G-Rod to Star in Action-Thriller “A Line of Fire”

Posted on October 13, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

G-Rod has come under fire…

The 46-year-old Venezuelan actor has joined the cast of the action-thriller A Line Of Fire, which is now filming in Los Angeles and Miami.OK

The actor, who’s full name is Gabriel Rodriguez, is among a roster of new cast additions that includes David A.R.White, Cuba Gooding Jr., Jason Patric, Katrina Bowman and Scott Baio.

Others starring in the film include Eve Richards, Vincent DePaul and Samantha Lockwood.

The synopsis reads: “After working as a secret agent in the FBI for ten years, Jack Conry aka “Cash” left it all behind after his wife passed in order to dedicate himself to his two daughters. Despite a fulfilling life at home, Cash misses the chance to make an impact and has been considering a return to the force. The decision is made for him when his old partner’s niece Jamie calls him for help, launching Cash right back into a world of danger, corruption and intrigue.”

The film’s director is Matt Shapira and writers are Shapira and Chris Covell.

G-Rod’s previous credits include Cobra Kai, Power, Chicago Fire and Ozark.

Felix Solis to Star in the Horror Film “The Necklace”

Posted on May 21, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Felix Solis is expanding his jewelry collection…

The 52-year-old New York-born Puerto Rican actor, film director and film producer will star in The Necklace, a horror film from director Juan Pablo Arias Munoz.

Solis will star alongside Jacob Moran, Madeleine McGraw and Violet McGraw in the project, which will head into production in Atlanta in late May

Written by John Ducey, The Necklace watches as the Davis family navigates through tough times in 1960. Laura Davis has separated from her husband Frank due to his unpredictable temper, fueled by alcohol. As Laura returns to work as a nurse, her daughters, 11-year-old Ellen (Violet McGraw) and 16-year-old Judy (Madeleine McGraw), grapple with the changes in their family dynamics. The plot thickens when Frank attempts to win Laura back with a beautiful antique necklace, which turns out to be a conduit for the tormented soul of an evil boy from long ago, putting Laura and her daughters in grave danger.

Solis will play the role of Detective Callahan.

Daniel Aspromonte and Christina Moore will produce the film, with Violet McGraw, Madeleine McGraw, Jackie McGraw and Ali Afshar serving as executive producers.

Best known for his role as cartel boss Omar Navarro on Netflix’s Ozark, Solis has more recently been seen playing the FBI’s Matthew Garza on The Rookie and The Rookie: Feds, as well as in Netflix’s Unfrosted.

Previously the actor has also been seen on shows like City on Fire, Charmed and The Good Wife, along with such films as Netflix’s Tallulah and the Richard Gere drama Arbitrage.

Most recently, Solis signed on to star alongside Naomi Watts, Bill Murray and Owen Teague in the dramedy The Friend, which is based on Sigrid Nunez’s New York Times bestseller. He’s also set to appear in the second season of Netflix’s spy series The Recruit from creator Alexi Hawley.

Danny Trejo to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at Santa Fe Film Festival

Posted on April 20, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Danny Trejo is preparing to receive a special honor…

The 79-year-old Mexican American actor and Machete star will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Santa Fe Film Festival on Thursday, during the festival’s opening night.

In addition to his iconic Machete character, Trejo is the star of From Dusk Til Dawn, Spy Kids, Con Air, Heat and hundreds of other films and television series.

His new film, American Underdog, will hold its U.S. premiere at SFFF that night, kicking off the event that runs in New Mexico’s capital city from April 25-28.

“Danny Trejo has developed a prolific career in the entertainment industry with a hard earned and atypical road to success,” the festival notes. “From years of imprisonment to helping troubled youth battle drug addictions, from acting to producing, and now on to restaurant ventures, Trejo’s name, face, and achievements are well recognized in Hollywood and beyond, but it is his continuous role as a devoted father of three and an intervention counselor that bring him the most satisfaction.”

Trejo’s co-star in American Underdog, Veronica Falcón, will receive the festival’s Trailblazer Visionary Award, recognizing her work on screen on shows including Ozark, Queen of the South and Perry Mason, and for her work off-screen as an activist. SFFF calls Falcón “an artist who has demonstrated excellence in the craft and served large in inspiring positive change in the world.”

Trejo got his start in acting in 1985, years after his release from San Quentin state prison in California. He had become a boxing champion behind bars and got a first start in movies by training Eric Roberts as a boxer for Runaway Train, which led to Trejo being cast in a small role in the film. That background in the ring served him well in American Underdog, “a redemption story set in the world of MMA by first-time Peruvian-American director, Gustavo Martin-Benites,” according to a release.

“Trejo essays the role of ‘Dennis,’ a trainer and former MMA fighter who reluctantly comes out of retirement to coach his ex-student – disgraced amateur MMA fighter, ‘Jai’, played by Indian-American actor Vishy Ayyar.”

Trejo says of the role, “My character ‘Dennis’ has come through the other side of the fire, and now he’s at a place in life where he’s got the experience, he’s lived it, and can give the wisdom and the guidance.”

Along with Trejo, Falcón and Ayyar, the film stars Taylor Treadwell, Suleka Mathew, Andrew Gray and Omi Vaidya. Naveen A. Chathapuram, Cristy Coors Beasley and Rashaana Shah produce the film. Ayyer co-wrote the American Underdog, which is based partly on his own experiences.

“After losing 50 million dollars in my real estate business, I was in shock as my life crumbled in front of me which led to filing for bankruptcy,” Ayyar said. “American Underdog is a testament that everyone comes to America as an underdog and can fall over and over again, but can find that redemption from the most unlikely of paths.”

Trejo’s own redemption story saw him overcome a childhood of abuse and addiction, to a career in Hollywood and now major success as an entrepreneur. As the festival notes, “Trejo’s expanding restaurant empire includes Trejo’s Tacos & Cantina, and Trejo’s Coffee & Donuts, with a fifth restaurant opening in downtown Los Angeles.” Two days ago, he was in London for the opening of a Trejo’s Tacos location in the English capital. He has authored two books, including Trejo’s Tacos: Recipes and Stories from LA.

Trejo has 29 upcoming cinematic projects in various stages of completion, including Hollywood Heist, a caper movie starring Alec Baldwin, Nick Cannon, Mickey Rourke and Tara Reid.

Felix Solis to Appear in the New York Dramedy “The Friend”

Posted on February 29, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Felix Solis is making a new friend…

The 52-year-old Puerto Rican actor, director and producer has landed a supporting role in The Friend, the New York dramedy starring Naomi Watts and Bill Murray.

No word yet on what role Solis will be playing.

The project is an adaptation of Sigrid Nunez’s New York Times bestseller.

Winner of the 2018 National Book Award for Fiction, The Friend follows a New York writer in the aftermath of her lifelong friend and mentor’s unexpected death. Thereafter, she’s left to deal with his complicated literary legacy, three eccentric ex-wives — and a massive, brokenhearted Great Dane named Apollo.

Scott McGehee and David Siegel are directing from their own script, also producing through their new company Big Creek Projects, with Sarah Pidgeon, Constance Wu, Ann Dowd and Noma Dumezweni rounding out the cast.

Best known for his role as the terrifying cartel boss Omar Navarro on Netflix’s Ozark, Solis has more recently been seen playing the FBI’s Matthew Garza on The Rookie and The Rookie: Feds.

Previously, he’s appeared on shows like City on Fire, Charmed and The Good Wife, among others. Film credits include Netflix’s Tallulah and the Richard Gere drama Arbitrage.

Mark Menchaca to Star Opposite Lena Headey in Revenge Thriller Short “Long Pork”

Posted on December 1, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Mark Menchaca is getting revenge…

The 48-year-old half-Mexican American actor and his actress-wife Lena Headey will star in the revenge thriller short Long Pork.

The project will be helmed by up-and-comer Iris Dukatt, who also wrote the screenplay.

Produced by Madhouse Films, the rising female led-production company founded by Katherine Romans and Charlie Sarah Traisman, as well as Elizabeth Valenti, the film takes place in a future post-Roe America where all reproductive rights have been banned.

Headey plays Lily Williams, master chef at the renowned Foal’s Steakhouse, who lost her only daughter to forced birth under the federal ban. When Lily learns that Philip Anderson (Menchaca), the judge responsible for denying her daughter’s abortion request, is coming to dine at Foal’s, she enlists her team of cooks to exact bloody revenge, setting the stage for revolution.

Also starring in the short, intended as a proof of concept for a feature, include Catherine Curtin, Lorna Courtney, Zoe Cipres and T.L. Thompson.

Menchaca’s previous credits include Ozark, The Sinner, Manifest and The Outsider.

Esai Morales in Negotiations to Star in the Action Thriller “Shadow”

Posted on May 15, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Esai Morales could be preparing for a little shadow play soon…

The 60-year-old Puerto Rican actor is in talks to star in the action thriller Shadow, which XYZ Films has boarded.

XYZ acquired world sales — minus select territories — to the film, which is inspired by true events.

Colombian filmmaker Antonio Negret is directing from a screenplay he co-wrote with his brother Daniel Negret.

The film will begin production in the fall in Colombia.

The plot follows a real-life Colombian police dog named Sombra, who, after piling up hundreds of arrests, became the cartel’s public number one enemy. As a result, a bounty is put on her head. After the cartel’s new leader sets a trap to abduct the dog, Sombra’s once reluctant handler must risk his life and career to save his partner.

The cast features Colombian actors Juan Pablo Raba and Natalia Reyes alongside Kate Del Castillo.

Previously sold territories include Latin America (CDC), Brazil (CDC), Mexico (CDC), Russia (Volga), Middle East (Selim), Korea (Noori), and Indonesia (PT Amero).

“After having spent a great deal of time in Colombia, I became incredibly passionate about and committed to telling important and inspiring stories from a regional perspective with local stars like Juan Pablo & Natalia,” said Sentient president Renee Tab. “I’m looking forward to once again teaming up with long-term collaborators Pierre Morel, and Antonio Negret (as well as his brother Daniel) to shape this true story into an action narrative inspired by a drug-sniffing German Shepherd named Sombra.”

Morales’ previous credits include La Bamba, American Family, Resurrection Boulevard, Ozark and Titans.

Negret is best known for his debut film Towards Darkness, starring America Ferrera, which premiered in competition at Tribeca. His follow-ups Seconds Apart, a supernatural horror/thriller, was released by Lionsgate, and thriller Transit starring Jim Caviezel, was released by Silver Pictures/Dark Castle.

Jenna Ortega Earns First SAG Awards Nomination for Netflix’s “Wednesday”

Posted on January 11, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Jenna Ortega is celebrating another first…

The Screen Actors Guild has revealed the nominees for this year’s SAG Awards, with the 20-year-old Mexican and Puerto Rican actress – a first-time Golden Globe nominee this year – earning her first nod.

Ortega is nominated in the Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series category for her starring role in Netflix’s acclaimed series Wednesday, which has been renewed for a second season.

Ana de Armas is also a first-time SAG Awards nominee…

The 34-year-old Cuban and Spanish actress is nominated in the Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role category for her starring turn as Marilyn Role in Netflix’s Blonde.

Diego Calva has picked up his first SAG Awards nod.

The 30-year-old Mexican actor, the breakout star of Babylon, and co-stars are nominated in the Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture category.

Nelson Bonilla, Alfonso Herrera, Felix Solis and their Ozark co-stars are nominated in the Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series category.

It’s Solis’ second SAG Awards nomination for Ozark and the first for Bonilla and Herrera.

Aubrey Plaza has picked up her first SAG Awards nod.

The 38-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress and her The White Lotus co-stars are nominated in the Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series category.

Liza Colon-Zayas is celebrating her first SAG Awards nod.

The 51-year-old Puerto Rican actress and her The Bear costars are nominated in the Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series category.

Selena Gomez is a second-time SAG Awards nominee…

For the second year in a row, the 30-year-old Mexican American actress/singer and her Only Murders in the Building costars are nominated in the Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series category.

The SAG Awards will air on Netflix’s YouTube channel this year and then move to the streamer in 2024.

The ceremony will take place Sunday, February 26, at Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles.

Here’s a complete look at the nominees:

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series
Steve Carrell (“The Patient”)
Taron Egerton (“Black Bird”)
Sam Elliott (“1883”)
Paul Walter Hauser (“Black Bird”)
Evan Peters (“Dahmer”)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series
Emily Blunt (“The English”)
Jessica Chastain (“George and Tammy”)
Julia Garner (“Inventing Anna”)
Niecy Nash Betts (“Dahmer”)
Amanda Seyfried (“The Dropout”)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
Anthony Carrigan (“Barry”)
Bill Hader (“Barry”)
Steve Martin (“Only Murders in the Building”)
Martin Short (“Only Murders in the Building”)
Jeremy Allen White (“The Bear”)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
Christina Applegate (“Dead to Me”)
Rachel Brosnahan (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”)
Quinta Brunson (“Abbott Elementary”)
Jenna Ortega (“Wednesday”)
Jean Smart (“Hacks”)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
“Abbott Elementary”
“Barry”
“The Bear”
“Hacks”
“Only Murders in the Building”

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
Jonathan Banks (“Better Call Saul”)
Jason Bateman (“Ozark”)
Jeff Bridges (“The Old Man”)
Bob Odenkirk (“Better Call Saul”)
Adam Scott (“Severance”)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
Jennifer Coolidge (“The White Lotus”)
Elizabeth Debicki (“The Crown”)
Julia Garner (“Ozark”)
Laura Linney (“Ozark”)
Zendaya (“Euphoria”)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
“Better Call Saul”
“The Crown”
“Ozark”
“Severance”
“The White Lotus”

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Angela Bassett (“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”)
Hong Chau (“The Whale”)
Kerry Condon (“The Banshees of Inisherin”)
Jamie Lee Curtis (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”)
Stephanie Hsu (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Paul Dano (“The Fabelmans”)
Brendan Gleeson (“The Banshees of Inisherin”)
Barry Keoghan (“The Banshees of Inisherin”)
Ke Huy Quan (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”)
Eddie Redmayne (“The Good Nurse”)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Cate Blanchett (Tár”)
Viola Davis (“The Woman King”)
Ana de Armas (“Blonde”)
Danielle Deadwyler (“Till”)
Michelle Yeoh (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Austin Butler (“Elvis”)
Colin Farrell (“The Banshees of Inisherin”)
Brendan Fraser (“The Whale”)
Bill Nighy (“Living”)
Adam Sandler (“Hustle”)

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
“Babylon”
“The Banshees of Inisherin”
“Everything Everywhere All at Once”
“The Fabelmans”
“Women Talking”

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
“Avatar: The Way of Water”
“The Batman”
“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
“Top Gun: Maverick”
“The Woman King”

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series
“Andor”
“The Boys”
“House of the Dragon”
“The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power”
“Stranger Things”

Anahi & Her Fellow RBD Band Mates Reuniting Next Year

Posted on December 19, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Anahi is a rebel with a cause…

The 39-year-old Mexican singer and her RBD group mates are reuniting after 15 years.

The popular Mexican rock group, based on the fictional cast of the show Rebelde, is making the announcement following a recent reboot distributed by Netflix.

The OG Rebelde crew is back, as evidenced by a new Instagram post contrasting classic Rebelde footage with a recent reunion featuring (almost) the entire cast. In addition to Anahi, Christopher von Uckermann, Dulce Maria, Christian Chavez and Maite Perroni are expected to return.

The official RBD Instagram page (@rbd_musica) appears to have wiped the entire page, replacing all their prior posts with the reunion video. As the camera pans to each member of the original cast, the video cuts back to a memorable Rebelde moment featuring that cast member.

However, there is one notable absence: Alfonso Herrera. The Ozark actor has already made his mark in Hollywood following a series of notable roles. He also denied the possibility of him returning to the RBD universe in the new reboot, in an interview with Latina. “I will be in the first row to cheer them on and support them,” he said.

There’s little information on what the reunion will consist of.

We still have no idea if this is a reunion like the Friends special on HBO Max or a full-on reboot like Netflix’s Fuller House. However, the video guides fans to a website that has a countdown clock and the words

“Prepara tu corbata, Enero 19 2023” (Prepare your tie, January 19, 2023), which is as mysterious as it is exciting.

The five participating cast members seem to have followed suit. Each of them has wiped their entire Instagram profile and replaced their photos with the RBD logo. The fact that they’re all committing to the marketing this much does suggest the reunion will consist of more than one episode or special.

Rosa Salazar to Star Opposite Michael Peña in Prime Video’s Film “A Million Miles Away”

Posted on August 31, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Rosa Salazar is traveling a million miles…

The 37-year-old half-Peruvian Canadian actress has joined the cast of Prime Video’s Michael Peña starrer A Million Miles Away, which has entered production in Mexico City.

Salazar is among a list of new cast additions that includes Bobby Soto, Julio César Cedillo, Veronica Falcón, Sarayu Blue and Eric Johnson.

Others rounding out the ensemble of the Alejandra Márquez Abella-helmed film include Jordan Dean, Ashley Ciarra, Michelle Krusiec, Emma Fassler, Michael Adler, Carlos S. Sanchez and Isaac Arellanes.

A Million Miles Away is based on the inspiring true story of Jose Hernandez, who defied insurmountable odds to become the first migrant farmworker to travel to space. From six years old, he toiled in the fields between Michoacán and Stockton, California —dreaming of traveling the night skies on a rocket ship. Through his family’s support and his unrelenting determination, pushing through 11 rejections from NASA, Jose’s story is a tale of perseverance, community and sacrifice to accomplish an impossible dream.

Abella is directing from the script she wrote alongside Hernàn Jiménez and Bettina Gilois.

The Amazon Original Movie will ultimately stream on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

Salazar stars in Prime Video’s animated series Undone, and has also been part of such series as Big Mouth, Brand New Cherry Flavor, B Positive, Man Seeking Woman, Parenthood and American Horror Story, among others.

She recently appeared in Dean Fleischer-Camp’s live-action-animated hybrid Marcel the Shell with Shoes On for A24, and has also been seen in multiple Maze Runner films, as well as such titles as Pink Skies Ahead, Alita: Battle Angel, Bird Box, The Kindergarten Teacher and The Divergent Series: Insurgent.

The actress will next be seen in the Hulu series Wedding Season, launching in September.

Soto has been seen on series like Narcos: Mexico, and in such films as The Tax Collector, The Quarry and A Better Life. He’ll next be seen in Chase Joliet’s drama Grapefruit, as well as Eva Longoria’s Flamin’ Hot for Searchlight and Michael Lozano’s Bridge to Somewhere.

Cedillo is perhaps best known for turns on such series as Coyote, Narcos: Mexico and Queen of the South. Notable film credits include The Harder They Fall, Sicario, Frontera, Cowboys & Aliens, The Mist and Bordertown. The actor will next be seen in Jonás Cuarón’s feature Chupa, as well as Adrian Grunberg’s thriller The Black Demon, Lance Larson’s action-thriller Deadland and Mark Lambert Bristol’s dramedy Chocolate Lizards.

Falcón has previously appeared on series including Perry Mason, Ozark, Why Women Kill and Queen of the South, among many others. Notable film credits include The Starling, Jungle Cruise, The Forever Purge and Voyagers. The actress will next be seen in Aitch Alberto’s film Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, based on the book by Benjamin Alire Sáenz.

Marc Menchaca to Star in Apple TV+’s Limited Series “The Big Cigar”

Posted on July 6, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Marc Menchaca is going undercover…

The 46-year-old half-Mexican American actor has joined the cast of Apple TV+’s six-episode limited series The Big Cigar, which is centered on Black Panther leader Huey P. Newton.

Menchaca, who most recently starred on Netflix’s Ozark, will star alongside André Holland, Don Cheadle, Alessandro Nivola and Tiffany Boone in the project.

Based on the eponymous Playboy magazine article by Joshuah Bearman, the series tells the extraordinary, hilarious, almost-too-good-to-be-true story of how Newton relied on his best friend, Bert Schneider (Nivola), the Hollywood producer behind Easy Rider, to elude a nationwide manhunt and escape to Cuba while being pursued into exile by the FBI.

Menchaca will portray Agent Sydney Clark. A former lawyer and Vietnam vet from Oklahoma, Clark lives undercover as a dirty hippie while pursuing Newton, who is wanted on charges of killing a teenage prostitute.

NAACP Image Award winner Janine Sherman Barrois is serving as The Big Cigar‘s showrunner. Jim Hecht wrote the show’s first episode, with Cheadle directing and executive producing the first two.

The show hails from Warner Bros. Television, where Barrois and her Folding Chair Productions are under an overall deal. Barrois and Hecht are executive producing alongside Bearman, Joshua Davis and Arthur Spector through their production company Epic, a division of Vox Media Studios.

Menchaca is best known for his scene-stealing turns as Jack Hoskins on HBO’s hit series The Outsider, and as Russ Langmore on the Emmy-winning Netflix drama series Ozark.

He will next be seen in Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, HBO’s miniseries The White House Plumbers, John Hyams’ thriller Sick and Gareth Edwards’ sci-fi pic True Love for New Regency.

His additional television credits include Black Mirror, Homeland, MacGyver, Blue Bloods, Chicago P.D., Sleepy Hollow, The Blacklist, Law & Order: SVU, CSI and Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

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