Javier Bardem to Star in Netflix’s “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story”

Javier Bardem has landed a monster(s) role…

The 54-year-old Spanish Oscar-winning actor will star in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, the second season of the acclaimed Netflix crime anthology Monster from creators Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan.

Javier BardemBardem will star alongside Chloë Sevigny, Nicholas Chavez and Cooper Koch in the series.

Bardem abd Sevigny will respectively play Jose and Kitty Menendez, the Beverly Hills couple murdered by sons Lyle (Chavez) and Erik (Koch).

The new season comes on the heels of Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, which starred Evan Peters as the notorious serial killer and quickly became one of Netflix’s most popular English-language series ever when it debuted in September 2022.

It was in 1989 that Lyle and Erik Menendez murdered parents Jose and Kitty in their L.A.-area home. Although not initially looked at as prime suspects, they came under investigation in the months following and eventually confessed to parricide, at the same time claiming that their actions stemmed from years of physical, emotional and sexual abuse at the hands of their father. Their first of two trials, broadcast on Court TV, had the nation in its grip, much like the 1994 trial of O.J. Simpson, and is believed to have played a part in the modern-day fascination with true crime.

The prosecution argued that the pair were in fact seeking to inherit their father’s multimillion-dollar estate, and the Menendez brothers were convicted in 1996 and sentenced to life imprisonment, without the possibility of parole, though the case continues to unfold to this day. Last summer, Erik and Lyle filed documents in hopes of a new hearing, following former Menudo bandmember Roy Rosselló’s claim that he was molested by José Menendez at the age of 14.

Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is one of two forthcoming seasons of the Monster anthology announced as of November 2022. The story at the center of the third chapter has not yet been revealed. In addition to the scripted series on the Menendez brothers, Netflix has a feature doc on the duo in the works, brought to life with exclusive access to the subjects.

Most recently portraying King Triton in Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Bardem will next be seen in Dune: Part Two, out March 1 following a strike-imposed delay, and Apple’s Formula 1 racing movie with Brad Pitt.

Chayanne to Perform at This Year’s “iHeartRadio Fiesta Latina”

Chayanne is preparing for a fiesta

iHeartMedia has announced that the 2023 iHeartRadio Fiesta Latina will return to Miami at Kaseya Center (formerly FTX Arena) on Saturday, October 21, with the 55-year-old Puerto Rican Latin pop singer and actor among the artists scheduled to perform.

ChayanneIn addition to Chayanne, the one-night event will feature performances featuring Ricardo MontanerFonseca, Servando y Florentino, Luis Figueroa, GALE and Menudo.

Enrique Santos, president and chief creative officer of iHeartLatino and on-air talent for iHeartRadio, will host the 10th annual edition.

“We’re honored to once again bring together incredible artists, electrifying music and a vibrant community,” Santos said in a statement. “Here’s to a decade of unforgettable moments, unity and the power of Latin music!”

Besides performing, Chayanne will also receive the iHeartRadio Corazón Latino Award which, according to iHeartMedia, honors an individual who “exemplifies their big heart through their selfless work enhancing the lives of the Latin community and beyond.”

The Puerto Rican icon — known for hits such as “Dejaría Todo” and “Torero” — has teamed up with and supported organizations such as Make-A-Wish Foundation, United Nations Human Rights for Climate Change, Women Refugees Commission and Heroes Por la Vida.

iHeartRadio Fiesta Latina will be broadcasted across iHeartRadio digital stations.

Additionally, Hulu will serve as the official streaming destination of the iHeartRadio Fiesta Latina with performances live-streamed exclusively to Hulu subscribers.

The event launched in 2014 in Los Angeles but has since been taking place in Miami.

Throughout the years, iHeartRadio Fiesta Latina has featured headliners such as Jennifer Lopez, Daddy Yankee, Enrique Iglesias, Pitbull, Ricky Martin and Ozuna.

Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday (July 21) at 10 a.m. ET via Ticketmaster.com.

Nicholas Chavez to Star in Ryan Murphy’s Anthology Series “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story”

Nicholas Chavez has landed a monster role…

The 23-year-old Latino actor and Daytime Emmy Award winner will star in Ryan Murphy’s Monster anthology series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.

Nicholas ChavezChavez, who stars on General Hospital, and Cooper Koch will portray Lyle and Erik Menendez respectively.

Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story follows a successful Season 1 for the new franchise, which focused on serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, played by Evan Peters.

Season 2 will tell the story of the real-life brothers who were convicted in 1996 for the murders of their parents, José and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menéndez. Although the siblings eventually confessed to parricide, they have long sustained that the reason for their actions was due to physical, emotional and sexual abuse.

The case continues to unfold in real-time following a new development revealed in May. Erik and Lyle Menendez filed documents asking for a new hearing in response to former Menudo bandmember Roy Rosselló’s claims he was molested by José Menendez at the age of 14.

It is as yet unknown how much of the Menendez brothers’ lives will be covered in Season 2, but Netflix also has a forthcoming documentary feature on the pair with access to the duo.

Both Koch and Chavez are relative newcomers to the industry who will no doubt receive a boost from leading a Ryan Murphy series. Koch previously appeared in Season 1 of the hit Starz drama Power Book II: Ghost as the character Chase. Most recently, he has appeared in the horror films Swallowed and They/Them.

Chavez currently portrays Spencer Cassadine on ABC’s General Hospital. He also appeared in the Tubi OriginalCrushed.

New Iteration of Menudo Announced, Five New Members Revealed

Menudo is back…

Nearly a year after Menudo Productions announced they were on the search for new members to form the next generation of the Latin boy band, the five boys that will comprise the new iteration of the group have been revealed.

MenudoOn Monday (March 20), Nicolas Calero (10), Gabriel Rossell (13), Andres Emilio (14), Alejandro Querales (15) and Ezra Gilmore (12) were announced as the new faces of the eternally youthful boy band.

And, in celebration of the announcement, the group also released their very first single “Mi Amore,” the first song off their upcoming debut album.

The process to find its new members kicked off in August when Menudo Productions, along with television personality Mario Lopez, began virtually auditioning talent between the ages of 12 and 16.

The new members are multi-talented performers with experience in acting, singing and songwriting.

“Deciding on the final five was harder than we ever imagined because there was so much great talent to choose from,” Lopez said in a statement. “The five boys we selected gelled together instantly, and the music they’ve created have exceeded all of our expectations. I think we have several massive hits, and I’m more excited than ever to introduce these boys to the world in less than three weeks.”

According to a previous statement “unlike previous group incarnations,” the new Menudo members will be “sharing in all concert, merchandise, and music revenue.” Menudo’s management will be Miami-based.

The most successful Latin boy band of all time, Menudo was originally established in Puerto Rico in 1977 by Edgardo Diaz, releasing a handful of hit songs such as “Quiero Ser” and “Claridad” and launching the music careers of Ricky Martin and Draco Rosa, among many others.

Azul Guaita Signs with AFA Prime Talent Media

Azul Guaita has new representation…

The 21-year-old Mexican actress has signed with AFA Prime Talent Media, a division of Kenan Thompson’s Artists for Artists company, for representation in all areas.

Azul GuaitaGuaita can currently be seen in Netflix’s Rebelde in the role of teen star Jana Gandía Cohen. Season 2 of the series, a sequel to the 2004 Mexican telenovela of the same name, was released in July.

Additionally, she stars in La Mujer del Diablo, an original series from TelevisaUnivision’s new streaming service Vix+, as Daniela Beltrán.

Guaita has also starred in several projects produced by the biggest production companies and studios in Latin America including Soltero con Hijas from TelevisaLa Negociadora from Claro Video, and Subete a mi Moto, an Amazon prime original series about the Latin boy band Menudo.

The actress has expanded her social media footprint in the Latin-American market thanks to the success of Rebelde. She currently boasts 1.4 million followers across multiple social platforms, which helped her close her first endorsement deal with Dolce & Gabbana as an ambassador this year.

HBO Max Releases Trailer for Docuseries “Menudo: Forever Young,” Featuring Ricky Martin

Ricky Martin will be reliving his young moments this month.

HBO Max has released the first trailer for the four-part documentary Menudo: Forever Young, featuring the 50-year-old Puerto Rican superstar.

Ricky Martin, MenudoThe documentary series will be released on June 23.

From Angel Manuel Soto and Kristofer RíosMenudo: Forever Young chronicles the rise and fall of the most iconic Latin American boy band in history, bringing viewers into the world of the popular teen idols’ global tours, magazine covers, ‘80s outfits, and screaming fangirls. But the four-part documentary also exposes that behind the glitz and glamor was a web of abuse and exploitation.

Menudo was formed by producer Edgardo Diaz in 1977 with 5 original members: Ricky Melendez, brothers Carlos and Oscar Meléndez, and the Sallaberry brothers, Fernando and Nefty.

The group changed members often mostly after the pre-teen and early teenage boys aged out around age 15 or 16. Two of its most famous members include Martin and Draco Rosa (as Robbi Rosa).

Menudo: Forever Young is executive produced by Cristina Costantini and Jeff Plunkett of Muck MediaAlex Fumero of Trojan Horse, Bryn Mooser, and Justin Lacob of XTR, and Soto; co-executive producers are Maura Anderson and Rios.

Directors are Soto (E1-E4) and Rios (E3, E4).

HBO Max to Release “Menudo: Forever Young” Documentary This Summer

Here’s your chance to relive Ricky Martin’s breakthrough moments…

HBO Max will release Menudo: Forever Young, a new documentary about the Latin American boy band that helped make the 50-year-old Puerto Rican singer, songwriter and actor a star.

Ricky Martin, MenudoHailing from filmmakers Angel Manuel Soto and Kristofer Ríos, the documentary will be released on June 23.

The premiere will follow the project’s debut at the 2022 Tribeca Festival on June 11.

Menudo was formed by producer Edgardo Diaz in 1977 with five original members: Ricky Melendez, brothers Carlos and Oscar Meléndez, and the Sallaberry brothers, Fernando and Nefty. The group changed members often mostly after the pre-teen and early teenage boys aged out around age 15 or 16. Two of its most famous members include Ricky Martin and Draco Rosa (as Robbi Rosa).

Diaz, who served as the band’s manager, was accused of sexual abuse by multiple members beginning in 1991. He denied the allegations that same year on El Show De Cristina, a popular talk show at the time hosted by Cristina Saralegui.

Menudo disbanded in 2009 though reunion tours and performances have taken place with various former members.

The four-part documentary will deep dive into the rise and fall of the boy band, including the allegations against Diaz.

“The Puerto Rican diaspora in New York played a critical role in the success of Menudo and its crossover in the US, shutting down traffic for blocks surrounding the band’s hotel and selling out Madison Square Garden on multiple occasions,” said Soto in a statement. “We couldn’t be more excited to premiere this series in their backyard at TriBeCa and honor their contribution to the band’s legacy.”

Menudo: Forever Young is executive produced by Cristina Costantini and Jeff Plunkett of Muck MediaAlex Fumero of Trojan Horse, Bryn Mooser and Justin Lacob of XTR, and Soto.

Costantini and Fumero most recently collaborated on the popular Netflix documentary Mucho, Mucho Amor following the life of Walter Mercado.

 

Estrella TV to Release Yamil Ureña’s Menudo-Inspired Series “Súbete A Mi Moto” on February 14

Yamil Ureña is about to cannonball into the pop culture world…

The Dominican actor is set to star in the Menudo-inspired series Súbete A Mi Moto, which is set to premiere in the U.S. on February 14 on Estrella TV network.

Yamil Ureña

The drama series will chronicle the story of the first Latin boy band set against the backdrop of the band’s anthemic songs and iconic status, as told by its creator, Edgardo Diaz, who formed the band in 1977 in Puerto Rico.

Filmed in Mexico and Puerto Rico, the series will be encapsulated in fifteen 60-minute episodes with Ureña, Braulio Castro and Rocio Verdejo, among others, as cast members.

“We are truly delighted to bring Subete a mi Moto to the U.S. Hispanic audience. Menudo was an international smash hit and the first Latin pop band to cross over to the American mainstream market,” said Ivan Stoilkovich, evp, television programming, Estrella Media, Inc. “I am certain this series will appeal to nostalgic fans in the U.S. as well as transcend generations to attract new followers to Menudo’s musical legacy.”

Menudo featured different members including Grammy winners Ricky Martin and Draco Rosa. The boy band released 35 albums before disbanding in 2009.

Súbete A Mi Moto, which premiered in Mexico and Latin America in October 2020, is produced by Somos Productions, Endemol Shine Boomdog and Piñolywood Studios, and distributed by SOMOS Distribution.

Sony/Screen Gems to Release Carlito Olivero’s Horror Film “Escape Room 2” Next January

Carlito Olivero is making his great escape next January…

Sony/Screen Gems’ Escape Room 2, starring the 31-year-old Puerto Rican and Mexican American actor/singer, will now open on January 7, 2022.

Carlito Olivero

The sequel to the $155M-plus horror film was recently taken off the theatrical release calendar. Previously Sony had the movie set to open on December 30, 2020. It had an earlier release date of April 17, 2020, before being moved twice due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The microbudget feature is a hot one for the studio, which is why they’re protecting their asset.

Adam Robitel returns to direct with a screenplay by Will Honley and Maria Melnik & Daniel Tuch; Melnik wrote on the first 2019 movie.

The story is by Christine Lavaf & Fritz Bohm and Will Honley. Neal H. Moritz produces with a cast that includes Olivero, Taylor Russell, Logan Miller, Indya Moore, Holland Roden, Isabelle Fuhrman, Thomas Cocquerel and James Frain.

From 2007–09, Olivero was part of the Latin boy band Menudo after taking part in MTV‘s Making Menudo. In 2013, he auditioned for season 3 of the American singing competition series The X Factor and finished 3rd in the competition. He was mentored by Paulina Rubio.

 

He appeared in the film We the Party, which directed by Mario Van Peebles.

Martin Receives Star on Puerto Rico’s Paseo de la Fama

Ricky Martin’s star is shining bright in Puerto Rico…

The 44-year-old singer, actor and author has received a star on Puerto Rico’s Walk of Fame in San Juan, where actor Jose Ferrer and actresses Roselyn Sánchez and Míriam Cólon and singer Chayanne have already been honored on the Paseo de la Fama.

Ricky Martin

The main manager of the San Juan location, Santiago Villar, made the announcement in a press release, saying the event is aimed at “paying tribute to those figures who have made the name of our land known.”

“We’re very happy that Ricky Martin provides continuity to this project,” Villar said, “to complete our aim for the first phase … of presenting 40 stars.”

The “Perdoname” singer, who will perform at the Coliseum in San Juan from February 12-14 as part of his One World tour, is the Puerto Rican artist who is the most widely known internationally.

The former member of the boy band Menudo in the 1980s has won numerous prestigious awards, including several Grammys, and has set album sales records, all while participating in important television and theater productions.

San Juan’s Walk of Fame is a new cultural and tourist attraction that acknowledges the work of figures from the arts and sports worlds.