Tag Archives: Mark Burnett

Open Road Films to Release Verastegui’s “Little Boy” Next February

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Eduardo Verastegui will be performing the duties of a man of the cloth early next year.

Open Road Films has set a February 27, 2015 release date for Little Boy, the inspirational family film starring the 40-year-old Mexican actor-model-singer as Fr. Crispin.

Eduardo Verastegui

Directed by Mexican filmmaker Alejandro Monteverde and executive produced by Roma Downey and Mark Burnett, the film centers on a 7-year-old boy willing to do whatever it takes to end World War II so he can bring his father home.

In addition to Versategui, the film also stars Emily Watson, Tom Wilkinson, Kevin James, Ben Chaplin, Michael Rapaport, Cary Tagawa, Ted Levine, David Henrie and Jakob Salvati.

Pepe Portillo and Monteverde wrote the script.

Open Road Films acquired the U.S. distribution rights to the film last month.

Open Road Films to Distribute “Little Boy,” Starring Verastegui,” in the U.S.

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Eduardo Verástegui‘s latest little project will be heading to American theaters…

Open Road Films has acquired the U.S. distribution rights to Little Boy, a new family film featuring the 40-year-old Mexican actor-model-singer as Fr. Crispin.

Eduardo Versategui

Executive produced by Roma Downey and Mark Burnett, the film stars Emily Watson and Tom Wilkinson and centers on a 7-year-old boy who is willing to do whatever it takes to end World War II and bring his father home.

In addition to Verástegui, Watson and Wilkinson, the cast also includes David Henrie, Kevin James, Ben Chaplin, Michael Rapaport, Cary Tagawa, Ted Levine and 7-year-old newcomer Jakob Salvati.

It was directed by Mexican filmmaker Alejandro Monteverde and written by Pepe Portillo and Monteverde.

“Little Boy is a truly uplifting movie that resonates with family audiences, and we are thrilled to add it to our slate,” Open Road CEO Tom Ortenberg said as he made the announcement with Burnett.

Verastegui, who will soon appear in Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2, earned a Grace Award in 2008 for Most Inspirational Movie Acting for his role in the critically acclaimed film Bella.

Rodriguez Partnering with Mark Burnett to Bring Lucha Libre to American Television

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Calling Mil Máscaras! Robert Rodriguez is ready to luchar…

The 45-year-old Mexican American filmmaker’s El Rey Network has partnered with television producer Mark Burnett to bring Lucha Libre wrestling, and a new league, to the United States.

Robert Rodriguez

It all begins with a weekly one-hour series featuring a new Lucha Libre AAA league, premiering on El Rey Network in the second half of 2014, El Rey vice chairman Scott Sassa announced at the TV Press Tour 2014.

Lucha Libre

Burnett’s One Three Media is partnering with the leading lucha libre league in Mexico, Lucha Libre AAA, and FactoryMade Ventures. Also joining, through their interests in Lucha Libre AAA, are Antonio Cue Sanchez-Navarro and Latin America’s largest production group, Alex Garcia’s AG Studios.

“I’m at the point in my career where I could probably try anything. I’ve earned that right,” Burnett told TV critics at the press tour. “This is building a bona fide sport within America. Clearly the Hispanic culture is really growing (here),” he said, noting it’s the No. 2 most popular sport in Mexico, behind only soccer. “Why wouldn’t you bring Mexico’s No. 2 sport to America? This is a long-term, big play for us.”

Storylines and masks are characteristic of the sport Burnett said, explaining that the logline for the U.S. introduction revolves around five of the sport’s stars who’ve discovered a secret plot that’s going to destroy the very foundation of the sport and they’ve been exiled to America.

In addition to launching the weekly series, the new venture will develop monthly and quarterly specials and live pay-per-view lucha libre events, as well as potential merchandising, licensing and product integration opportunities for the league.

Lucha libre marks a return to arena-based sports events for the award-winning Burnett, who previously produced five seasons of the unscripted boxing series The Contender.

El Rey Network, is the recently launched 24 hour English-language entertainment network founded by Rodriguez.

It targets renegades 18-49 with adrenaline-infused content including original signature dramas, feature films, grindhouse genre, cult classic action, horror/sci fi and next generation sports.

Aguilera Returning to “The Voice” for Season Five

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There’s a red leather chair in Christina Aguilera’s future…

The 32-year-old half-Ecuadorian American singer will be returning to NBC’s The Voice for the reality singing competition this fall, while Shakira will be exiting after one season.

Christina-Aguilera-Voice

Aguilera, a judge for the first three seasons of The Voice, left last year to promote her album Lotus, which was released in November.

Cee Lo Green, another of the four original judges on the Mark Burnett-produced competition show, also took a sabbatical to work on his music career.

Shakira and fellow newbie Usher joined Adam Levine and Blake Shelton this year for Season 4, which wraps up June 18.

Burnett has said change on the judges panel is a part of The Voice.

“Everybody can’t coach for life because when you have people with current recordings in the game, this is not their job,” he said. “Their job is their fans and making music and being live, and so we knew from the beginning that this would happen, and we’ve had six coaches. They all have another life and their schedules.”

Shakira Replacing Aguilera on “The Voice” Next Season

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Shakira will be springing into action on the next cycle of The Voice…

The 35-year-old Colombian superstar will be replacing Christina Aguilera on the upcoming spring cycle of NBC’s hit reality singing competition.

Shakira

Aguilera has decided to take some time off of the The Voice because she’s releasing her new album in November, and she’ll follow that up with a tour. Aguilera is expected to return next fall.

“We know we needed to find another of the world’s greatest female vocal talents, and Shakira instantly came to mind”, Voice executive producer Mark Burnett said about the search to find a replacement for Aguilera.

But Aguilera won’t be the only coach sitting out the next cycle…

Cee Lo Green is taking time off as he works on two albums and develops a comedy series for NBC based on his life. Usher has been tapped to fill in for Green next season.

“Usher is not just a singer or an entertainer, he is a global icon,” said Burnett.

Fellow The Voice coaches Adam Levine and Blake Shelton are staying put for Season 4.

When the network expanded The Voice to two cycles per year, NBC officials said that not all Voice coaches would be able to do both cycles of the show because of the demands of their music careers.

NBC chairman Bob Greenblatt said the network was “happy to accommodate” Green and Aguilera’s commitments.

“The participants on our show benefit from our coaches’ expertise and their continued success in the music business allows for significant new contributions to the contestants when they return,” he said.