Rodriguez’s “Furious 7” Nearing $1 Billion Mark Globally

Posted on April 12, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Michelle Rodriguez may have a billion reasons to celebrate soon…

Furious 7, starring the 36-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican-American actress, shot past the $800 million mark globally after less than two weeks in theaters.

The film’s performance essentially insures it will become the first film in the Fast and Furious franchise and the first Universal Pictures release in history to top $1 billion.

Furious 7 easily topped foreign box office charts over the weekend, picking up $195 million from 22,000 locations across 66 territories. Its international total stands at $548 million through Sunday. Domestically, Furious 7 earned $60.6 million, besting all comers, and bringing its U.S. total to $252.5 million.

Fans of the series have flocked to theaters to see how the film would handle the death of Paul Walker, who was killed in a 2013 car crash before shooting on the film was completed.

“That’s the emotional current running through the movie, and it’s what’s helping it hold up and play better than any of the other films in the franchise,” said Phil Contrino, vice president and chief analyst at BoxOffice.com.

The film’s boffo results propelled the franchise past the $3 billion at the worldwide box office. The Fast and Furious series has now generated $3.18 billion through the weekend. The seventh installment now ranks as the highest-grossing one, passing Fast 6’s $789 million total to establish a new high-water mark.

Furious 7 got a big boost from its debut in China, where it opened in first place on Sunday and grossed an estimated $68.6 million. That is the highest-grossing one-day result ever for the People’s Republic.

In Russia, Furious 7 also debuted in first place, picking up $15 million. It also debuted to $1.9 million in Poland. Furious 7 has one major market left to open, Japan on April 17.

Universal Releases Three-Minute Trailer for Rodriguez’s “Furious 7”

Posted on February 5, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Michelle Rodriguez is ready to take crazy “to a whole new level”…

Universal Pictures has released a new three-minute trailer for Furious 7, starring the 36-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican American actress.

“I don’t have friends — I got family,” asserts Vin Diesel in the high-octane trailer.

In addition to Rodriguez and Vin Diesel, the film also stars the late Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Elsa Pataky, Lucas Black, Djimon Hounsou, Tony Jaa, Ronda Rousey and Romeo Santos.

Meanwhile, Jason Statham makes his debut as the film’s villain, who is keen on getting revenge.

Fast & Furious 7 will be released in theaters on April 10, 2015.

Universal Pictures to Release Rodriguez’s “Fast & Furious 7” Next April

Posted on July 3, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Michelle Rodriguez will be getting fast and furious next Easter…

Universal Pictures has moved up the release date of Fast & Furious 7, starring the 35-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican American actress, ahead to Easter weekend.

The franchise sequel originally had an April 10 release date, but Fast & Furious 7 is now set to hit theaters on April 3.

The move gives the film an extra weekend of play before the April 17 debut of Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2.

James Wan is directing this latest installment of the blockbuster series, which again stars Vin Diesel, Paul Walker — in his last film — Dwayne Johnson, Jordana Brewster and others, including franchise rookies Jason Statham, Djimon Hounsou and Kurt Russell.

Rodriguez is set to reprise her role as Leticia “Letty” Ortiz, a role that earned her Fandango Cine’s Latino Performance of the Year at the Premios Tu Mundo in 2013.

Santos to Star Opposite Michelle Rodriguez in “Fast & Furious 7”

Posted on May 26, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Romeo Santos is making a furious acting debut…

The 32-year-old Dominican and Puerto Rican singer-songwriter and former lead singer of the Bachata group Aventura has joined the cast of Universal Pictures’ Fast & Furious 7.

Santos, a chart-topping, Grammy-nominated musician, was joined onstage at his sold-out Staples Center concert in Los Angeles by Fast & Furious franchise star Vin Diesel, who made the announcement to the singer’s fans.

Santos’ role in the James Wan-directed sequel hasn’t been revealed yet.

But he will be joining Jason Statham, Kurt Russell and more newcomers alongside series returners Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Lucas Black and the late Paul Walker.

Fast & Furious 7 will be released in theaters on April 10, 2015.

Rodriguez Wins Cine Latino Pride in Hollywood Award at Premios Tu Mundo

Posted on August 16, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Michelle Rodriguez is the pride of Latino Hollywood…

The 34-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican American actress earned the Fandango Cine Latino Pride in Hollywood award this week at the Premios Tu Mundo, held at Miami’s American Airlines Arena.

Rodriguez, who won the award for her role in Fast & Furious 6, beat out Filly Brown’s Jenni Rivera, Epic’s Pitbull and Star Trek Into Darkness’ Zoe Saldaña.

Meanwhile, La Patrona was named Novela of the Year, while acting awards were given to cast members Aracely Arambula, Christian Bach, Gonzalo Garcia Vivanco and Jorge Luis Pila. The telenovela even won the award for Best Bad Luck Moment.

Other novela winners included one award each for El Rostro de la Venganza, Pasion Prohibida and El Señor de los Cielos.

In music, Prince Royce’s “Incondicional” won “Most Popular Song of the Year,” and Invencible by Alerta Zero received the mun2 presents Best Music Video prize.

TV personalities Maria Celeste Arraras and Ana Maria Polo were also honored, for Best Social Fan Club and Best Reality Moment for Caso Cerrado respectively. Gaby Espino just host the event; she also earned the I’m Sexy and I Know It award.

Best Athlete of the Year went to Argentine soccer star Leo Messi.

Special awards were given to Eva Longoria, who took homed the ALMA de Tu Mundo Awards, while Musical Powerhouse honors went to Daddy Yankee, who also performed.

Winners were chosen through fan voting on web, mobile and social media platforms; Telemundo viewers chose winners from 20 competing categories.

Click here for the full list of winners.

Rodriguez’s “Machete Kills” to Open at Austin, Texas’ Fantastic Fest

Posted on July 11, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Robert Rodriguez’s Machete Kills is getting a Fantastic opening…

The 45-year-old Mexican American filmmaker’s sequel to the cult classic Machete, starring Danny Trejo, will debut in his hometown of Austin, Texas at the annual genre-packed Fantastic Fest.

In the film, Trejo returns as the title character – an ex-Federale turned vigilante – who is recruited by the President (Charlie Sheen – billed as Carlos Estevez) to stop an eccentric billionaire (Mel Gibson) from launching a missile into space.

Rodriguez has again assembled a B-movie dream team of name actors and unorthodox stars for his gory action-packed film, including Michelle Rodriguez, Sofia Vergara, Amber Heard, Lady Gaga, Antonio Banderas, Jessica Alba, Demian Bichir, Alexa Vega, Vanessa Hudgens, Cuba Gooding, Jr., William Sadler and Marko Zaror.

Machete Kills will have its world premiere September 19 at the new Lakeline location of the Alamo Drafthouse theaters, home to the annual horror, action, sci-fi, fantasy, and foreign film festival.

Two weeks later Open Road Films will release Machete Kills nationwide on October 4.

This year’s Fantastic Fest runs from September 19-26, 2013.

The Release Date of Rodriguez’s “Machete Kills” Moved to October

Posted on June 20, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

If you’re anxious to see Robert Rodriguez’s Machete Kills, you’ll have to wait a tad longer.

Open Road has shifted the release of the 44-year-old Mexican American filmmaker’s sequel to the Danny Trejo-starrer Machete to October 4 from its earlier September 13 date.

Along with Trejo, Machete Kills stars Michelle Rodriguez, Sofia Vergara, Amber Heard, Charlie Sheen, Lady Gaga, Antonio Banderas, Jessica Alba, Demián Bichir, Alexa Vega, Vanessa Hudgens and Mel Gibson.

Trejo returns as the blade-wielding ex-Federale agent, who this time is recruited by the President of the United States for a mission which would be impossible for any mortal man – he must take down a madman revolutionary and an eccentric billionaire arms dealer who has hatched a plan to spread war and anarchy across the planet

The script, by Kyle Ward, is based on a story by Rodriguez and his brother Marcel.

Rodriguez Releases First Trailer for “Machete Kills”

Posted on May 31, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Robert Rodriguez is offering a first glimpse at Machete Kills…

The 44-year-old Mexican American director has released the first trailer to his sequel to the 2010 grindhouse-inspired film Machete.

By the looks of things, Rodriguez has amped up the camp, as well as carnage, in the Danny Trejo-starrer.

In the sequel, Trejo portrays blade-savvy former Mexican Federale Machete, who is recruited by the President of the United States for a mission which would be impossible for any mortal man – he must take down a madman revolutionary and an eccentric billionaire arms dealer (Mel Gibson) who has hatched a plan to spread war across the planet.

In addition to Trejo and Gibson, the film also stars Michelle Rodriguez, Sofia Vergara, Amber Heard, Antonio Banderas, Jessica Alba, Demian Bichir, Alexa Vega, Vanessa Hudgens, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Charlie Sheen, who is using his birth name in the film credits.

There are reportedly plans to make Machete a trilogy, especially if the sequel does anywhere near the first film, which earned $44M worldwide on an approximately $10M production budget.

Machete Kills will be released on September 13.

Rodriguez Helps Propel “Fast & Furious 6” to the Top of the Global Box Office Charts

Posted on May 28, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Michelle Rodriguez’s return from the dead has helped make Fast & Furious 6 an insta-hit at the global box office…

Fast & Furious 6 took top honors at the Memorial Day box office in the United States with $120 million for a worldwide total of $317 million — a franchise best and the biggest debut of all time for Universal Pictures.

The action pic has taken in $197 million internationally, including $17 million earned since opening last weekend in the U.K. and Ireland.

Fast 6, which cost $160 million to make, even zoomed past The Hangover Part III, the final installment in Todd Phillips‘ R-rated comedy franchise.

Boosting Fast 6‘s stellar performance were an A CinemaScore and the strong turnout among minorities, while Hangover III could have been hurt by a B CinemaScore (the last film received an A- CinemaScore) and poor reviews.

Specifically, Fast 6 benefited mightily from Latinos, who made up 32 percent of the audience and are the most frequent moviegoers in the U.S.

“This isn’t just a car racing movie anymore. It’s an action pic with broad appeal,” said Universal president of domestic distribution Nikki Rocco, noting how unusual it is for a franchise to gain such strength with time. “And it played to a tremendously diverse audience.”

Along with the return of Rodriguez’s Letty, Fast 6 sees the return of stars Van Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson and Jordana Brewster.

Overseas, Fast 6 has placed No. 1 in each of the 60 territories where it has opened. The pic earned $160.3 million over the weekend proper, and $180 million for the four-day weekend (Monday is a holiday in many countries). Fast 6 nabbed the biggest opening of all time in the United Arab Emirates, the Middle East and Argentina.

Rodriguez & Vin Diesel Get Their Race On in Latest “Fast & Curious 6” Clip

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Michelle Rodriguez isn’t afraid of a good challenge…

In a new clip for Fast & Furious 6, which features the 34-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican American actress’ “return from the dead,” Rodriguez’s character chats briefly with Vin Diesel’s character, who challenges her to a race with him.

British singer Rita Ora then steals the spotlight for a second when the singer, who appears as the “head girl” of a London racing crew, gets the honor of being the starter girl.

“This is London, baby,” she says, before finally letting Rodriguez and Vin Diesel start their race.

Fast & Furious 6 centers on Dom and his crew as they are given a task by Hobbs to stop an organization of lethally skilled mercenary drivers, which is apparently led by Owen Shaw with Dom’s ex-girlfriend Letty (Rodriguez) as his assistant.

Despite the shocking return of Letty, Dom and his friends still regroup in London to do their job with full pardons to return home and make their families whole again as their payment.

The film, which also stars Jordana Brewster, Paul Walker and Luke Evans, is slated for release on May 24 in the United States.

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