America Ferrera Joins Voice Cast of English-Language Version of French Animated Film “Arco”

Posted on August 21, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

America Ferrera is getting animated…

The Honduran American Emmy-, Golden Globe– and SAG Award-winning actress has joined the voice cast of NEON’s English-language version of Arco, a French animated feature they’ll submit for Oscar consideration, which had its world premiere as a Special Screening at the Cannes Film Festival.

In addition to Ferrera, who rose to acclaim on ABC’s Ugly Betty, the voice list includes Will Ferrell, Flea, Natalie Portman, Mark Ruffalo, and Andy Samberg.

The English-language version will world premiere in the Centerpiece section of the Toronto Film Festival on September 7, ahead of its release in U.S. theaters on November 14th.

Winning both the Cristal Award for Best Feature Film and the Soundtrack Award at Annecy, Arco follows a 10-year-old boy from a peaceful, distant future who accidentally travels back to the year 2075 and discovers a world in peril. As Arco develops a charming and touching friendship with a young girl named Iris, they band together and along with her trusted robot caretaker Mikki, set out on a quest to get Arco home, while the two children may also be the only ones who can save our planet.

Marking the feature debut of Ugo Bienvenu, the film is produced by Remembers’ Bienvenu and Felix de Givry, as well as mountainA’s Portman and Sophie Mas.

Neon acquired rights to Arco out of Cannes, where they earned their sixth consecutive Palme d’Or for Jafar Panahi’s It Was Just an Accident.

Arturo Castro to Star in Neon’s Thriller “A Place in Hell”

Posted on July 29, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

Arturo Castro has earned his place…

The 39-year-old Guatemalan actor will star in the Neon film A Place in Hell, from director Chloe Domont.

Castro is part of a roster of five new cast additions that includes Danny Huston, Kyle Mooney, Dani Oliveros and Esther McGregor.

Character details are under wraps.

Recently wrapping production in New Jersey, the film is a thriller that follows two women at a high-profile criminal law firm.

Michelle Williams and Daisy Edgar-Jones lead the ensemble, which also features Andrew Scott.

Domont directed from her own script, with Neon co-financing alongside MRC and Republic Pictures and T-Street producing.

Neon will also release the film theatrically in the U.S., with Republic Pictures handling international distribution.

Castro’s previous credits include Broad City, Bad Thoughts and Yes Day.

Chris Estrada to Star in NBC Warehouse-Themed Comedy “Forklift”

Posted on July 22, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

Chris Estrada has reached a fork(lift) in the road.

The Mexican American comedian, writer and producer will headline, co-write and executive produce Forklift, a single-camera warehouse comedy in development at NBC.

Former top Comedy Central executives Kent Alterman and Sarah Babineau will executive produce for Good Walk, the company they launched after leaving the cable network in the wake of the Viacom-CBS merger.

In Forklift, co-written by Estrada and Rick Cisario, Victor (Estrada), a forklift driver promoted to warehouse supervisor, finds that upward mobility comes with a cost when his friends and co-workers go from viewing him as their brother to now being part of “Big Brother.”

The series is inspired by real-life experiences by Estrada, who was still working at his warehouse job when he got the call that Hulu had taken his comedy series This Fool in for development.

Estrada and Cisario executive produce with Good Walk’s Alterman and Babineau as well as Jordan Tilzer. Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, is the studio.

The sale of Forklift comes amidst a major comeback for comedy series built around standup comedians.

Touring comedian Estrada, who has appeared on Comedy Central standup specials during Alterman and Babineau’s tenure there, previously co-created, executive produced and starred in the 2022 Hulu comedy series This Fool, which ran for two seasons.

He recently guest starred on the NBC/Universal TV sitcom Lopez vs. Lopez; co-wrote and starred in 5th of July; and will be seen in the upcoming Neon feature Wrong Girls opposite Kristen Stewart, Seth Rogen and Lakeith Stanfield.

Cisario is the writer of the upcoming feature Old Pals with Brian Cox, Henry Winkler, Emma Roberts and Evan Rachel Wood. His screenplay Supported is on the 2024 Blacklist’s Disability list.

Diego Calva to Star in the New Neon Film “Her Private Hell”

Posted on June 13, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

Diego Calva has landed a Hell-uva role…

The 33-year-old Mexican actor has joined the cast of Nicolas Winding Refn’s new Neon film, Her Private Hell.

Calva, who starred opposite Margot Robbie in Babylon, is among a roster of new cast additions that includes Dougray Scott, Aoi Yamada, Shioli Kutsuna and Hidetoshi Nishijima.

Plot and character details are being kept under wraps for the project, which marks Refn’s first for the big screen since The Neon Demon, starring Elle Fanning, in 2016.

Sophie Thatcher, Charles Melton, Kristine Froseth and Havana Rose Liu will lead the cast, as previously announced.

Production is underway, with Neon repping worldwide rights and releasing the film in U.S. theaters, and Neon International handling foreign sales.

Written by Refn and Esti Giordani, Her Private Hell is directed and produced by Refn.

David Castañeda Starring in Neon & Topic Studios’ “Splitsville”

Posted on November 5, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

It’s splitsville for David Castañeda.

The 35-year-old Mexican American actor has been added to the cast of Neon and Topic Studios’ comedy Splitsville, which recently wrapped production.

Directed by and starring The Climb‘s Michael Angelo Covino, the film has also added Nicholas Braun and O-T Fagbenle to the cast

Details as to the trio’s roles are being kept under wraps.

Dakota Johnson, Adria Arjona and Covino’s The Climb collaborator Kyle Marvin will also star.

In Splitsville, Ashley (Arjona) asks for a divorce, leading good-natured Carey (Marvin) to run to his friends, Julie (Johnson) and Paul (Covino), for support. He’s shocked to discover that the secret to their happiness is an open marriage — that is, until Carey crosses the line and throws all of their relationships into chaos.

The project was developed at Topic Studios as part of a multi-year first look deal with Covino and Marvin’s Watch This Ready following their collaboration on Covino’s directorial debut The Climb.

Known for his role as Diego Hargreeves on Netflix’s hit series The Umbrella Academy, Castañeda will next be seen starring opposite Ana de Armas in Lionsgate’s John Wick spin-off Ballerina, which releases on June 6, 2025.

Genesis Rodriguez to Star Opposite Zoe Saldaña in Paramount+’s “Lioness” for Season Two

Posted on May 20, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Genesis Rodriguez is ready to roar…

The 36-year-old Cuban-Venezuelan actress has joined the Season 2 cast of Taylor Sheridan’s Lioness.

Rodriguez will portray Captain Josephina Carrillo, a dedicated soldier and skilled helicopter pilot with a fierce personality.

Starring Zoe Saldaña and Laysla De Oliveira, the drama was renewed for a second season by Paramount+ earlier this month. Season 1 is available to stream in its entirety via P+.

Lioness is based on a real-life CIA program and follows Cruz Manuelos (De Oliveira), a rough-around-the-edges but passionate young Marine recruited to join the CIA’s Lioness Engagement Team to help bring down a terrorist organization from within.

Saldaña plays Joe, the station chief of the Lioness program tasked with training, managing and leading her female undercover operatives.

The series also stars Dave Annable, Jill Wagner, LaMonica Garrett, James Jordan, Austin Hébert, Jonah Wharton and Hannah Love Lanier.

Rodriguez most recently wrapped production on Kevin Smith’s The 4:30 Movie, in which she stars alongside Justin Long, Jason Lee and Rachel Dratch.

She recently starred in the series Neon, executive produced by Daddy Yankee, and can also be seen in Season 3 of the hit series The Umbrella Academy.

Additional film credits include Tusk, Big Hero 6, Casa De Mi Padre, Man On A Ledge, Identity Thief and Run All Night.

She can also be seen in the independent films Centigrade and Fixation.

Rodriguez previously shot a leading role opposite Kiefer Sutherland and Boyd Holbrook for the series The Fugitive.

Danny Ramirez to Star in Live Reading of Oscar-Nominated Drama “Anatomy of a Fall”

Posted on February 11, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Danny Ramirez is studying anatomy…

The 31-year-old Colombian and Mexican American actors will star in a live reading of the Oscar-nominated drama Anatomy of a Fall.

Ramirez will star alongside Riley Keough, Bob Odenkirk, Jay Ellis, Kate Berlant, Quincy Isaiah and Olivia Wilde in the reading.

Keough takes on the lead role of Sandra, which earned Sandra Hüller an Academy Award nomination for best actress this year.

In addition to the human cast, the movie’s dog Messi will reprise his role as Snoop.

The event, taking place on February 14 at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, is presented by Neon and Film Independent. The film’s director Justine Triet will co-direct with Franklin Leonard of The Black List.

“My partner Arthur and I wrote this script while in quarantine together,” Triet said in a statement on Saturday. “What better way to spend Valentine’s Day than with this caliber of talent exploring relationships, love and truth? We are so excited at the opportunity to collaborate with Film Independent.”

In addition to best actress, Anatomy of a Fall’s Oscar nominations include best original screenplay, best editing, best director and best picture.

The film has won the Palme d’Or, two Golden Globe Awards – including best screenplay – and two Gotham Awards. Anatomy of a Fall has been highly recognized by more than 25 national critics groups, in addition to garnering nominations from the Producers Guild of America and American Cinema Editors.

Past live readings at the Wallis have included Love Actually, Back to the Future, Jennifer’s Body and Triangle of Sadness.

For more information and tickets for the live reading, go to filmindependent.org.

Ramirez’s previous credits include The Gifted, On My Block and Top Gun: Maverick.

Neon Releases Official Trailer for Adam Driver & Penelope Cruz’s “Ferrari”

Posted on October 18, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Penelope Cruz is driving interest in her latest film project…

The official trailer has been released for Michael Mann’s Ferrari, starring the 49-year-old Spanish Oscar-winning actress opposite Adam Driver.

“Two objects cannot occupy the same point in space at the same moment in time,” begins the trailer.

The film finds automotive mogul Enzo Ferrari at a personal and professional crisis point in his life. “The corner races at you, you have perhaps a crisis of identity,” says Driver’s Ferrari. “Am I a sportsman, or a competitor?” he asks.

Facing bankruptcy and a marriage unraveling, Ferrari’s best hope of saving his legacy and his failing business is to win the treacherous Mille Miglia 1,000-mile race across Italy.

Neon will release the film on December 25. “If you get into one of my cars, you get in to win.”

Here’s the film’s description: It is the summer of 1957. Behind the spectacle of Formula 1, ex-racer Enzo Ferrari (Driver) is in crisis. Bankruptcy threatens the factory he and his wife, Laura (Cruz), built from nothing 10 years earlier. Their volatile marriage has been battered by the loss of their son a year earlier, and Ferrari struggles to acknowledge his son with Lina Lardi (Shailene Woodley). Meanwhile, his drivers’ passion to win pushes them to the edge as they launch into the treacherous 1,000-mile race across Italy, the Mille Miglia.

Patrick Dempsey, Sarah Gordon, Gabriel Leone and Jack O’Connell also star in Mann’s vehicle, which was scripted by Troy Kennedy Martin.

Netflix Releases First Trailer for Tyler Dean Flores’ Reggaeton-Themed Comedy Series “Neon”

Posted on September 1, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Tyler Dean Flores is gassed up for his next project…

The first trailer has been released for Netflix’s reggaeton-themed series Neon, starring the 25-year-old Nuyorican actor, ahead of is October 19 premiere.

From creators Shea Serrano and Max Searle, Neon follows three friends in Miami as they hustle their way to making it big in the world of reggaeton. The eight-episode comedy captures not only the three besties’ larger-than-life dreams but also the harsh realities and funny mishaps of surviving the music industry.

Flores plays Santi, a rising reggaeton artist who, with the help of his friends Ness (Emma Ferreira), Felix (Jordan Mendoza), and A&R rep Mia (Courtney Taylor), hopes to become the biggest star in reggaeton—or at least pay his rent.

Daddy Yankee, a pioneer of the musical genre, executive produces the series and makes an appearance.

Genesis Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Jhayco, Santiago Cabrera and Jowell are also among the Season 1 guest stars.

Neon co-creator Max Searle serves as showrunner.

In addition to Yankee, the series is executive produced by Serrano and Searle, alongside SB Projects and Anne Clements.

Executive music producers include Tainy, Lex Borrero, Ivan Rodriguez, from Ntertain and Neon16, and collectively known as Tainy & One Six. One Six of Neon16 and Ntertain, and Joe Rodriguez and Javier Nuno of Indice are music producers. Jordan Mendoza served as consulting producer; Miguel Nolla, Wally Baram and Frances Lausell produce.

Tainy Named Executive Music Producer on SB Project’s Reggaeton Series “Neon”

Posted on July 12, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Tainy is ready to light up SB Project’s Neon series…

The 33-year-old Puerto Rican Grammy-winning reggaeton record producer and songwriter, along with Lex Borrero and Ivan Rodriguez – all from Ntertain and Neon16, collectively known as Tainy & One Six, will serve as executive music producers on Neon.

The group is writing and producing original songs for the series.

The music supervisors are One Six of Neon16 and Ntertain, and Joe Rodriguez and Javier Nuno of Indice.

Deadline also exclusively revealed in May the addition of reggaeton pioneer Daddy Yankee as an executive producer, who will also cameo in the series.

The eight-episode series set to premiere later this year focuses on three friends who move from a small town in Florida to Miami with the hopes of making it big in the world of reggaeton. The show chronicles not only their larger-than-life dreams but the harsh comic realities of attempting to make it in the music industry.

Tyler Dean Flores plays Santi, a budding reggaeton artist who, with the help of his friends, Ness (Emma Ferreira) and Felix (Jordan Mendoza) and A&R rep, Mia (Courtney Taylor) hopes to become the biggest reggaeton star in the world—or at least make rent.

Neon was co-created by Shea Serrano and Max Searle, who also serves as showrunner. The series is executive produced by Serrano, Searle, alongside Scooter Braun, James Shin and Scott Manson for SB Projects, Anne Clements and Daddy Yankee.

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