Mariel Molino to Star in CBS‘ Young Gibbs Drama “NCIS: Origins”

Mariel Molino is celebrating her origins

The Mexican American actress will star as the female lead opposite Austin Stowell in CBSYoung Gibbs drama NCIS: Origins, a prequel to the venerable procedural, which has a straight-to-series order for the 2024-2025 broadcast season.

Mariel Molino Narrated by Harmon, the CBS Studios-produced show begins in 1991, years prior to the events of NCIS, and chronicles Leroy Jethro Gibbs’ younger years.

In the prequel, Gibbs (Stowell) starts his career as a newly minted special agent at the fledgling NIS Camp Pendleton office where he forges his place on a gritty, ragtag team led by NCIS legend Mike Franks.

Molino will play Special Agent Lala Dominguez, a former Marine who navigates her 1990s male-dominated field with a steely resolve and a dark sense of humor. When a tormented Leroy Jethro Gibbs joins her team, the ensuing story between these two enigmatic outsiders is filled with sparks and turns that will keep the audience guessing.

This is a new character to the NCIS universe who has not been featured on the mothership series. In the NCIS timeline, the prequel takes place in the aftermath of the murder of Gibbs’ first wife and their daughter.

Mark Harmon and his son Sean Harmon, who portrayed Gibbs in flashbacks on NCIS and was a driving force behind the prequel, executive produce alongside David J. North and Gina Lucita Monreal who are co-writing the premiere episode and serving as co-showrunners.

Origins is one of two newly greenlighted extensions of CBS Studios’ ever-growing NCIS franchise, along with an Europe-set Tony & Ziva spinoff starring Michael Weatherly and Cote De Pablo for Paramount+. They join the mothership series, now in its 21st season, NCIS: Hawai’i, now in Season 3 and the franchise’s first international installment, NCIS: Sydney.

Molino, who was born in California, splits time between Los Angeles and Mexico City.

She started her career acting in Spanish-language projects, including the telenovela Papis Muy Padres, Amazon’s comedy series El Juego De Las Llaves and thriller drama series La Negociadora. She has also appeared on Netflix’s Narcos: Mexico and Luis Miguel: The Series.

Molino most recently starred in the Freeform thriller series The Watchful Eye and in the ABC family drama Promised Land. On the film side, Molino was be seen in upcoming features The Shade and Dead Man’s Switch.

Cote de Pablo Reuniting with Michael Weatherly for CBS Studios’ New “NCIS” Franchise Spinoff

Cote de Pablo is returning to television…

CBS Studios is expanding its NCIS franchise by bringing back two fan favorite characters from the mothership series, Ziva David, portrayed by the 44-year-old Chilean actress and singer, and Tony DiNozzo, played by Michael Weatherly.

Cote de Pablo & MIchael Weatherlyde Pablo and Weatherly will reunite on screen for the first time in 10 years.

Paramount+ has given a 10-episode series order to the untitled spinoff headlined by Weatherly and de Pablo and written by actress and singer. All three executive produce.

Nicknamed NCIS: Europe, the new action-packed spinoff, set to start production later this year, will follow Tony (Weatherly) and Ziva (de Pablo) as they find themselves on the run across the continent.

NCIS is one of CBS Studios’ most valuable franchises and its expansion has been a goal for the studio. This is one of two new NCIS offshoots greenlighted this year, along with the Young Gibbs prequel series for CBS, NCIS: Origins. It’s also the second extension of the NCIS franchise beyond the U.S., following NCIS: Sydney, which has been airing on CBS in the U.S.

After Ziva’s (de Pablo) supposed death, Tony (Weatherly) left the NCIS team to go raise their daughter. Years later, Ziva was discovered alive, leading her to complete one final mission with NCIS before she was reunited with Tony and their daughter in Paris. Since then – and where we find them in the new Paramount+ original series – Tony and Ziva have been raising their daughter, Tali, together. When Tony’s security company is attacked, they must go on the run across Europe, trying to figure out who is after them and maybe even learn to trust each other again so that they can finally have their unconventional happily ever after.

“We’ve been talking about this story for many years, and now with John McNamara at the helm, we are ready,” Weatherly and de Pablo said. “The world of Tony and Ziva (and daughter Tali) promises to be an action-packed roller coaster fueled by love, danger, tears and laughter. We also want to acknowledge and thank the fans from around the world who supported the ‘Tiva’ movement for years. To this day, they say hello in grocery stores and on the street to tell us how much these characters mean to them and ask what Tony and Ziva are up to now. This is for you!”

Weatherly hinted at a potential ‘Tiva’ reunion last month when his New Year’s tweet, “It’s time to look at time and enjoy the moment!” prompted a fan to respond, “We all would rather look at you and Ziva reuniting.” Weatherly highlighted the comment, adding, “Stay tuned… for this might be an interesting year for such ‘moments’!” He further fueled speculation this week by responding to a fan tweet lamenting about him and de Pablo, “miss the chemistry and magic you both create,” with the cryptic, “the universe works in mysterious ways…”

De Pablo, Weatherly and McNamara executive produce the spinoff series with Laurie Lieser, Christina Strain and Shelley Meals.

The series is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.

“I’m incredibly excited to step into the NCIS universe with Cote and Michael and thrilled to explore it from a few new angles,” McNamara said. “Given that the franchise is such a global sensation, I think it’s phenomenal that CBS Studios and Paramount+ have given us the greenlight to shoot in Europe. As to the title of this series, if I told you what it is, I’d be violating the Espionage Act.”

De Pablo joined NCIS in Season 3. She appeared in Seasons 3 through 10 and exited the series early in Season 11. In the Season 13 finale, it was revealed that Ziva apparently had died in an explosion in Israel. She returned three years later in 2019, where it was revealed she was alive and had gone into hiding. She made a surprise unannounced return in the last scene of the season 16 finale, which aired on May 21, 2019, in which Ziva arrives at Gibbs’ basement to warn him that his life is in danger. She later appeared in the first two episodes of the show’s 17th season and in that season’s 10th and 11th episodes as part of her storyline.

Jenna Ortega’s “Wednesday” Notches 5.9 Billion Minutes Viewed in Debut Week

Jenna Ortega’s latest project is drawing heavy traffic…

The 20-year-old Mexican and Puerto Rican actress’ series Wednesday landed at the top of Nielsen’s U.S. streaming charts in its first week on Netflix with a massive 5.9B minutes viewed.

Jenna Ortega, WednesdayThat’s the second highest weekly viewing total for a streaming title since the beginning of 2020 — just behind Stranger Things (which generated over 7B minutes viewed in the week following the release of Season 4 Volume 1).

The impressive numbers for Wednesday almost make it easy to look past the four other titles that hit over 1B minutes viewed the week of November 21 to November 27.

Dead to Me came in at No. 2 on the chart with 1.46B viewing minutes. The Crown and 1899 tied for third place with 1.1B minutes viewed. The film Slumberland also notched 1B viewing minutes. Netflix also took home the subsequent two spots on the chart with Manifest and NCIS.

Here’s the full Top 10, with streaming service, title, number of episodes (“1″=feature film) and minutes of viewing:

Jenna Ortega, Wednesday, Nielsen

Wilmer Valderrama to Appear in CBS’ “NCIS” and “NCIS: Hawai’i” Crossover Episodes

Wilmer Valderrama is heading to Hawaii…

The 42-year-old Venezuelan and Colombian American actor will take part in a NCIS and NCIS: Hawai’i crossover event.

Wilmer Valderrama, CBS, NCIS, NCIS: HawaiiThe two CBS series will kick off their respective new seasons with the crossover event beginning at 9:00 pm ET/PT on September 19.

Across two hours, the hunt for a dangerous suspect unveils a complex network and a larger sinister plan that will take the D.C. team to Hawai’i in a race to thwart the next large-scale attack.

It begins with the Season 20 premiere of NCIS at 9:00 PM. The “A Family Matter” episode picks up following the cliffhanger season 19 finale, with Special Agent Alden Parker (Gary Cole) still on the run with his ex-wife Vivian (Terri Polo) and the team investigating who from his past might have a personal vendetta against him in hopes of clearing Parker’s name. Enlisting the help of NCIS: Hawai’i’s Special Agent Jane Tennant (Vanessa Lachey) and computer specialist Ernie Malick (Jason Antoon), who are in town meeting with director Leon Vance (Rocky Carroll) in preparation for a global military exercise, the group tracks down their prime suspect, The Raven.

The crossover event concludes with the Season 2 premiere of NCIS: Hawai’i, which follows at 10:00 pm. In the “Prisoners’ Dilemma” episode, Tennant’s team, along with NCIS agents Nick Torres (Valderrama) and Jessica Knight (Katrina Law), track The Raven’s whereabouts to the island of Oahu and learn about his plans to attack RIMPAC (The Rim of the Pacific Exercises), the world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise. NCIS stars Gary Cole, Brian Dietzen and Diona Reasonover also guest star in the episode.

The episodes will air on CBS and stream live and on demand on Paramount+.

Wilmer Valderrama Open to Reprising Role of Fez in Netflix’s “That ’90s Show”

Wilmer Valderrama may be reprising his star-making role…

The 42-year-old Venezuelan and Colombian American actor hasn’t completely ruled out reprising his character, the fan-favorite Fez, on That ’90s Show, if time permits.

Wilmer Valderrama Valderrama is having a jam-packed year between starring in the CBS crime procedural NCIS and preparing for the titular role on the ABC reboot of Zorro, but he he’s hoping to squeeze in a return to Point Place, Wisconsin.

“I’m a little busy now, but I support them so much. I’m rooting for them. I wish them nothing but the best,” Valderrama said in a TV Line interview.

“If the timing is right, I’d never say no,” suggesting his return to the Netflix That 70’s Show spinoff is possible.

Valderrama played Fez on the eight-season run of That ’70s Show from 1998 to 2006. In the Fox sitcom, Fez – which stands for Foreign Exchange Student – quickly became a favorite among audiences for his flirtatious antics and ambiguous ethnicity.

Earlier, casting of several lead characters on the upcoming Netflix’s That ’70s Show spinoff, That ’90s Show.

Kurtwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp have been set to anchor the follow-up show as their original roles, Red and Kitty Foreman.

The spinoff will be led by Callie Haverda, who plays Leia Forman, daughter of Eric (Topher Grace) and Donna (Laura Prepon) from the original series.

Ashley Aufderhaide, Mace Coronel, Maxwell Acee Donovan, Reyn Doi and Sam Morelos round out the cast as new teen characters opposite fellow series regulars Kurtwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp.

Other original That ’70s Show cast members, including Grace, Prepon, Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher, are in negotiations to recur in the 10-episode spinoff.

That ’90s Show is set in 1995 back in Point Place, Wisconsin where Leia Forman (Haverda), daughter of Eric and Donna, is visiting her grandparents for the summer. Leia ends up bonding with the new generation of town kids under the watchful eye of Kitty (Rupp) and the stern gaze of Red (Smith). Sex, drugs and rock ’n roll never dies, it just changes clothes.

NCIS Star Wilmer Valderrama to Appear on NCIS: Hawaii as Part of Special Crossover Event

Wilmer Valderrama is Hawaii bound…

The 41-year-old Colombian/Venezuelan American actor and his NCIS co-star Katrina Law will be visiting Vanessa Lachey and the rest of the NCIS: Hawai’i cast as part of a crossover special event airing via CBS on March 28.

Wilmer Valderrama“I am headed off to Hawaii to shoot a crossover event,” Valderrama says in an Instagram video released on Monday. Added Law, “I’ve also got something to tell you: I’m coming to Hawaii, too.”

Details regarding what fans can expect from the special that’ll see agents Nicholas Torres (Valderrama) and Jessica Knight (Law) come face to face with Lachey’s Jane Tennant are being kept under wraps by CBS. Whatever the plans, viewers can certainly expect an action-packed episode, according to Law.

“It’s going to be good being back on the island solving crimes,” she said mischievously.

The actress formerly starred in the CBS drama Hawaii Five-O as Quinn Liu during the show’s 10th season.

Both NCIS and NCIS: Hawai’i return with new episodes tonight, at 9:00 pm and 10 pm, respectively.

Wilmer Valderrama to Headline & Executive Produce Disney’s “Zorro” TV Series

Wilmer Valderrama is zee man…

The 41-year-old Colombian/Venezuelan American actor is developing a television series based on the Disney western Zorro for Disney Branded Television.

Wilmer ValderramaValderrama will executive produce and star as Don Diego de la Vega and his alter ego, the titular masked horseman.

The project is executive produced by former Disney Branded Entertainment president and Chief Creative Officer Gary Marsh under the multiyear production deal for his banner at Disney General Entertainment, and John Gertz of Zorro Productions, Inc.

“We’re reimagining this Disney classic as a compelling period piece, set in Pueblo de Los Angeles, but told in a very modern telenovela style — with richly drawn contemporary characters and relationships set against the action, drama, suspense, and humor of the original, iconic Zorro,” said Ayo Davis, President of Disney Branded Television. “Wilmer shares our commitment to reflect the interesting and rich diversity of the human experience and we look forward to delivering a culturally relevant and entertaining story with definitional characters that will connect with our viewers for generations to come.”

Valderrama said he is excited to add to the legacy of the masked avenger while representing the Latino community, especially the younger generation that will grow up feeling represented as he did.

“Growing up, Zorro was the one character that made me, as a Latino, feel like I could be a hero. As an adult and a storyteller, I have a responsibility for the stories that I help bring to life,” he said. “To partner with Gary and Disney to bring Zorro back into the family after 60 years and be a part of the legacy for other children to know they too can be the heroes of their own stories is a dream come true.”

Most recently, Valderrama voiced the character, Agustin, in Disney’s Encanto, and continues to portray NCIS Special Agent Nicholas Torres in CBS’ NCIS.

Wilmer Valderrama Teams Up with Rafael Agustín & Marvin Lemus to Develop Drama/Satire Series “Hipster Death Rattle”

Wilmer Valderrama is rattle to roll…

The 41-year-old Colombian/Venezuelan American actor and NCIS co-star is teaming up with Rafael Agustín and Marvin Lemus to develop Hipster Death Rattle, a drama/satire with comedic elements for The CW.

Wilmer ValderramaThe one-hour series from CBS Studios—based on the novel of the same name by Richie Narvaez—is set in a historically Latino neighborhood that’s falling victim to aggressive gentrification.

According to the show’s logline, “Someone is killing the ‘woke’ yet pretentious new hipsters. But who? And worse – do the locals even care? The victims were just hiking up rent anyway!’”Hipster Death RattleBoth Agustín and Lemus will executive produce alongside Valderrama and Kaitlin Saltzman for WV Entertainment, and Corinne Brinkerhoff and Tiffany Grant for Green Ribbon. Agustín will also write, and Lemus is set to direct.

Agustín serves as CEO of the Latino Film Institute, overseeing the Youth Cinema Project, their project-based learning educational film program, and the annual Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival.

He was a writer on the CW’s Jane the Virgin and a Sundance fellow for his TV family comedy, Illegal, based on his life as a formerly undocumented American.

Agustín is currently writing his comedic undocumented memoir, Illegally Yours, for Grand Central Publishing.

Lemus is an award-winning screenwriter, director, and producer. He co-created and directed Netflix’s Gentefied, which released its second season in November. He also served as co-showrunner on Season 2.

John Gabriel Rodriguez Upped to Series Regular on Fox’s “Fantasy Island” Reboot

There’s more fantasy time in John Gabriel Rodriguez’s future…

The Latino actor, who recurred as Javier on Fantasy Island in season 1, has been promoted to series regular for the upcoming second season of Fox’s contemporary version of the classic drama series.

John Gabriel Rodriguez,Starring Roselyn Sanchez and Kiara BarnesFantasy Island takes place at a luxury resort, where literally any fantasy requested by guests is fulfilled, although they rarely turn out as expected. Delving into the “what if” questions — both big and small — that keep us awake at night, each episode will tell emotional, provocative stories about people who arrive with dreams and desires.

Rugged, handsome and charismatic, Javier (Rodriquez) is Fantasy Island’s head of transport – a pilot, mechanic and jack of all trades. While the island provides Javier refuge, as with everything else it offers, it may come at the price of a reckoning.

The series stars Sanchez as Elena Roarke, a descendant of the iconic Mr. Roarke, who set aside her own ambitions, and the love of her life, to uphold her family’s legacy.

Barnes plays Ruby Akuda, a young woman with an old soul who arrived on Fantasy Island with a terminal illness and was given a new lease on life as Roarke’s right hand.

Fantasy Island hails from Sony Pictures Television, Gemstone Studios and Fox Entertainment.

In addition to Fantasy Island, Rodriquez has done guest starring/recurring stints on NCIS, Young and Hungry, The Fosters and Rosewood and was a series regular in the NBC pilot Miranda’s Rights.

John Gabriel Rodriquez to Appear in Fox’s “Fantasy Island” Series Reboot

John Gabriel Rodriquez is livin’ a sweet, sweet fantasy

The Latino actor has been cast in a recurring role on Fantasy Island, Fox’s contemporary version of the classic drama series that has a straight-to-series order to air this summer.

The project hails from writer-producers Liz Craft and Sarah Fain, as well as Sony Pictures Television and its Gemstone Studios label, which co-produce with Fox Entertainment.

The reboot is keeping the semi-anthological format of the original Fantasy Island with three main characters, one played by Rodriquez, who live/work on the island and new guests arriving in every episode.

The original series, created by Gene Levitt and executive produced by Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg, starred Ricardo Montalbán as the mysterious Mr. Roarke and Hervé Villechaize as his assistant Tattoo as they grant guests so-called “fantasies” on the island for a price.

The new Fantasy Island will be run by Elena Roarke, a direct descendant of Mr. Roarke.

Rodriquez will play the rugged, handsome and charismatic Javier, Fantasy Island’s head of transport — a pilot, mechanic and jack of all trades. While the island provides Javier refuge, as with everything else it offers, it may come at the price of a reckoning.

There is no direct version of the Tattoo character in the reboot.

The Fantasy Island reimagining, written and executive produced by Craft and Fain, delves into the “what if” questions that keep us awake at night. Each episode will tell emotional, provocative stories about people who walk in with a desire but end up reborn to themselves through the magical realism of Fantasy Island.

Rodriquez, who has done guest starring/recurring stints on NCIS, Young and Hungry, The Fosters and Rosewood, was a series regular in the NBC pilot Miranda’s Rights.