Jesse Garcia to Star Opposite Jennifer Lopez in the Action Film “The Mother”

Posted on October 14, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Jesse Garcia has landed a Mother of a role…

The 38-year-old Latino actors has joined the cast of The Mother, the action film, emerging from a newly announced creative partnership between Netflix and Jennifer Lopez’s Nuyorican Productions.

Garcia will star opposite Lopez, Joseph Fiennes, Omari Hardwick, Gael García Bernal, Paul Raci, Yvonne Senat Jones and Lucy Paez in the film, which will be directed by Niki Caro.

The Mother centers on a deadly female assassin who comes out of hiding to protect the daughter that she gave up years before, while on the run from dangerous men.

Lovecraft Country creator Misha Green penned the original screenplay, with Peter Craig handling the most recent revisions.

Lopez and Elaine Goldsmith Thomas are producing for Nuyorican Productions with Roy Lee and Miri Yoon for Vertigo, along with Green, Benny Medina, and Marc Evans. Molly Allen is executive producing.

Garcia can currently seen in Ted Melfi’s Netflix film The Starling, starring Melissa McCarthy and Chris O’Dowd. He’ll next appear in Michael Bay’s action thriller Ambulance, and star alongside Annie Gonzales in Flamin’ Hot, the film about Flamin’ Hot Cheetos creator Richard Montanez that Eva Longoria is helming for Searchlight Pictures, in her feature debut.

The actor has starred on the TV side in From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series, finding recurring roles in Narcos: Mexico and Snowfall. He has also appeared in shows including The Last Ship, Sons of Anarchy and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, along with films including Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day and The Avengers.

Jennifer Lopez’s Nuyorican Productions Signs Multi-Year First Look Deal with Netflix

Posted on June 8, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Jennifer Lopez’s got the (first) look…

The 51-year-old Puerto Rican superstar’s production company Nuyorican Productions has signed a multi-year first-look deal with Netflix spanning feature films, television series and unscripted content, with an emphasis on projects that support diverse female actors, writers and filmmakers.

Lopez co-runs Nuyorican Productions with her producing partner Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas.

Lopez already has two feature projects in the works at the streamer including the Niki Caro-directed The Mother, and The Cipher, based on the Isabella Maldonado novel.

The Mother follows a deadly female assassin who comes out of hiding to teach her daughter how to survive. The multi-hyphenate is currently training for the role, with filming schedule for this autumn and the film is set for release in Q4 2022.

“I am excited to announce my new partnership with Netflix. Elaine, Benny (Medina) and I believe there is no better home for us than a forward leaning content creation company that seeks to defy conventional wisdom and directly market to the millions across the globe who no longer view art and entertainment with the kind of boundaries and limitations of the past. We at Nuyorican Productions are thrilled to find like-minded partners in Ted Sarandos, Scott Stuber, Bela Bajaria and the whole team and look forward to getting to work right away,” said Lopez.

“Throughout every aspect of her career, Jennifer Lopez has been a force in entertainment. In partnering with her and Nuyorican we know she will continue to bring impactful stories, joy and inspiration to audiences around the world,” said Netflix Head of Global Films Stuber,

Bajaria, Netflix Head of Global TV, said: “Jennifer is a singular talent whose creativity and vision have captivated audiences and inspired the next generation around the world. For years she and the team at Nuyorican have brought a distinctive voice to entertainment, and I’m looking forward to working with her and the team to create new series for our members to love.”

Lopez scored her best opening for a live-action movie at the domestic box office with STX’s 2019 stripper caper Hustlers, which debuted to $33.1 million, and grossed $105M stateside, $157.6M worldwide.

As a recording artist, Lopez has sold over 70 million albums, with J.Lo became her bestselling album with 3.8M copies sold in the U.S. and 12M global.

Jennifer Lopez to Star in & Produce Netflix’s Action Feature “The Mother”

Posted on February 1, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Jennifer Lopez has landed a mother of a role…

The 51-year-old Puerto Rican superstar is reteaming with Netflix to star in and produce the action feature The Mother.

Lopez will play a deadly female assassin who comes out of hiding to protect the daughter she gave up years before, while on the run from dangerous men. The project is reportedly in the spirit of the Luc Besson classic The Professional.

Misha Green penned the original screenplay with revisions Andrea Berloff.

Lopez is producing with Elaine Goldsmith Thomas for Nuyorican Productions; Benny Medina; Roy Lee and Miri Yoon for Vertigo Entertainment; as well as Green. Catherine Hagedorn will serve as EP with Courtney Baxter as Associate Producer.

Niki Caro is in talks to direct.

Lopez is starring in and producing the Netflix adaptation of the Isabella Maldonado novel The Cipher. In that movie, Lopez will play FBI agent Nina Guerrera, who is pulled into a serial killer’s case after he leaves complex codes and riddles online, which are linked to his recent murders.

Lopez recently performed at the U.S. Presidential Inauguration of Joe Biden. She is currently filming Lionsgate’s Shotgun Wedding, and will be seen in Universal’s musical-driven romantic comedy Marry Me with Owen Wilson, which is set for theatrical release on May 14.

In 2019, Lopez scored her biggest domestic opening for a live-action feature at the box office and stateside hit with STX’s Hustlers ($33.1M opening, $105M domestic B.O.), a role which earned her a second Golden Globe nomination, as well as a supporting actress SAG nomination.

Rapace to Star as Maria Callas in Biopic About the Opera Singer

Posted on May 12, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

There’s a legendary role in Noomi Rapace’s future …

The 35-year-old half-Spanish actress has signed on to portray iconic opera singer Maria Callas in the feature biopic Callas.

Niki Caro is attached to direct the film from a screenplay she adapted from Alfonso Signorini’s biography Too Proud, Too Fragile.

The biopic focuses on the passionate relationship between the diva and Aristotle Onassis, which spanned almost two decades.

This is a long-gestating project that resurfaced at the Cannes Film Festival last year, before Rapace and Content’s involvement.

Rapace, who most recently joined SND’s What Happened To Monday?, is the latest Latina actress to portray the opera singer.

Spanish actress Paz Vega appeared as Callas in 2014’s Grace of Monaco, starring Nicole Kidman.

Juanes Performs “Juntos” for Disney’s “McFarland, USA”

Posted on December 14, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Juanes is making movie music…

Disney’s upcoming feel-good movie, McFarland, USA, will feature a new song performed by the 42-year-old Colombian musician in its end credits.

Juanes wrote “Juntos” specifically for the film, which is directed by Niki Caro and stars Kevin Costner and Maria Bello.

The film — which will be out February next year — tells the true story of a Latino high school cross country team from McFarland, Calif. that’s coached through several social issues in the 1980s to win a major championship. The film stars Costner as the coach, as well as Carlos Pratts.

The video for “Juntos,” also directed by Caro, was shot on location in McFarland.

“Watching the film left me inspired about the power of teamwork, tenacity and faith, and I’m honored to now be part of the ‘McFarland, USA’ team,” said Juanes in a statement.

Juanes’ current album, Loco de Amor, is nominated for a Grammy in the Best Latin Pop Album category. It also picked up the award for Best Pop/Rock Album at the Latin Grammys last month.

Disney Releases Trailer for Pratts’ “McFarland, USA”

Posted on November 3, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Carlos Pratts is ready to run into a theater near you…

Disney has released the official trailer for McFarland, USA, starring the 28-year-old Latino actor.

Inspired by the 1987 true story, the sports biopic follows novice runners from McFarland, an economically challenged town in California, as they give their all to build a cross-country team under the direction of Coach Jim White (portrayed by Kevin Costner), a newcomer to their predominantly Latino high school.

They ultimately bond to build not only a championship cross-country team, but an enduring legacy as well.

Niki Caro directs from a screenplay by Christopher Cleveland & Bettina Gilois and Grant Thompson, and story by Cleveland & Gilois.

McFarland USA is set to hit theaters on February 20, 2015.

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