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.

John Ortiz to Star in Sci-Fi Adventure Feature “The Mothership”

Posted on May 26, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

John Ortiz is boarding the mothership…

The 53-year-old Puerto Rican actor will star opposite Omari Hardwick and Molly Parker in The Mothership, a sci-fi adventure feature from MRC Film, Automatik and Netflix. Halle Berry previously was announced to star in and executive produce the film.

Oscar-nominated Bridge of Spies screenwriter Matt Charman is directing the film, which will mark his feature debut.

Charman also penned the screenplay, which follows Sara Morse (Berry) one year after her husband mysteriously vanished from their rural farm. When she discovers a strange, extraterrestrial object underneath their home, Sara and her kids embark on a race to find their husband, father and, most important, the truth.

Ortiz’s recent credits include Horse Girl, SXSW drama The Fallout and the Netflix series Messiah.

Shalim Ortiz to Appear in Starz & Lionsgate’s “Power” Spinoff “Ghost”

Posted on July 24, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Shalim Ortiz is seeing ghosts…

The 41-year-old Dominican and Puerto Rican actor and singer has landed a recurring role in Starz and Lionsgate’s Power spinoff Ghost.

The spinoff picks up shortly after thePowerseries finale, with Tariq (Michael Rainey Jr.) working to get his mother Tasha (Naturi Naughton) out of jail after she took the fall for her son in James St. Patrick/Ghost’s (Omari Hardwick) murder.

Ortiz will play Danilo Ramirez, an NYPD officer stationed in the Tejadas’ backyard of Queens, NY. Ramirez will find himself torn between the duties of his badge and duty to the ones he loves.

Mary J. Blige and Cliff ‘Method Man’ Smith also star.

Executive produced by series creator and showrunner Courtney Kemp (End of Episode) and Curtis ‘50 Cent’ Jackson (G-Unit Film and Television), Ghost also stars Power alum Shane Johnson once again as federal prosecutor Cooper Saxe.

Ortiz most recently appeared in ABC’s Grand Hotel. He previously starred on Starz’s Magic City.

His other notable television credits include CSI: Miami, Cold Case and NBC’s Heroes.

On the film side, Ortiz has appeared in The Winged Man and Bad Ass, among others.

The Bella Twins Sign with SMAC Entertainment

Posted on July 9, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Brie Bella and Nikki Bella are getting SMAC’ed…

The 36-year-old half-Mexican American twin sisters and former WWE Divas champions, known as The Bella Twins, have signed with Michael Strahan and Constance Schwartz-Morini’s SMAC Entertainment.

The company will represent Nikki and Brie, who star in and executive E!’s Total Bellas, recently renewed for a sixth season.

This comes after the business signed Power alum Omari Hardwick to its client roster and launched in-house social media management and digital consulting division SMAC Digital Management.

In addition to starring and exec producing Total Bellas, the pair wrestle in the WWE, run female apparel line Birdiebee and recently published a memoir Incomparable.

SMAC Entertainment was founded in 2011 and its roster includes Erin Andrews, Shante Broadus, October Gonzalez, Tony Gonzalez, Michael Griffin, Bryan Hynson, Wiz Khalifa, Curt Menefee,Brian Orakpo and Deion Sanders.

“We’re excited to welcome Brie and Nikki to the SMAC family,” said Strahan and Schwartz-Morini. “They are incredibly talented, versatile and encompass the same work ethic that we pride ourselves on and value most. We look forward to joining forces to help expand on the incredible foundation they’ve already built for their growing empire.”

Good to Star in the Indie Romantic Drama “A Boy. A Girl. A Dream: Love On Election Night”

Posted on April 27, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Meagan Good has found Love in a new project…

The 35-year-old part-Puerto Rican actress, who stars in Hulu’s upcoming Foxy Brown reboot, and Omari Hardwick will star in the indie romantic drama A Boy. A Girl. A Dream: Love On Election Night.

The film, which is about a budding romance during Donald Trump’s election night, co-stars Jay Ellis, Dijon Talton, Wesley Jonathan, and Affion Crockett.

Produced by Datari Turner and written and directed by Qasim Basir (Destined), the story follows a Los Angeles club promoter named Cass (Hardwick), who on the night of the 2016 Presidential Election meets a woman named Free (Good) who challenges him to revisit his broken dreams. This happens during a series of unfortunate events during the time that then President-elect Trump is surging ahead of Hillary Clinton.

Good, who also starred and co-produced the indie films A Girl Like Grace, Video Girl, and Dysfunctional Friends with Turner, is an executive producer on the film.

Season 4 of Loren’s Starz Series “Power” to Premiere in June

Posted on April 27, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Lela Loren is powering up this summer…

Starz has scheduled the fourth season premiere of its hit drama series Power, starring the 36-year-old Mexican American actress, for Sunday, June 25 at 9:00 pm ET.

The series follows James “Ghost” St. Patrick (Omari Hardwick), a drug kingpin living a double life who in Season 4 seeks to find redemption.

The 10-episode fourth season picks up on the heels of James’ highly publicized arrest by his ex-girlfriend, Assistant U.S. Attorney Angela Valdes (Loren), for the murder of FBI Agent Greg Knox—a crime he did not commit. Ghost can’t outrun his past choices and mounting enemies this season, which threaten his freedom and his family’s safety at every turn. His fight for redemption brings him face-to-face with the Feds, the media, new allies, and old foes. But the biggest obstacle for Ghost remains himself and his internal struggle between the man he wants to be and the one he really is.

Courtney A. Kemp is the creator, showrunner and executive producer of Power. Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Mark Canton, Randall Emmett and Gary Lennon serve as executive producers.

The premiere episode also will be available starting at 12:01 am June 25 on the Starz app and On Demand.

Starz Renews Loren’s Drama Series “Power” for Two More Seasons

Posted on July 20, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Lela Loren is still wielding her power…

Starz has renewed its hit drama series Power, starring the 36-year-old Latina actress, for two more seasons, through Season 5.

The announcement comes just two days after Power‘s record-setting Season 3 premiere, which pulled in 2.26 million viewers. It marks the premium cable channel’s best original series debut numbers yet and the most-watched episode of any Starz original ever.

The Season 3 premiere was up more than 58% from the Season 2 and 389% from Season 1 premieres, respectively.

This is the first multi-season pickup for the New York-based series starring Omari Hardwick. Creator, executive producer and showrunner Courtney A. Kemp will return alongside executive producers Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Mark Canton, Randall Emmett and Gary Lennon.

“In today’s content landscape, it is challenging for a series to stand out, but Courtney is a singular voice working in television today, said Starz CEO Chris Albrecht. “In Curtis, we not only have an immense talent but an executive producer who brings a unique perspective, an authentic voice and passionate fan base that has helped in a large part propel the success of the series. … The fans have let it be known loud and clear that they cannot get enough of Ghost, Tommy, Tasha, Angela and Kanan.”

Loren portrays Angela Valdes on the series.

Her other credits include Gang Related, Covert Affairs and The Closer.

Fumero to Star the Second Season of Starz’s Drama “Power”

Posted on September 12, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

David Fumero has the power…

The 41-year-old Cuban actor has been cast as a series regular on Season 2 of Starz’s drama series Power.

From CBS Television Studios, Power centers on wealthy New York City nightclub owner James “Ghost” St. Patrick (portrayed Omari Hardwick), who is living a double life as a kingpin.

Fumero, whose credits include roles on One Life To Live, CSI: Miami and CSI: NY will play Mike Sandoval, the handsome new Chief of the Crime Division, who has moved from Southern California to NY to make sure this prominent investigation is run correctly.

Power is executive produced by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.

Ramirez Upped to Series Regular on Starz’s “Power”

Posted on August 16, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

J.R. Ramirez is powering up…

The 33-year-old Latino actor, who recurred on the first season of Starz’s drama series Power, has been promoted to regular for the show’s second season.

Power centers on wealthy New York City nightclub owner James “Ghost” St. Patrick (portrayed by Omari Hardwick), who is living a double life as a kingpin.

Ramirez portrays Julio, second in command to Tommy (Joseph Sikora).

Ramirez, who portrayed Dr. A.J. Aquino on Emily Owens M.D., was also recently cast as Ted “Wildcat” Grant on the upcoming third season of the CW‘s Arrow.

His other television credits include GCB, 24 and Hacienda Heights.

Starz Offers First Look at Pilot Episode of Lopez’s Crime Drama “Power”

Posted on May 31, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Here’s your chance to experience Leslie Lopez’s star(z) power early…

Even though the Colombian actress’ new crime drama Power isn’t slated to debut until June 7, Starz is already giving people a sneak peek of the full pilot episode online.

Lopez portays Pink Sneakers on the 50 Cent-executive-produced series, which centers on James “Ghost” St. Patrick, played by Omari Hardwick, who has a beautiful wife, a gorgeous Manhattan penthouse and the hottest, up-and-coming new nightclub in New York.

His club, Truth, caters to the elite: the famous and infamous boldface names that run the city that never sleeps. As its success grows, so do Ghost’s plans to build an empire.

However, Truth hides an ugly reality. It’s a front for Ghost’s criminal underworld; a lucrative drug network, serving only the wealthy and powerful.

A week shy of its official television premiere, the pilot has been made available for free online through multiple platforms, including the show’s official website, Twitter, Facebook and MySpace page, as well as its YouTube channel.

The series premiere will also be available for sampling through the free STARZ PLAY app for all users in the United States.

Power also stars 50 Cent, Adam Huss, Vinicius Machado, Luis Antonio Ramos and Lela Loren.

Power will  air Sundays at 9:00 pm ET on Starz.

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