Wednesday afternoon, telling her more than 9.4 million followers the news: “Love the underlying message of @TheHungerGames. ‘We Remain’ is special new song, its message to my fans & how I connect w/ the movie, alike.”

Aguilera’s last album was 2012’s Lotus and she has been a featured artist on several songs, including Pitbull‘s “Feel This Moment,” released earlier this year.

After taking the fourth cycle of The Voice off, the singer returned to NBC‘s hit singing competition series on September 23.

In Catching Fire, Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) adjust to life as Hunger Games victors, until they are thrown back into the arena for the 75th annual Games — the Quarter Quell.

Liam Hemsworth, Lenny Kravitz, Donald Sutherland, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci and Woody Harrelson reprise their roles in the second film of the franchise.

Catching Fire hits theaters November 22.

A release date for the accompanying soundtrack, to be distributed by Lionsgate and Republic Records, has not been announced yet.

Lovato to Present and Perform at This Weekend’s Teen Choice Awards

It will be quite a busy night for Demi Lovato at Sunday’s Teen Choice Awards

Not only is the 20-year-old part-Mexican American singer/actress nominated for six awards, The X Factor judge is also set to take the stage as a performer and presenter.

Demi Lovato

Lovato will perform her latest single “Made in the USA,” a patriotic love song that appears on her fourth studio album Demi.

Lovato took to Twitter to share the exciting news to her fans. “It’s truuue!! I’m performing #MadeInTheUSA on the Teen Choice Awards!! Tune in to Fox on Sun. and get it on iTunes!!” she wrote.

It’ll mark her first live appearance after taking a brief break to get her tonsils removed last month. She’ll join previously-announced performers One Direction, Paramore and Florida Georgia Line.

In addition, Lovato and X Factor finalists Fifth Harmony, will present the Acuvue Inspire Award, which will be given to an inspirational celebrity who has used his or her fame over the past year to make a difference in teens’ lives.

Lovato is nominated in several key categories, including Choice Female Artist, Choice Single: Female, Choice Female Hottie and Choice Smile.

Hosted by Darren Criss and Lucy Hale, this year’s Teen Choice Awards will have stars like Bella ThorneNina Dobrev, Ashton Kutcher, Ashley Benson, Liam Hemsworth, Lily Collins and Chloe Moretz presenting the awards.

The 2013 Teen Choice Awards will air live on Sunday, August 11 at 8:00 pm on Fox.

Aguire to Star Opposite Robin Williams in “Boulevard”

Roberto Aguire is Boulevard-bound… And, he’ll share the ride with a beloved Oscar winner.

The Mexican-American actor will be starring opposite Robin Williams in the Dito Montiel-directed Boulevard.

Robert Aguire

Williams will play Nolan Mark, a long married man forced to come face to face with his own secrets after meeting the emotionally closed young adult Leo, played by Aguire.

Production on the film is scheduled to start in Nashville in May 2013.

Camellia Entertainment’s Monica Aguirre Diez Barroso and Mia Chang are producing the film, alongside Jeffrey Gelber and Evil Media Empire’s Ryan Belenzon.

Aguire made his film debut in Glee star Chris Colfer’s Struck By Lightning, opening this week.

The Sundance Award winning Montiel recently finished directing the indie crime drama Empire State starring The Hunger Games’ Liam Hemsworth and Dwayne Johnson.

Walsh Cast as the Lead in “The Hunger Games” Spoof

It looks like Maiara Walsh is the latest tribute headed to the arena… Well, sort of!

The 24-year-old half-Brazilian actress has been cast as the female lead in a parody of Jennifer Lawrence’s blockbuster film The Hunger Games.

Maiara Walsh

In the film entitled The Starving Games, Walsh will portray a character named Kantmiss Evershot, based on Lawrence’s character Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games.

Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer, the duo behind Date Movie, Meet the Spartans and Vampires Suck, wrote the script and will direct the parody. Along with mocking Suzanne Collins book series, the film will also spoof The Avengers, Sherlock Holmes and the finale of the Harry Potter franchise.

Pretty Little Liars actor Brant Daugherty has already been cast as the parody version of Gale, played in The Hunger Games by Liam Hemsworth.

Shooting on The Starving Games begins this week in New Orleans.

Walsh, known more for her dramatic roles, co-stars as the devious Simone Sinclair on ABC Family’s Switched at Birth and has appeared on The Secret Life of the American Teenager, the CW‘s The Vampire Diaries and ABC’s Desperate Housewives.

First Glimpse: Boneta’s Big Starring Role in “Rock of Ages”…

Diego Boneta is ready, ready, ready to rock ‘n’ roll his way into your heart…

The 21-year-old Mexican actor/singer is getting his big break by starring in Adam Shankman’s highly anticipated film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical Rock of Ages.

Diego Boneta

Boneta—who rose to fame after appearing in the Mexican telenovela Rebelde—stars as Drew Boley, a young upstart who moves to Los Angeles in the late ’80s to become a rock star.

It’s the role that landed former American Idol contestant Constantine Maroulis a Tony Award nomination, and it could make Boneta a household name. After all, Shankman called Boneta the “next big thing” after his inspired audition and compared him to Zac Efron, Channing Tatum and Liam Hemsworth.

One look at the film’s just-released trailer—featuring scenes of Boneta and his co-stars Julianne Hough, as well as Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand, Tom Cruise and Catherine Zeta-Jones—and you’ll quickly notice Boneta’s star power.

Rock of Ages is set to open in theaters nationwide on June 1, 2012.