Dafne Keen Starring in Disney+’s New Lucasfilm ‘Star Wars’ Series “The Acolyte”

Posted on November 11, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Dafne Keen has landed an out of this world role…

The 17-year-old half-Spanish actress will star in Disney+’s upcoming new Lucasfilm Star Wars series The Acolyte.

Keen, who rose to acclaim after her breakthrough role in the superhero film Logan, is part of a roster of new cast additions that includes Rebecca Henderson, Charlie Barnett, Dean-Charles Chapman and Carrie-Anne Moss.

They join previously announced cast members Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-jae, Manny Jacinto and Jodie Turner-Smith.

The Acolyte is a mystery-thriller that will take viewers into a galaxy of shadowy secrets and emerging dark-side powers in the final days of the High Republic era. A former Padawan reunites with her Jedi Master to investigate a series of crimes, but the forces they confront are more sinister than they ever anticipated.

The series is already shooting in the United Kingdom.

Creator, showrunner and executive producer Leslye Headland is behind the show. Headland will also direct the series pilot.

Gina Rodriguez to Star in Amazon’s TV Series Adaptation of QCode’s Mystery Thriller Podcast “Last Known Position”

Posted on June 15, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Gina Rodriguez is going into survival mode…

The 37-year-old Puerto Rican Golden Globe-winning actress will star in Amazon’s television series adaptation of QCode mystery thriller podcast Last Known Position.

In addition to starring in the project, Rodriguez – who starred in the scripted podcast — will serve as an executive producer.

Last Known Position charts the fallout of a brand new state-of-the-art American commercial jetliner vanishing on its maiden voyage over the Pacific Ocean. The ensuing air crash investigation discovers evidence of a creature of the deep that may have been responsible.

Premiering in late December 2021, the podcast was created by writer Luke Passmore and directed and executive-produced by John Wynn. Passmore is attached to adapt and executive-produce the series.

Along with Rodriguez and Passmore, executive producers for the series will be Rob Herting, Sandra Yee Ling, and Michele Zarate on behalf of QCode; Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, Fred Berger, Justin Levy and Jeremy Platt on behalf of Automatik; and Molly Breeskin on behalf of I Can and Will Productions.

The eight-episode first season of the podcast also starred James Purefoy, Manny Jacinto, Olivia Cheng, Ashley Bell, JR Bourne, Travis Joe Dixon, Matthew Henerson, Jessica Oyelowo, Venk Potula and Giovanna Quinto. It’s not clear yet whether any of those actors will be back for the television update.

Gina Rodriguez Starring in QCode’s Podcast “Last Known Position”

Posted on December 21, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Gina Rodriguez is in a better position…

The 37-year-old Puerto Rican Golden Globe-winning actress is starring in the in QCode podcast Last Known Position.

Rodriguez will take part in the project alongside James Purefoy, Manny Jacinto and Olivia Cheng.

The mystery-thriller, whose first episode dropped HERE this week, also stars Ashley Bell, JR Bourne, Travis Joe Dixon, Matthew Henerson, Jessica Oyelowo, Venk Potula and Giovanna Quinto.

Created by writer/director Luke Passmore and directed by John Wynn, the series charts the fallout when a brand new state-of-the-art American commercial jetliner vanishes on its maiden voyage over the Pacific. The ensuing air crash investigation discovers evidence of a creature of the deep that may have been responsible.

Executive producers include Rodriguez, John Wynn, Jeremy Platt and Luke Passmore, QCODE and Automatik.

Disney Branded Television Gives Green Light to Auli’i Cravalho’s Animated Series “Hailey’s On It!”

Posted on November 19, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Auli’i Cravalho’s on it…

Disney Branded Television has given a series green light to Hailey’s On It!, an original animated comedy-adventure with the 20-year-old part-Puerto Rican actress/singer leading the voice cast.

The project hails from longtime writing and producing partners Devin Bunje and Nick Stanton and Disney Television Animation.

Cravalho, who rose to acclaim in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Moana, voices the title character, Hailey; along with Manny Jacinto as Scott, Hailey’s best friend; and Gary Anthony Williams as Beta, an artificially intelligent operating system from the future.

Hailey’s On It! is slated to debut in 2023.

Created and executive produced by Bunje and Stanton, Hailey’s On It! follows Hailey Banks (Cravalho), a risk-averse but resourceful teenager on a mission to complete every item on her long list of challenging (and sometimes impractical) tasks in order to save the world. Hailey will be pushed outside her comfort zone to discover the greatness within as she systematically conquers her fears, whether she is winning a sand-building competition, wrestling a honey badger, eating a raw onion, or facing her ever-growing and complicated feelings toward her best friend, Scott (Jacinto).

“Nick and Devin began their writing careers at TVA nearly 15 years ago and have now come full circle returning to their TVA roots to launch their first animated series,” said Meredith Roberts, SVP and general manager, Television Animation, Disney Branded Television. “The series’ fast-paced comedy, heart and grounded stories about two best friends, who happen to get caught up in extraordinary circumstances, made it a perfect fit for Disney.”

Cravalho’s previous credits include the NBC drama series Rise and the Netflix drama film All Together Now.

Hulu Releases New Trailer for “Nine Perfect Strangers,” Starring Bobby Cannavale

Posted on June 13, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a strange(r) time for Bobby Cannavale…

Hulu has released a new teaser for Nine Perfect Strangers, the upcoming eight-episode “elevated suspense drama” starring the 51-year-old half-Cuban American Emmy-winning actor.

In addition to Cannavale, the series also stars Nicole Kidman, Melissa McCarthy, Michael Shannon, Luke Evans, Regina Hall, Samara Weaving, Melvin Gregg, Asher Keddie, Grace Van Patten, Tiffany Boone and Manny Jacinto.

Based on the book by Big Little Lies author Liane Moriarty, Nine Perfect Strangers takes place at a boutique health-and-wellness resort that promises healing and transformation as nine stressed city dwellers try to get on a path to a better way of living. Watching over them during this 10-day retreat is the resort’s director, Masha (Kidman), a woman on a mission to reinvigorate their tired minds and bodies.

As Hulu describes, these nine perfect strangers have no idea what is about to hit them. And as depicted in the teaser, graves will be dug.

The series comes from co-showrunners David E. Kelley and John-Henry Butterworth. Jonathan Levine directs all eight episodes.

The series is co-written by David E. Kelley, John Henry Butterworth and Samantha Strauss.

Nine Perfect Strangers premieres on Hulu on August 18.

Gina Rodriguez to Star in Amazon Studios’ Romantic Comedy “I Want You Back”

Posted on February 22, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Gina Rodriguez’s got back…

The 36-year-old Puerto Rican actress and Golden Globe winner has been cast in the ensemble romantic comedy I Want You Back from Amazon Studios.

The former Jane The Virgin star joins a cast that includes Charlie Day, Jenny Slate, Scott Eastwood, Manny Jacinto and Clark Backo.

Jason Orley is attached to direct the film from a screenplay by Love, Simon co-writers and This Is Us co-showrunners Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger.

Jami Gertz, Jordan Carlos, Midori Francis, Mason Gooding, Isabel May, and Luke David Blumm round out the cast as production is slated to commence next month in Atlanta.

The film follows Emma (Slate) and Peter (Day) who thought they were on the precipice of life’s biggest moments – marriage, kids, and houses in the suburbs – until their respective partners dumped them. In their thirties and terrified that they have missed their shot at happily ever after, Emma and Peter are horrified to learn that their partners have already moved on. With no prospects on the horizon and the threat of dying alone hanging over their heads, they hatch a desperate plan to put an end to their exes’ new relationships and win them back.

Orley, who will mark his second directorial outing, said “I immediately fell in love with Isaac and Elizabeth’s funny, heartfelt script and I am so honored that they, along with the amazing team at Amazon are allowing me to bring their timeless love story to life and that I get to do it with such an incredible group of actors.”

Rodriguez’s previous credits include Kajillionaire, Smallfoot, and Deepwater Horizon.

Taylor Ortega to Voice Multiple Characters on Syfy’s “Magical Girl Friendship Squad” Series

Posted on May 17, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Taylor Ortega is joining a new squad…

The 30-year-old Latina actress/comedian will star in Syfy’s TZGZ anime-inspired comedy Magical Girl Friendship Squad.

Created by Kelsey Stephanides, Magical Girl Friendship Squadis a female-driven anime comedy about two young women, Alex (Quinta Brunson) and Daisy (Anna Akana), who are destined to save the Universe…as soon as they figure out how to pay their rent.

In January, TZGZ greenlit a straight-to-series order of the longer-form version of the show (six 15-minute episodes).

Produced by Cartuna, the short-form version, Magical Girl Friendship Squad: Origins (six four-minute episodes), currently airs as part of the late-night adult animation block’s acquisition slate.

In addition to Brunson and Akana, Series regulars include Ana Gasteyer and Matteo Lane.

Christine Baranski,Manny Jacinto,Helen Hong, Eric Bauza and Sarah “Squirm” Sherman will recur on Magical Girl Friendship Squad.

Guest stars are Jason Mantzoukis, Paget Brewster,Vella Lovell, Jamie Loftus and Patti Harrison.

Ortega, who starred in the Disney Channel’s live-action Kim Possible movie, will appear as a utility player alongside Stephanie Sheh and Daisy Hobbs.

Ortega, Sheh and Hobbs will voice multiple roles.

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