Lionsgate Acquires Domestic Rights to Eiza Gonzalez’s World War II Film “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare”

Posted on February 13, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Eiza González is bringing the warfare to the United States…

Lionsgate has picked up the domestic distribution rights to Guy Ritchie’s World War II film The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, starring the 33-year-old Mexican actress/singer.

In addition to Gonzalez, the film also stars Henry Cavill, Henry Golding, Alex Pettyfer and Cary Elwes, among others.

The studio is targeting a 2024 wide theatrical release.

Prime Video has secured most of the international rights for the film, distributing across Europe, Latin America, Australia and New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, India and pan-Asian pay TV.

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is billed as an “outrageous true story” about U.K. Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s and James Bond author Ian Fleming’s secret WWII combat organization.

As per a synopsis, “this clandestine squad’s unconventional and entirely ‘ungentlemanly’ fighting techniques against the Nazis significantly changed the course of the war and gave birth to the modern Black Ops unit.”

Principal photography begins on Monday in Turkey. Acknowledging the devastating earthquake that has ravaged parts of the country, Ritchie and the producers noted that the shoot will take place “several hundred miles from the epicenter” of the disaster.

“We do so with profound sympathy for everyone affected,” said Ritchie in a statement. “Our thoughts are with the members of our crew with family in the region. We wish to express our sincere condolences to the people of Turkey. We stand by them and are committed to supporting members of our production team and the wider community over the coming weeks and months.”

The film’s script is from Paul Tamasy and Eric Johnson, Arash Amel and Ritchie, and based on war correspondent and military historian Damien Lewis’ best-selling book of the same name. Tamasy and Johnson initiated the project and sold it as a pitch to Bruckheimer and Paramount in 2015.

Jerry Bruckheimer will produce alongside Chad Oman, Ritchie’s producing partner Ivan Atkinson, and John Friedberg for Black Bear International.

Apple TV+ Renews Enrique Arrizon’s “Acapulco” for Third Season

Posted on January 30, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Enrique Arrizon isn’t leaving Acapulco just yet…

Apple TV+ has renewed the bilingual comedy series Acapulco, starring the 29-year-old Mexican actor, for a 10-episode third season. Production is set to begin this spring.

In Season 3 of the series inspired by the 3Pas Studios and Pantelion Films’ feature How to Be A Latin Lover, it’s a time of reconciling past mistakes and exciting new beginnings. In the present story, older Maximo (Eugenio Derbez) finds himself returning to a Las Colinas he no longer recognizes. While in 1985, younger Maximo continues his climb up the ladder of success while potentially jeopardizing all the relationships he’s worked so hard to build…

“We at 3Pas Studios are thankful to Apple TV+, the perfect home for Acapulco, along with our production partner Lionsgate, filmmakers, and cast and crew,” said star and executive producer Derbez. “We have always believed that the stories we tell about our communities and cultures can resonate with global audiences, so crank up the AC, it’s about to get a lot hotter at Las Colinas Resort.”

The upcoming third season will be showrun by Sam Laybourne. In addition to Derbe and Arrizon, the returning Acapulco ensemble cast includes Fernando Carsa, Damián Alcázar, Camila Perez, Chord Overstreet, Vanessa Bauche, Regina Reynoso, Raphael Alejandro, Jessica Collins, Rafael Cebrián, Carlos Corona and Regina Orozco.

Seasons 1 and 2 are now streaming globally on Apple TV+.

“We’ve seen an overwhelming response from audiences all over the world who have fallen in love with Acapulco,” said Morgan Wandell, head of international programming for Apple TV+. “Eugenio, Austin, Ben, Eric, Kim, and the talented cast and crew behind ‘Acapulco’ have created a feel-good show that has a lot of heart, emotion, and laughs, and we can’t wait to bring even more of that into season three.”

Acapulco is created by Austin Winsberg, Eduardo Cisneros and Jason Shuman. Winsberg also serves as executive producer alongside Derbez, Ben Odell, and co-executive producer Sonia Almanza Gambaro for 3Pas Studios; director Jay Karas; Eric and Kim Tannenbaum along with Jason Wang for The Tannenbaum Company.

The project is produced for Apple by Lionsgate Television, 3Pas Studios, Zihuatanejo Productions, and The Tannenbaum Company.

Sky Developing Docuseries on Former Spanish King Juan Carlos I

Posted on January 17, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Former Spanish King Juan Carlos I’s life is being documented…

The rise and fall of the 85-year-old former Spanish king will be told in a Sky docuseries later this year.

He reigned as King of Spain from November 1975 until his abdication in June 2014.

The as-yet-untitled four-part docuseries will follow a man who was once a hero – celebrated around the world for reforming Spain in the post-Franco era – before allegations surrounding his financial arrangements led to his abdication in 2014.

Taking viewers from Madrid to London, Monaco, Geneva, Abu Dhabi and New York, the high-end docu-thriller deals with the allegations surrounding the former King in a struggle for money, sex and power.

It comes from Emmy nominee Christian Beetz, who created with Anne von Petersdorff, Gebrüder Beetz Filmproduktion’s Georg Tschurtschenthaler and author Pedro Barbadillo.

The documentary series will receive a teaser showcase at the prestigious Berlin International Film Festival next month as part of the Berlinale Series Market session Up Next: Germany.

The news comes more than a year after news that Starzplay (now Lionsgate+) is working on a premium scripted series about the King’s life from Homeland producers Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa.

Catalina Sandino Moreno to Star in the John Wick Spinoff “Ballerina”

Posted on December 7, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Catalina Sandino Moreno will soon chaseé her way into a theater near you…

The 41-year-old Colombian Oscar-nominated actress is joining Ana de Armas in the John Wick spinoff Ballerina in a sizeable role.

Moreno’s part remains under wraps.

Sandino Moreno, whose deal just closed, joins Anjelica Huston, Ian McShane and Lance Reddick in the Lionsgate release.

Cameras are currently rolling on the Len Wiseman-directed, Shay Hatten-scripted title in the $586M-grossing John Wick universe.

Producer Erica Lee said: “One of the challenges of casting Ballerina is making sure that the new roles are played by actors with as much power, emotional presence, and physical skill as Ana has. After working with Catalina on John Woo’s Silent Night, it was clear that she belonged at the top of our list, and it’s a thrill to be reuniting with her.”

Moreno was Oscar nominated out of the gate for her debut performance in 2004’s Maria Full of Grace.

In her next film, Silent Night, she stars opposite Joel Kinnaman and Kid Cudi. She recently starred in the indie Barbarians opposite Iwan Rheon and Tom Cullen.

She also stars in the Epix horror series From, currently shooting its second season.

Other recent work includes a role as a series regular on Showtime’s The Affair and a starring role on the Duplass Brothers’ HBO series Room 104.

Daniella Pineda Joins Cast of ABC’s “Home Economics” in Recurring Role

Posted on November 21, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Daniella Pineda is heading home…

The 49-year-old Cuban American actor has joined the cast of ABC’s Home Economics in a recurring guest star role for Season 3.

Home Economics, inspired by series co-creator Michael Colton’s real-life experiences, documents the uncomfortable yet heartwarming relationships of three siblings in very different situations: one in the ultra-rich, one in the middle class, and one scraping by.

Pineda will play the role of Nikki, a woman Connor (Jimmy Tatro) meets and tries to impress.

The series stars Topher Grace, Caitlin McGee, Karla Souza, Sasheer Zamata, Shiloh Bearman, Jordyn Curet, Chloe Jo Rountree and JeCobi Swain.

The comedy series currently airs on Wednesday nights at 9:30 pm.

Home Economics is produced by Lionsgate and ABC Signature.

Pineda most recently starred in Jurassic World: Dominion returning to the role of Zia Rodriguez from the 2018 film, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom where she co-starred opposite Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard. In 2023, she will star in the feature film comedy In Town, which she also executive produced. Additionally, she will work opposite Gerard Butler and Mike Colter in the upcoming film, Plane, for Lionsgate and Di Bonaventura Pictures.

Her television credits include Netflix’s Cowboy Bebop, AMC’s Tales of the Walking Dead, and TBS’ The Detour. Pineda is repped by UTA, Kirsten Ames Management, and attorney Isaac Dunham.

Eddie Cibrian to Appear on Season 3 of ABC’s “Home Economics”

Posted on November 21, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Eddie Cibrian is building up his acting resume…

The 49-year-old Cuban American actor has joined the cast of ABC’s Home Economics in a recurring guest star role for Season 3.

Cibrian will portray the character of Santiago, an extremely good-looking contractor who starts working with Marina (Karla Souza).

The series stars Topher Grace, Caitlin McGee, Jimmy Tatro, Souza, Sasheer Zamata, Shiloh Bearman, Jordyn Curet, Chloe Jo Rountree and JeCobi Swain.

The comedy series currently airs on Wednesday nights at 9:30 pm.

Home Economics is produced by Lionsgate and ABC Signature.

Cibrian most recently starred in Netflix’s Country Comfort where he portrayed the character of Beau.

Prior to that, he was a lead in ABC’s Take Two and Fox’s Rosewood.

His other television credits include CBS’ CSI: Miami, ABC’s Ugly Betty and NBC’s Third Watch.

Rosa Salazar Signs with Agency for the Performing Arts (APA)

Posted on November 11, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Rosa Salazar has new representation…

The 37-year-old half-Peruvian actress has signed with the Agency for the Performing Arts (APA).

Salazar rose to prominence with turns on the film side in The Divergent Series: Insurgent for Lionsgate, the Maze Runner franchise for 20th Century Fox and Robert Rodriguez’s sci-fi actioner Alita: Battle Angel.

She more recently appeared in Dean Fleischer-Camp’s hit animated film Marcel the Shell with Shoes On for A24, and will next be seen starring alongside Michael Peña in Prime Video’s A Million Miles Away, an astronaut drama inspired by the true story of Jose Hernandez, who defied insurmountable odds to become the first migrant farmworker to travel to space.

Her other notable credits include Bird Box and The Kindergarten Teacher for Netflix and Night Owls for MGM’s Orion Pictures.

Salazar currently stars in the series Wedding Season for Hulu and Disney+, and has also starred on series including Brand New Cherry Flavor for Netflix and the beautifully rotoscoped Undone for Prime Video. Additional small-screen credits include Big Mouth on Netflix, Man Seeking Woman on FXX and Parenthood on NBC.

Salazar produces Undone, co-produces Brand New Cherry Flavor and also previously wrote and directed the short film Good Crazy, which premiered in competition at Sundance in 2017.

Eugenio Derbez’s 3Pas Studios Signs Multi-Year First-Look Deal with ABC Signature for English TV Content

Posted on October 29, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Eugenio Derbez is hoping to develop new television projects in English…

The 61-year-old Mexican actor and comedian’s 3Pas Studios, which he runs will Ben Odell, has signed a multi-year first-look deal with ABC Signature for English-language television content.

As part of the deal, 3Pas will develop and produce English-language projects for the studio.

Reporting to Derbez and Odell, Sonia Gambaro, the vice president of 3Pas’ English-language television division, will oversee development, identify and source talent, ideas, and IP for ABC Signature across all platforms.

“Eugenio and Ben transcend culture through their diverse and inclusive storytelling, driven by their deep connection to talent and source material from Latin America,” said Jonnie Davis, president of ABC Signature. “We couldn’t be more excited to shepherd their next wave of brilliant and culture-defining English language projects at the studio.”

3Pas has been creating content in both English and Spanish with multiple studio and platform partners over the last several years.

Most recently, the company’s series Acapulco premiered its second season on Apple TV+. It stemmed from the television deal 3Pas previously had at Lionsgate.

On the film front, Hulu recently released 3Pas’ film The Valet following the success of other Derbez-led projects including Overboard and How To Be A Latin Lover.

Derbez’s workplace comedy series titled They Came At Night is in development at Vix+, a project that stems from 3Pas’ deal with TelevisaUnivision for Spanish-language film and TV projects.

Additionally, they recently premiered their first Vix+ series, La Noche Del Diablito which premiered on October 13.

3Pas also recently re-upped its first-look film deal with Lionsgate.

“For actors, writers, directors, and creators like myself, Disney has long been a leader in inclusive and diverse storytelling. We are so grateful for this incredible opportunity to lift up new, diverse voices with ABC Signature,” said Derbez.

Added Odell, “At the heart of our stories we bring people together and celebrate our common humanity. We have a treasure trove of incredibly diverse stories, talent, and creators across the United States and Latin America. We can’t wait to start the party with ABC Signature and their fantastic team.”

Starz Renews Psalms Salazar’s “P-Valley” for Third Season

Posted on October 22, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

There’s more Valley-time in Psalms Salazar’s future…

Starz has renewed P-Valley, featuring the part-Puerto Rican actress, has been renewed for a third season.

Similar to Season 2 of the Lionsgate-produced drama series, the third season will consist of 10 episodes.

Season 2 of the show debuted on Starz in June and wrapped up in August.

“P-Valley continues to keep viewers on the edge of their seats as it captures the nuances of the Mississippi Delta with an unprecedented level of humanity and artistry,” said Kathryn Busby, president of original programming at Starz. “This layered drama gets beyond the glitz through authentic and complex characters that have captured the hearts of critics and audiences alike. We cannot wait to see what Katori has in store for us in season three.”

P-Valley was created by Pulitzer Prize winner Katori Hall, based on her play Pussy Valley. The show is set at The Pynk, a strip club in the Mississippi Delta, and follows the employees as they try to get by in the fictional town of Chucalissa.

In addition to Salazar, the series also stars Nicco Annan, Elarica Johnson, Brandee Evans, Shannon Thornton, J. Alphonse Nicholson, Parker Sawyers, Harriett D. Foy, Dan J. Johnson, Morocco Omari, Dominic DeVore, Tyler Lepley, Jordan M. Cox, Skyler Joy, John Clarence Stewart, Miracle Watts, Shamika Cotton, Gail Bean, Loretta Devine, Thomas Q. Jones and Bertram Williams, Jr.

Per the official description for Season 2, “P-Valley revealed a whole new Pynk as it struggled to remain open during a pandemic, a battle for the throne, and the possibility of some new blood shaking up the locker room.”

“I am blessed beyond measure for this opportunity to write the next chapter of ‘P-Valley,’” Hall said. “With its complex, dynamic, and beautifully flawed characters, this show is a love letter to marginalized communities in the American South who rarely see themselves reflected on screen, and it brings me immense joy to know that it has been embraced by folx worldwide. We wouldn’t be getting back up on that pony, without our fiercely devoted Pynk Posse. Y’all are our fire. And special thanks to the fuel: everyone who laid hands on this show. From the writers and producers to the cast to the crew to the executives, this show is made with great love, grit and glitter. It’s gonna take us a Mississippi minute before we’re back on your screens again, but best believe it’ll be well worth the wait.”

Per Starz, P-Valley currently averages 10.3 million viewers per episode across all platforms. In addition to creating the series, Hall serves as executive producer and showrunner. Dante Di Loreto also executive produces. Lionsgate Television is the studio.

Daniella Pineda to Star in Amazon Freevee’s Half-Hour Period Comedy Pilot “Western”

Posted on October 14, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Daniella Pineda is heading west(ern)…

The 35-year-old Mexican American actress will star in Amazon Freevee’s Western, a half-hour period comedy pilot from Sony Pictures Television, Amazon Studios and Lord Miller.

Pineda will star opposite Guy Burnet, Luca Diaz and Anna Konkle in the project.

Written by Michelle Morgan, Western is set in the 1800s. It follows Polly (Konkle), a young high-society woman from Philadelphia who travels out west on a desperate quest for a husband only to discover that she has been catfished by a teenage boy (Diaz). Now stranded in 1866 Montana, Polly, along with the town’s other inhabitants, must find their place in this ever-changing new world, confronting and defying all expectations society has of them along the way.

Pineda is Bess. The sexy, tough as nails, quick as a whip proprietress of Sumner’s most popular saloon; a woman who isn’t intimidated by the male dominated wild west landscape but with a heart of gold hidden not too far below the surface.

Diaz portrays Henry Johnson. A 14 going on 45, a wiley, wild-haired pre-teen with a penchant for writing letters to unsuspecting women and an unexpected amount of depth coursing through his pubescent veins.

Tony Yacenda serves as executive producer and directs.

Pineda most recently starred in Jurassic World: Dominion reprising her role as Zia Rodriguez from Fallen Kingdom.

She’ll next be seen in the comedy feature In Town, which she also executive produced, and starring opposite Gerard Butler and Mike Colter in The Plane, for Lionsgate and Di Bonaventura Pictures.

On television, she recently starred in the Netflix series Cowboy Bebop.

Diaz, who has been acting since the age of 6, can be heard in the voice cast of the upcoming Black Adam film and in Transformers: Earth Spark for Nickelodeon.

He also has appeared in commercials for Sam’s Club, Audi and Subaru.

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