Netflix Releases First Trailer for Guitarricadelafuente-Starrer “La Bola Negra”

Posted on September 1, 2026 by Tom Castaneda

Netflix has released the first look trailer to Guitarricadelafuente’s acclaimed film.

La Bola Negra, which stars the 29-year-old Spanish singer-songwriter, guitarist and actor (real name Álvaro Lafuente Calvo), is the work of art by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi.

The Cannes Film Festival breakout title explores LGBT heritage and pays tribute to murdered Spanish poet and playwright Federico García Lorca through the interconnected stories of three men in the three different eras of 1932, 1937 and 2017.

The cast features Guitarricadelafuente, Miguel Bernardeau, Carlos González, Milo Quifes, Penélope Cruz, Lola Dueñas and Glenn Close.

World premiering in Competition, the film took Cannes by storm in May, prompting a 20-minute ovation and then winning Best Director for Calvo and Ambrossi, known as Los Javis.

In the market, it sparked a bidding war for U.S. rights, with Netflix securing the film for the territory in a record-breaking seven-figure domestic deal brokered by Goodfellas and CAA Media Finance.

In Europe, the film has also sold to Benelux (Cinéart), Switzerland (Filmcoopi), Germany and Austria (Pandora Film), Greece (Rosebud), UK & Ireland (Altitude), Italy (Movies Inspired), Scandinavia (Another World), Portugal (Nitrato Filmes), Bulgaria (Cinelibri), Yugoslavia (MCF), Hungary (Mozinet), Czech Republic (Aero Films), Romania (Independenta), Baltic States (A-One Films) and Poland (Gutek Film).

In the rest of the world, it has been acquired for Israel (New Cinemas), Latin America (Cine Video y TV), Australia and New Zealand (Rialto Distribution), Japan (Transformer), South Korea (Challan), Taiwan (ifilm), Hong Kong (Edko), India (Impact Films), Thailand (Sahamongkol), Singapore (Anticipate Pictures), the Philippines (FDCP) and Airlines (Skeye).

La Bola Negra is an original film by Movistar Plus+ Film and Suma Content Films in co-production with El Deseo and Le Pacte, with the participation of Atresmedia.

Netflix will release the film on October 16.

Jack Assadourian Jr.’s Debut Special, “Mexican Armenian” to Premiere on YouTube

Posted on August 21, 2026 by Tom Castaneda

Jack Assadourian Jr. is preparing to bring the laughs…

The 41-year-old half-Mexican American stand-up comedian, actor and podcast host has announced that his debut special, Mexican Armenian, will premiere on YouTube at 12 p.m. PT on Thursday, September 17.

In the special, Assadourian explores the unexpected similarities between his Mexican and Armenian cultures.

Through stories about his multicultural upbringing, family and raising Mexican-Armenian children of his own, he affectionately — and relentlessly — roasts both sides of his heritage.

Directed by comedian Jeremiah Watkins, who produced alongside Miles Williams, the special was filmed at The Alex Theater in Assadourian’s hometown of Glendale, CA.

An up-and-coming stand-up with over 400K followers across social platforms, Assadourian Jhas appeared at Netflix Is a Joke Fest and on platforms including Netflix, Prime Video and Hulu.

He has also been featured on podcasts including About Last Night with Adam Ray and The Church of What’s Happening Now with Joey Diaz.

Keyla Monterroso Mejia to Appear on Season Two of “Scrubs” Revival

Posted on August 14, 2026 by Tom Castaneda

Keyla Monterroso Mejia is scrubbin’ in.

The 28-year-old Guatemalan and Mexican American actress and comedian is joining the cast of Scrubs for season two as a recurring guest star.

Monterroso Mejia will play Mimi, Turk’s (Donald Faison) new surgical nurse. A bit quirky with some sass, she’s a high-energy and loyal assisting hand for the surgeons.

Mimi is joining Sacred Heart amid some turnover, which includes the departure of charge nurse Raymond, played by X Mayo.

The Scrubs revival had been set up in a way that all cast except returning stars Zach Braff (John “J.D.” Dorian), Faison (Christopher “Turk” Turk) and Sarah Chalke (Elliot Reid) had been recurring.

That’s changing in Season 2 when Ava Bunn, who plays one of the new interns, Sam Tosh, is being promoted to series regular alongside Braff, Faison and Chalke.

In Season 2, J.D., Turk and Elliot have leveled up from interns to icons at Sacred Heart. Now, the respected doctors inspire the next generation while balancing the ups and downs of working in a hospital. Together with characters new and old, they are navigating this next chapter with laughter, heart and some surprises along the way.

The original series’ creator Bill Lawrence serves as executive producer on the revival via his Doozer Productionsalongside the company’s Jeff Ingold and Liza Katzer, as well as showrunner Aseem Batra and stars Braff, Faison and Chalke.

Scrubs is produced by 20th Television, a part of Disney Television Studios. The series will return to ABC on September 30 with a two-episode premiere, airing Wednesday and streaming next day on Hulu.

Mejia, known for her arc as Maria Sofia Estrada on Larry David’s HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm, has been keeping busy recurring on several high-profile comedies, including as Seth Rogen’s harried assistant, Petra, on Apple TV’s Emmy-winning The Studio and as chaotic teacher’s aide Ashley on ABC’s Abbott Elementary.

She’ll next be seen recurring on the upcoming second season of Apple TV’s Bad Monkey opposite Vince Vaughn and the third season of Netflix’s Nobody Wants This.

Marcel Ruiz’s “The Body” to Premiere on Netflix in November

Posted on August 11, 2026 by Tom Castaneda

Marcel Ruiz is bringing his Body to Netflix this fall.

Netflix has set the release date for The Body, an upcoming eight-episode series starring the 23-year-old Puerto Rican actor, for November 11.

Created by Quinn Shephard, the series follows a group of badly-behaved Catholic school girls, who begin having prophetic visions that set off mass hysteria in town after a dance-team initiation goes wrong.

Shephard directs the premiere and serves as showrunner for the gritty drama, starring Kristina Bogic, Sara Boustany, Geena Meszaros, Nnamdi Asomugha, Louisa Krause, Shirley Chen, Jackson Kelly, Sofia Wylie, with Gabby Windey, Kyra Pierce, Phallon Pierce, Orlando Norman, Ashley Madekwe, Motell Foster, Cale Ambrozic, Anna Tierney, Chloe Longname, Sarah Abbott, Emily Roman, Michela Luci, Bella Neuspiel, Julia Lowe and Christine Solomon.

Ruiz portrays Tyler Santos on the series. (See still of his character below.)

Shephard calls The Body “a love letter to all the ’90s and Y2K teen movies and erotic thrillers” she loved growing up. This includes movies like Carrie, Jennifer’s Body, Heavenly Creatures, and even Mean Girls. The Crucible and the Salem witch trials also have heavy influence. She also calls in her “most personal” project yet.

“I’ve always been interested in the idea of girlhood as a religious experience. This story is definitely my way of putting a playful spin on all the nightmares of my own teenage-dom,” Shephard says. “Tonally, I would describe the show as gritty camp. It’s a raunchy teen psychodrama with a dash of Catholic horror.

Executive producers include Peter Chernin, Amy Israel and Josh Stern for North Road, Riley Keough, Gina Gammell and Sacha Ben Harroche for Felix Culpa as well as Blair Breard.

Ruiz is best known for his breakout role as Alex Alvarez in the sitcom One Day at a Time and as John Smith in the feature film Breakthrough.

Netflix to Release Penelope Cruz-Starrer La Bola Negra in Theaters in October

Posted on August 4, 2026 by Tom Castaneda

Penelope Cruz’s latest project will be released sooner than expected…

Netflix has moved up the theatrical release date of its Cannes winner La Bola Negra, starring the 52-year-old Spanish Oscar-winning actress, to October 16, with a drop on the streaming service set for December 2.

That gives the Los Javis-directed movie a 46-day theatrical window, the longest ever for the streamer ahead of the 30 days given Noah Baumbach’s Oscar winner Marriage Story in 2019.

La Bola Negra is receiving a U.S. platform release.

Netflix also has scooped up the rights to La Bola Negra in Canada, where the film has been selected for the Toronto Film Festival’s Special Presentations section. Cruz will receive a Special Tribute Award at the TIFF Tribute Awards.

The film, which won the Best Director award at Cannes for Javier Ambrosia and Javier Calvo (known as Los Javis).

La Bola Negra spans nearly a century of Spanish history from the 1930s to modern day. The film tells the story of three men whose lives are intimately connected through desire, pain and inheritance.

La Bola Negra received a 20-minute standing ovation at its Cannes world premiere.

Said the filmmakers in a joint statement: “When we began writing La Bola Negra, we wanted to tell a story about freedom, legacy, and the importance of LGBTQ+ visibility. Above all, we wanted to honor the generations of people whose courage and sacrifice made our freedoms possible today.”

They added, “We couldn’t imagine a better home than Netflix to bring this story to audiences across the United States. We are deeply grateful and excited that its message will reach millions of viewers and help carry Federico García Lorca’s legacy to audiences around the world. This is the beginning of an extraordinary new chapter for La Bola Negra, and we can’t wait for audiences to discover it.”

La Bola Negra‘s cast includes Spanish music star Guitarricadelafuente making his acting debut, Elite star Miguel Bernardeau, Carlos González, Milo Quifes, Lola Duenas, Julio Torres and Glenn Close.

Los Javis co-wrote La Bola Negra with Alberto Conejero and produced alongside Jorge Pezzi.

La Bola Negra is the first feature from Calvo and Ambrossi since 2017’s Holy Camp! The duo’s last project was the Movistar Plus+ series La Mesías (2023), which premiered at the San Sebastian Film Festival and screened at the Sundance Film Festival.

Taylor Zakhar Perez to Star in Netflix’s “13 Going on 30” Reboot

Posted on July 22, 2026 by Tom Castaneda

Taylor Zakhar Perez is 13 going on 30…

The 34-year-old part-Mexican American actor has joined the cast of Netflix’s 13 Going on 30 reboot.

Zakhar Perez is part of a roster of new cast additions that includes Owen Thiele, Nasim Pedrad, Supriya Ganesh and Myra Molloy.

Other newcomers include Charley McCain, Henry Samiri, Audrina Miranda and Kai Zen.

Emily Bader and Logan Lerman lead the cast, which also includes Adeline Rudolph, Jessica Alba, Taylor Ortega,Tim Meadows and Dan Bucatinsky.

The original film’s stars, Jennifer Garner and Judy Greer, will reportedly appear in the reboot.

No word yet on the sequel’s plot. Production kicked off in L.A. last month.

A 2004 rom-com from Columbia Pictures, 13 Going on 30 centers on a 13-year-old girl who magically wakes up as her 30-year-old self and must navigate adulthood while rediscovering who she really is. Garner played the grown-up version of the character, starring opposite Mark Ruffalo in the film from Gary Winick, with Greer playing her frenemy Lucy Wyman.

13 Going on 30 grossed roughly $96 million in theaters and has endured for decades as a cultural touchstone, making a reboot inevitable.

Already, Garner has executive produced a stage musical adaptation that premiered at the Manchester Opera House last fall. Original screenwriters Josh Goldsmith and Cathy Yuspa penned the book for the stage adaptation, which features original songs by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner.

Brett Haley is directing the feature reboot from a script by Hannah Marks, with revisions by Flora Greeson.

Disney+ Gives Green Light to Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa’s Drama Series “Afterlife with Archie”

Posted on July 20, 2026 by Tom Castaneda

Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa is preparing for the afterlife…

Disney+ has given the green light to Afterlife with Archie, an hourlong drama series based on the best-selling Archie comic book series by the 52-year-old Nicaraguan American playwright, screenwriter and comic book writer and Francesco Francavilla.

It’ll have a Halloween 2027 premiere on the streamer.

The order comes nine months after the project landed at Disney+ with a big script-to-series commitment.

Afterlife with Archie comes from the same auspices as the CW’s Riverdale and Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina: writer Aguirre-Sacasa, Greg Berlanti‘s Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television where Aguirre-Sacasa and Berlanti are under overall deals.

Penned by Aguirre-Sacasa based on the Archie Comics characters, Afterlife with Archie turns the all-American town of Riverdale into a zombie-overrun apocalypse — where the only thing scarier than the undead is trying to survive your teenage years. When a supernatural spell from a certain teen-witch backfires, unleashing an army of the possessed dead upon Riverdale, Archie and his friends must fight to stay alive, testing the friendships, romances, and loyalties that have always held them together.

Afterlife with Archie is executive produced by Aguirre-Sacasa and Jimmy Gibbons via Muckle Man; Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Leigh London Redman via Berlanti Productions; and Jon Goldwater via Archie Comics Studios.

“Afterlife with Archie has always been about more than just zombies — it’s about the friendships, loyalty and humanity that make Riverdale worth fighting for,” said Ayo Davis, president, Disney Kids & Family. “Roberto, Greg, Sarah and Jon have such a deep appreciation for these characters, and they’ve built something that’s equal parts thrilling and heartfelt. Fans are going to fall hard for this new version of the gang … and maybe scream a little too.”

This is Aguirre-Sacasa, Berlanti Prods. and Warner Bros. TV’s third live-action Archie Comics series adaptation — and the first to launch on the outlet it was originally sold to. Riverdale was initially set up at Fox before moving to theCW, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina started at the CW before relocating to Netflix. Riverdale spawned a short-lived spinoff series on the CW, Katy Keene.

Afterlife with Archie also marks Warner Bros. TV’s first series for Disney+, which has been increasingly opening up its slate to outside studios.

“The world of ‘Archie’ and Riverdale is the gift that keeps on giving,” said Channing Dungey, Chairman and CEO, Warner Bros. Television Group and WBD US Networks. “To bring Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa’s incredible story to life with our partners at Berlanti Productions, ArchieComics and Disney+ is a thrill for all of us at WBTVG.”

Aguirre-Sacasa, a film, TV and comic book writer, had written Archie Comics’ two best-selling horror series, Afterlife With Archie and Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina, when he was named the publisher’s Chief Creative Officer in March 2014. Twelve years later, he continues in his role while also expanding his TV footprint — and the Archie TV universe which launched with the 2017 Riverdale.

“This was the comic book that started it all. Before there was a Riverdale, before there was a Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, there was Afterlife with Archie, which I collaborated on with the best horror artist in the business, Francesco Francavilla,” Aguirre-Sacasa said. “Getting to turn Afterlife into a TV series for the amazing team at Disney+ with our incredible partners at Berlanti Productions, WB and, of course, Jon (Goldwater) and his Archie family is truly a full-circle moment — and the ultimate dream project for me. Time to say a prayer for Archie, Betty, Veronica and the whole gang, ‘cause THE ZOMBIES ARE COMING!!!!”

Berlanti Prods. and WBTV also have the upcoming Scooby-Doo! live-action series at Netflix, the HBO drama pilot How To Survive Without Me, Stillwater, based on the Skybound comic books, which has a series commitment at Amazon, as well as All American, which just launched its eighth and final season on the CW.

“We are so happy to reunite with Roberto on this exciting series that takes us back into the Riverdale world that we so love, and we are thankful to Disney+ and WBTV for giving us the opportunity to revisit some of our favorite characters in a unique and thrilling way,” Berlanti and Schechter said. “A special thank you to Jon Goldwater for letting us continue to play within the beloved ‘Archie’ universe and trusting us to bring Archie’s various stories to life.”

Colman Domingo In Talks to Co-Write Original Live-Action Feature Inspired by Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog”

Posted on July 17, 2026 by Tom Castaneda

Colman Domingo may have a special date with a princess and a frog….

The 56-year-old Emmy-winning Belizean-Guatemalan American actor and activist, who recently earned two Emmy nominations, is reportedly considering co-writing an original live-action feature about Princess Tiana inspired by Disney’s animated 2009 feature The Princess and the Frog.

The two-time Oscar nominee will reportedly co-pen the feature with 2020 Tony Award-nominated Slave Play directorRobert O’Hara.

It’s still early days on the project, particularly as far as deals go.

Princess and the Frog was the last hand-drawn animated feature from Disney, released in 2009 and directed by John Musker and Ron Clements.

Set in New Orleans during the 1920s and based on E.D. Baker’s The Frog Princess, the film follows a waitress, Tiana (Anika Noni Rose), who dreams of opening her own restaurant. She’s set on turning a frog prince, Naveen, back into a human after he’s cursed by an evil voodoo witch doctor, Facilier. However, Tiana becomes a frog as well, and the couple must find a way to become human again.

Two-time Oscar winner Randy Newman wrote the score and songs, one of the most toe-tapping tunes from the film being Tiana’s “Almost There.”

Domingo and O’Hara’s take is being billed as a spinoff of the animated feature rather than a full-on adaptation, similar to the live-action Beauty and the Beast project that’s in the works, Gaston.

Princess and the Frog grossed $267 million at the worldwide box office when it was released and was nominated for three Oscars: Best Animated Feature and for two of Newman’s songs, “Almost There” and “Down in New Orleans.”

Other live-action adaptations of Disney animated films in the works are Tangled, currently shooting under the direction of Michael Gracey with Kathryn Hahn, Diego Luna, Milo Manheim and Teagan Croft attached to star.

There’s also Stepsisters, a Cinderella spinoff directed by Akiva Schaffer; Lilo & Stitch 2 from filmmaker Chris Sanders; and Impossible Creatures, based on the fantasy series by Katherine Rundell.

Domingo wrote the book for 2018’s Summer: The Donna Summer Musical and co-produced 2023’s Fat Ham, a modern take of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet that was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Play. Other theatrical works by Domingo include the play The Brother(s), the libretto for Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole, as well as the plays Dot, Wild With Happy, A Boy and His Soul and Up Jumped Springtime.

Domingo’s double Emmy nominations this year are for Comedy Series Supporting Actor for Netflix’s Four Seasons and Guest Actor Drama Series for HBO’s Euphoria. He’s already won a Guest Actor in a Drama Seriestrophy in 2022 for Euphoria.

He was nominated for two Best Actor Oscars back-to-back, for 2024’s Rustin and 2025’s Sing Sing.

Guillermo del Toro’s Special “Frankenstein: Crafting a Tale Eternal” Exhibit Heading to Los Angeles

Posted on December 17, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

Guillermo del Toro’s eternal tale is heading to Hollywood.

The 61-year-old Mexican Oscar-winning filmmaker’s stunning exhibition Frankenstein: Crafting a Tale Eternal, based on his acclaimed film, will be heading directly to Los Angeles after its run in London.

The exhibit will run from January 5-11 at the NYA Studios West in Hollywood, and just in time for Oscar nomination voting.

del Toro’s Netflix film has been on a roll and just this week was shortlisted in six Oscar crafts categories, every single one for which it was eligible.

It also has been nominated for 11 Critics Choice Awards including Best Picture and Best Director, as well as for five Golden Globes including Motion Picture – Drama and Director.

David Fincher, George Lucas and Mellody Hobson are scheduled to host and moderate a screening with the filmmaking team on opening night of the L.A. exhibit, with additional programming to come.

The immersive exhibition will celebrate del Toro’s visionary storytelling and the craftsmanship of the Frankenstein team.

Diving into his elaborate filmmaking process, it will showcase a collection of props, artwork, costumes and Tiffany & Co. jewelry featured in the film and rare books curated by the firm Peter Harrington to honor author Mary Shelley’s legacy.

“We have been anticipating bringing this exhibition from London to Los Angeles. I believe it to be revelatory,” del Toro tells Deadline. “With Frankenstein, we wanted to test the limits of every craft in movie-making — handmade sets, miniatures, wardrobe and cinematography, just to name a few — and this exhibit is a celebration of those traditions. It is an honor to invite everyone to take a closer look at how our crafts team and I have meticulously and exhaustively labored to bring Mary Shelley’s world to life in what we hope is an eloquent, operatic way.”

Free tickets to tour the exhibit will be available for select dates.

Tom Segura Completes Filming of Latest Netflix Special “Teacher” for December Release

Posted on November 17, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

Tom Segura is preparing to play teacher….

The 46-year-old half-Peruvian and part-Spanish American comedian/actor recently wrapped a two-day shoot over the weekend for his latest special, Tom Segura: Teacher, with plans for an unusually quick turnaround.

The special is set to be released globally on Netflix on December 24.

No word yet on what Segura covers in the hour.

It marks his fifth original for the streamer, following Sledgehammer (2023), Ball Hog (2020), Disgraceful (2018) and Mostly Stories (2016) — though his relationship with Netflix began via a licensing deal for a sixth special, 2014’s Completely Normal.

Segura’s latest hails from YMH Studios. He executive-produced alongside Ryan P. Hall and Molly Mandel.

Netflix has played a major role in the career trajectory of Segura, who has spoken publicly on many occasions about getting into business with the streamer before he understood what a dominant platform it would become.

He released two albums prior to his first special with Netflix — 2010’s Thrilled and 2012’s White Girls with Cornrows — but it was after Completely Normal began circulating on Netflix that his career exploded.

Segura has stayed in business with Netflix ever since. The platform is also home to Bad Thoughts, the sketch series in which he brings some of his darkest and most twisted comedic fantasies to life.

It earned him his first Emmy nomination for his work on the show this year and will debut a second season in 2026.

Segura launched the project independently, self-financing a pilot before establishing it at Netflix as creator, writer, director and EP.

As discussed in a July episode of our podcast Comedy Means Business, Segura has recently gone all-in on filmmaking, between Bad Thoughts and El Tigre, the R-rated comedy marking his first feature starring vehicle.

Alongside his wife Christina Pazsitzky, Segura is behind production company YMH Studios and continues to appear on its podcasts, including Your Mom’s House and 2 Bears 1 Cave.

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