CBS Developing Latinx Family Workplace Comedy “Family Insurance” Co-Written & Starring Al Madrigal

Posted on November 22, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Al Madrigal is lowering his deductible …

Eric Christian Olsen’s Cloud Nine Productions has sold Family Insurance, co-written by and starring the 51-year-old half-Mexican American comedian, writer, actor and producer, to CBS.

The network is developing the single-camera Latinx family workplace comedy into a series.

Co-written and executive produced by Madrigal and Ryan Walls, who also have deals at CBS Studios, as well as Adam Lowitt, Family Insurance is a Latinx family workplace comedy revolving around Al Fuentes (Madrigal) who after separating from his wife reluctantly returns to his childhood home to work at the family insurance business that his loud, tough, first generation immigrant father started.

Madrigal is known for his role as Senior Latino Correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He was also a series regular and writer on Showtime’s I’m Dying Up Here, and served as a writer, actor, and producer on the CBS show, Broke.

Madrigal’s film credits include The Way Back with co-star Ben Affleck, Night School alongside Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish, and Morbius opposite Jared Leto.

Adria Arjona to Star in Zoë Kravitz’s Directorial Debut Film “Pussy Island”

Posted on July 10, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Adria Arjona is island-bound…

The 30-year-old Puerto Rican actress will star in Zoë Kravitz’s directorial debut Pussy Island.

Arjona will star alongside Christian Slater, Alia Shawkat, Geena Davis, Haley Joel Osment, Liz Caribel Sierra, Levon Hawke, Trew Mullen, Saul Williams, Cris Costa and Kyle MacLachlan.

The actors join an ensemble that also includes Naomi Ackie, Channing Tatum and Simon Rex, as previously announced.

The MGM genre film written by Kravitz and E.T. Feigenbaum follows Frida (Ackie), a young and clever Los Angeles cocktail waitress who has her eyes set on the prize: philanthropist and tech mogul Slater King (Tatum). When she skillfully maneuvers her way into King’s inner circle and ultimately an intimate gathering on his private island, she is ready for a journey of a lifetime. Despite the epic setting, beautiful people, ever-flowing champagne and late-night dance parties, Frida can sense that there’s more to this island than meets the eye. Something she can’t quite put her finger on. Something terrifying.

Pussy Island is currently in production in Mexico.

Arjona most recently starred as the female lead in Sony’s Marvel film Morbius, opposite Jared Leto. She can currently be seen in HBO’s Irma Vep opposite Alicia Vikander and in HBO Max’s Father of the Bride remake, and will make her Disney+ debut in the Star Wars series Andor on August 31st.

Sierra recently wrapped on Ellen, a miniseries from Automatik and New Regency in which she stars opposite Lin Shaye. Up next, she stars as Regina in the feature God’s Time, written and directed by Daniel Antebi, which made its world premiere at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival.

Costa is an executive protection consultant who, like Hawke, is making his feature film acting debut.

Sony Pushes Release of Jared Leto’s “Morbius” to April 1

Posted on January 3, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Jared Leto won’t be flying into theaters as originally planned…

Sony has pushed back the release date for the Marvel film Morbius, starring the 50-year-old part-Spanish American Academy Award winning actor and singer.

While the Columbia Pictures title was previously scheduled to open on January 28, it will now hit theaters in IMAX and premium large formats on April 1.

One factor motivating the push, according to Deadline, was Sony’s huge (continuing) success with Spider-Man: No Way Home, which established itself as the highest-grossing film of 2021 upon its December 17 debut.

The Tom Holland film has grossed upwards of $1.37 billion worldwide so far, and it now looks to continue to do big business on the screens previously saved for Morbius.

In Morbius, from director Daniel Espinosa, Leto portrays the enigmatic antihero Michael Morbius. Dangerously ill with a rare blood disorder and determined to save others suffering his same fate, Dr. Morbius attempts a desperate gamble. While at first it seems to be a radical success, a darkness inside him is unleashed. Will good override evil—or will Morbius succumb to his mysterious new urges?

Matt Smith, Adria Arjona, Jared Harris, Al Madrigal and Tyrese Gibson also star in the film, based on the Marvel Comics, which Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless adapted from their own screen story.

Morbius would have opened on its previous date opposite IFC Films’ crime drama, Clean, starring Adrien Brody, Glenn Fleshler, Richie Merritt and Chandler DuPont; Bradley Bell and Pablo Jones-Soler’s Greenwich Entertainment music doc Charli XCX: Alone Together; and Joe Wright’s musical adaptation of Cyrano, starring Peter Dinklage, Haley Bennett and Kelvin Harrison Jr., for MGM and United Artists Releasing.

It’s now set to open against Focus Features’ horror drama You Won’t Be Alone, starring Noomi Rapace and Alice Englert; Universal’s Jo Koy comedy Easter Sunday, also starring Jimmy O. Yang, Tia Carrere, Tiffany Haddish and Lou Diamond Phillips; and STX Entertainment’s thriller The Contractor, toplined by Chris Pine.

Amanda Perez to Appear on CBS’ Bowling Comedy “How We Roll”

Posted on December 19, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Amanda Perez is on a roll…

The Latina actress has landed a key recurring role on How We Roll, CBS’ multi-camera bowling comedy from Crashing’s Pete Holmes.

Perez joins a list of cast newcomers that includes Tahj Mowry, Rondi Reed, Judy Kain and Matt McCarthy in the project.

Based on the life of professional bowler Tom Smallwood, the series stars Holmes as Tom, a stoic Midwest husband and dad who gets laid off from a car assembly line and makes the extraordinary decision to provide for his family by following his dream of becoming a professional bowler.

It’s set to premiere Thursday, March 31.

As a skilled player, Tom knows that in bowling you get two chances; no matter what you do with the first ball, you get another one to make it right — the ultimate second chance. Keeping that in mind, he begins his new career with the loving OK from his wife, Jen (Katie Lowes), and the unfaltering support of Archie (Chi McBride), his mentor and the proud owner of Archie’s Lanes: Home of the Curly Fry. It remains to be seen if Tom will strike it big on the pro bowlers circuit, but right now, the pins are set, he’s taking his second shot, and it’s 300 or bust.

Perez will portray Tia, a hair stylist at the beauty salon with Jen. She’s party girl who’s always up for a good time. But as wild as she gets, Tia is still a dear friend to Jen, and there to listen and offer love and support.

How We Roll hails from writer Mark Gross and producers David Hollander and Brian D’Arcy James. The series is produced by CBS Studios with Gross, Hollander and D’Arcy James as executive producers. Mark Cendrowski directed the pilot.

Perez recently recurred on Netflix’s On The Verge and Fox’s Call Me Kat. Her guest star credits include Fox’s Brooklyn Nine-Nine, ABC’s Mom and Modern Family, and Netflix’s The Kominsky Method. She also appeared in features CHiPs, Summoned and Don Jon, and will soon be appearing in Marvel’s Morbius opposite J.K Simmons in 2022.

Columbia Pictures Releases New Trailer for Jared Leto’s “Morbius”

Posted on November 3, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Jared Leto is unleashing his dark side…

Columbia Pictures has released a new for Morbius, starring the 49-year-old part-Spanish American singer/songwriter.

In the trailer, Leto’s Dr. Michael Morbius is suffering from a rare blood disorder. When he undergoes his own experimental treatment, he soon finds an inner darkness unleashed.

That’s all the backstory you’ll need for this new trailer for Morbius, the upcoming installment in the Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel Characters set for release in theaters on January 28, 2022.

Directed by Daniel Espinosa, Morbius features a story and screenplay, based on the Marvel Comics, by Matt Sazama & Burk Sharpless, and stars, in addition to Leto, Matt Smith, Adria Arjona, Jared Harris, Al Madrigal and Tyrese Gibson.

Here’s the official synopsis: One of Marvel’s most compelling and conflicted characters comes to the big screen as Oscar winner Leto transforms into the enigmatic antihero Michael Morbius. Dangerously ill with a rare blood disorder and determined to save others suffering his same fate, Dr. Morbius attempts a desperate gamble. While at first it seems to be a radical success, a darkness inside him is unleashed. Will good override evil – or will Morbius succumb to his mysterious new urges?

Adria Arjona to Star in & Executive Produce the Drama “Los Frikis”

Posted on October 23, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Adria Arjona is getting Friki…

The 29-year-old Puerto Rican actress will star and executive produce the drama Los Frikis.

Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz will be writing and directing the film.

The film is based on the true story of punk-rock teenagers in Havana who deliberately inject themselves with HIV to escape the oppression of “Special Period” Cuba.

Arjona has a busy year ahead, which includes a leading role in the Star Wars series Andor starring Diego Luna.

She can be seen next in Sony’s Morbius opposite Jared Leto and Matt Smith.

She is also set to play the bride in Warner Bros.’ new Father of the Bride film starring Andy Garcia.

Al Madrigal Signs Multi-Year Overall Deal with CBS Studios

Posted on July 20, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Al Madrigal is lookin’ to develop new projects for CBS Studios…

The 50-year-old half-Mexican American comedian, writer, actor and producer has signed a multi-year overall deal with the studio to develop new series for broadcast, cable and streaming services.

Madrigal is currently co-writing, producing, and starring in Guerrillas, a CBS Studios-produced single-camera comedy from Madrigal and Jenny Snyder Urman’s Sutton Street Productions in development at ABC. The series revolves around a lonely efficiency expert (Madrigal) for an oil company who gets kidnapped in South America and ends up working for a disorganized group of guerrilla soldiers to earn back his freedom.

“We are delighted to make our relationship with Al official,” said Kate Adler, EVP Comedy Development, CBS Studios. “We have been fans of his comedy for years. Al is an extraordinary talent both behind and in front of the camera. We are convinced there is nothing he can’t do…aside from speak proficient Spanish. He tells us he’s working on that.”

Madrigal is one of today’s most successful comedians, credited with breaking down barriers for Latinos in the industry and crossing over to become a writer, producer and entrepreneur.

Madrigal and fellow comedian, Bill Burr, co-founded All Things Comedy (ATC) Over the past five years, ATC has created a digital video platform, original podcasts, production company, comedy record label, television and feature distribution, and a social media consultancy and branded content agency. It’s currently the leading comedy podcast network featuring shows hosted by some of the industry’s top comedians and has over 15 million listeners and 50+ shows.

On television, Madrigal is best known as the Senior Latino Correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, a series regular and writer on Showtime’s I’m Dying Up Here, and served as a writer, actor, and producer on the CBS show, Broke.

Madrigal’s film credits include his standout role as Dan the assistant basketball coach in The Way Back, with co-star Ben Affleck for Warner Bros. Madrigal has also been seen in Night School, alongside Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish, and next year, he will play Agent Rodriquez in Sony’s Morbius, alongside Jared Leto.

Madrigal’s stand-up career took-off when he won a jury award for best stand-up comedian at the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival. He went on to sign a talent holding deal with CBS, which led to his special, Comedy Central Presents. Madrigal went on to complete his first one hour special, Why Is the Rabbit Crying?. The special premiered on Comedy Central and was named one of the top 10 comedy specials of 2013 by both Westword and The Village Voice. In 2017, his critically acclaimed one-hour special, Shrimpin’ Ain’t Easy premiered on Showtime.

“I’m excited to continue to collaborate with David, Kate, Alec, Sean and everyone at CBS Studios to write and produce stories that have largely been absent from television,” said Madrigal. “I’m of course talking about overweight white guys married to women way out of their league.”

Sony Moves Premiere Date for Jared Leto’s Marvel Film “Morbius” to January 28, 2022

Posted on May 2, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Jared Leto’s latest film will bite its teeth into the box office a week later…

The long awaited Marvel vampire movie Morbius, starring the 49-year-old part-Spanish American actor/singer, will open a week later on January 28, 2022.

Sony had previously pushed Morbius to January 21, 2022, which is the weekend after MLK.

In Morbius, Biochemist Michael Morbius tries to cure himself of a rare blood disease, but he inadvertently infects himself with a form of vampirism instead.

Daniel Espinosa directs off a screenplay by Matt Sazama and Buck Sharpless.

The film also stars Matt Smith, Adria Arjona, Jared Harris, Al Madrigal and Tyrese Gibson.

Adria Arjona to Star in Warner Bros. & Plan B’s Reboot of “Father of the Bride”

Posted on April 22, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Adria Arjona is heading down the aisle…

The 29-year-old Puerto Rican actress will star as Andy Garcia’s daughter and the bride-to-be in Warner Bros. and Plan B’s reboot of Father of the Bride.

Gaz Alazraki has been set to helm the studio’s new reboot, which will revolve around a Cuban-American family, with Matt Lopez penning the script.

The film will tell the story of a father coming to grips with his daughter’s upcoming wedding through the prism of multiple relationships within a big, sprawling Cuban-American family. It will be more of a rom-com than previous versions of film.

While this will mark the third iteration of the story, sources say this will be more in the vein of the original Spencer Tracy film and not the Steve Martin franchise from the 1990s.

Dede Garner and Jeremy Kleiner will produce for Plan B Entertainment. Garcia will executive-produce.

Arjona’s breakout role came on Legendary’s Pacific Rim: Uprising, where she co-starred opposite John Boyega and Scott Eastwood. She would follow that up with key roles in Life of the Party, Triple Frontier and most recently in the Michael Bay action pic 6 Underground.

She can be seen next in Sony’s extended Marvel Universe film Morbius, which also stars Jared Leto and Matt Smith.

Arjona was recently tapped for the female lead in the anticipated Rogue One spinoff series Andor, which also stars Diego Luna and Stellan Skarsgard.

Al Madrigal to Star in Disney’s “Stargirl” Sequel

Posted on April 4, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Al Madrigal has a new Star-ring role…

The 49-year-old half-Mexican American actor will star in the Julia Hart-directed Disney feature sequel to Stargirl.

Madrigal, best known for his work as a correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, joins a roster of cast newcomers that includes Sarayu Blue, Chris Williams and Nija Okoro.

Stargirl 2 follows Grace VanderWaal’s title protagonist as she journeys out of Mica into a bigger world of music, dreams and possibility.

The script is based on the original character from Jerry Spinelli’s bestselling book. VanderWaal will write and perform new original music for the sequel.

Hart co-wrote with her husband Jordan Horowitz.

The four new actors join a cast that includes Uma Thurman (Roxanne Martell, a musician who Stargirl idolizes), Judy Greer (Stargirl’s mom), Judd Hirsch (Stargirl’s neighbor Mr. Mitchell), Elijah Richardson (Stargirl’s beau Evan) and Tyrel Jackson Williams (Terrell, Evan’s older brother).

Madrigal will play Iggy, the MC at a local music club. Blue will play Alex, an up-and-coming film producer.

Madrigal feature credits include The Way Back, Night School, the upcoming Marvel/Sony movie Morbius and the television series I’m Dying Up Here, About a Boy, Free Agents and Gary Unmarried.

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