The 56-year-old Mexican actor, comedian and filmmaker has signed on for a guest starring role on the Disney animated series Elena of Avalor, according to Variety.
The series follows Elena, Disney’s first princess inspired by diverse Latin cultures and folklore. Derbez will voice Guillermo, a restless spirit with a passion for music, in a special Día de los Muertos-themed episode for the series’ third season, which is set to debut next year.
Derbez was most recently seen in the remake of Overboard starring opposite Anna Farris. He’s also set to appear in the live-action Dora the Explorer movie, which is slated for a 2019 debut.
He’s known for his roles in films like Instructions Not Included, which he also directed and co-wrote, and How to Be a Latin Lover.
Derbez and his 3Pas Studios recently signed an overall deal with Lionsgate Television and previously signed a first-look feature-film deal with Lionsgate’s Pantelion Films.
Omar Chaparro will be hearing wedding bells in February…
Pantelion will release its Spanish-language romantic comedy La Boda de Valentina, starring the 43-year-old Mexican actor, in limited release in the United States on February 9.
La Boda de Valentina, which also stars Marimar Vega and Ryan Carnes, was directed by Marco Polo Constandse.
The story followsValentina (Vega), who seemingly has the perfect life in New York, with a perfect job and a perfect boyfriend, Jason Tate (Carnes) — far, far away from her scandalous political family in Mexico. When Jason proposes to her and wants to go to home to meet the family she has been keeping a secret, her two worlds clash. Adding to the chaos, her family brings her ex, Angel, (Chaparro) into the picture and convinces Valentina to go along with a sham marriage to him in an effort to stop further negative press as her father runs for re-election. In the end, Valentina must choose where her heart belongs.
The first trailer has been released for director Rob Greenberg’s Overboard, starring the 56-year-old Mexican actor.
It’s a remake of the Garry Marshall-directed comedy of the same name starring Goldie Hawn as a pampered heiress and Kurt Russell as a tormented carpenter.
Greenberg flipped the gender roles for the remake, with Derbez portraying a spoiled playboy andAnna Faris as a put-upon single mom hired to clean his yacht.
From MGM and Pantelion Films, Derbez plays Leonardo, a selfish gadabout who unjustly fires and refuses to pay Kate (Faris) for cleaning services rendered. When the guy from Mexico’s richest family gets wasted and falls out of his luxury yacht, he comes to on the Oregon coast with no recollection of who he is or how he got there. Kate shows up at the hospital and, eager for payback, convinces Leonardo that he is her husband and puts him to work — for the first time in his life. After a rough start, he eventually earns the respect of his new “family,” but his real kin are hot on their trail.
Eva Longoria and John Hannah also star in Overboard, which was written by Bob Fisher and Greenberg and Leslie Dixon.
MGM and Pantelion will replace the film on April 20.
Following the impressive U.S. box office returns of the 54-year-old Mexican comedian’s English-language debut How to be a Latin Lover, Lionsgate-Televisa joint venture Pantelion Films has renewed its first-look deal with Derbez and producing partner Benjamin Odell’s production company, 3Pas Studios. The companies originally inked a first-look pact in August 2014.
The comedy about a gold-digging Lothario getting his comeuppance stars Derbez, Salma Hayek and a clutch of American actors led by Raquel Welch, Rob Lowe, Rob Corddry, Kristen Bell and Rob Riggle.
Ken Marino’s directorial feature debut grabbed the number two slot at the box office the weekend of April 28, grossing $12 million on just 1,118 screens. Its opening weekend audience was 89% Hispanic.
“It has always been our goal to reach deep into the acculturated Hispanic market,” said Pantelion CEO, Paul Presburger, adding: “I think we also accomplished what we have always wanted to do, which is to start bridging across acculturated Latinos to the general market.”
The deal renewal reflects Lionsgate’s commitment to underserved Hispanic audiences in the U.S. Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer has long been a strong advocate for Pantelion and its initiatives.
“We are really happy to continue our relationship with Pantelion, Lionsgate and Televisa,” said Odell, adding: “They provide us very strong support but allow us a lot of creative freedom as we continue to strengthen the 3pas Brand and expand both into the mainstream and internationally. We couldn’t think of better partners.”
How to be a Latin Lover is Pantelion’s second breakout hit with Derbez after his directorial debut Instructions Not Included, which became the highest-grossing Spanish-language film ever released in the U.S. ($44 million) and the highest-grossing Mexican film in Mexico ($48 million). Televisa’s distribution arm Videocine releases the comedy in Mexico May 5 on more than 3,000 screens. Hayek will be at the premiere Wednesday in Mexico City.
Founded some two years ago by Derbez and former Pantelion executive Ben Odell, 3Pas Studios has a packed slate of comedies in development.
Next out of the gate is Overboard, a remake of Garry Marshall’s ‘80s comedy starring Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell. Comedy is slated to start principal photography May 23 in Vancouver with Anna Faris starring opposite Derbez.
Aside from remakes of French comedy The Valet and Korean comedy Miss Granny and live action comedy Ponce, 3Pas is also producing animated feature La Familia Peluche, based on Derbez’s popular live action TV show that aired on Univision and Televisa.
Pantelion is also collaborating with Televisa and Starz on the series Teresa, based on the popular telenovela, and gearing up for the July launch of the still-unnamed streaming movie service with partners Univision and Hemisphere Media.
The 55-year-old Mexican actor will star opposite Anna Faris in the MGM/Pantelion Films/3Pas Studios film Overboard, a reimagining to the 1987 Garry Marshall-directed screwball comedy starring Goldie Hawn as a selfish heiress and Kurt Russell as the working-class guy who she eventually falls for.
Rob Greenberg and Bob Fisher are attached to write and direct the film, which is scheduled to star production in Vancouver this May.
The new rendition will feature a role reversal from the original and focus on a spoiled playboy from one of Mexico’s wealthiest families (Derbez) who falls overboard off his yacht, and is convinced by a working-class single mom (Faris) that he is her husband.
Derbez also serves as producer along with Ben Odell. MGM and Pantelion will co-produce, co-finance, and co-distribute the film with Lionsgate handling domestic theatrical distribution.
Lionsgate and Pantelion Films will release the Spanish-language comedy 3 Idiotas, starring the 33-year-old Mexican actress on June 2.
Directed by Carlos Bolado, the film centers on two nerdy friends and their arch rival from college who go in search of a long lost buddy who disappeared on graduation day.
The film, in which the characters relive college life and recall memories of their friend who inspired them to think differently even as the rest of the world called them idiots, also stars Alfonso Dosal, Christian Vázquez, Germán Valdés, Vadhir Derbez and Rodrigo Murray.
Higareda co-write the screenplay with Bolado, Antonio Abascal and Cory Brusseau. It is said to be a remake of the 2009 Bollywood film starring Indian superstar Aamir Khan.
Higareda’s film credits include McFarland, USA and No Manches Frida.
Lionsgate/Pantelion Films’ Spanish-language film No Manches Frida, starring the 41-year-old Mexican actor, had a solid start over the Labor Day weekend.
The comedy opened in 362 locations grossing $3.65 million Friday to Sunday.
The comedy, from Lionsgate and Televisa’s Pantelion Films label, grossed $3.65 million in 362 locations from Friday to Sunday, with an estimated $4.65 million for the entire Labor Day weekend.
Starring Chaparro, Martha Higareda and Mónica Dionne had a three-day per theater average of $10,083, the highest of any film in national release and second-highest for the weekend overall.
It’s Pantelion’s second most successful opening weekend ever, behind only Instructions Not Included, which grossed over $7.84 million in its debut weekend in late August 2013 in 348 theaters ($22,547 average), going on to cume over $44.4M.
No Manches Frida outgrossed the label’s 2015 Labor Day weekend release Un Gallo con Muchos Huevos, which bowed in 395 locations, taking over $3.42 million ($8,670 PTA). It went on to cume over $9 million.
“Labor Day weekend has historically been very positive for us,” said Pantelion’s Paul Presburger Sunday morning. “We’ve been at the marketing of the movie for over a month using social media as well as Spanish-language television and radio…We knew we had something strong that would resonate with audiences.”
Pantelion’s Edward Allen, who helped spearhead the project, noted that the film has generated social media attention among younger English-speaking audiences in the run-up to this weekend.
“It’s resonating with fans that may not typically go to our movies,” said Allen.
No Manches Frida is a re-make of 2013 German film Fack ju Göhte. It’s the story of Zequi, a recently released bank robber who goes to recover stolen money buried by his ditzy accomplice before going to jail. They return to the site only to find that Frida Kahlo High has built a gymnasium over the loot. To get the money, he poses as a substitute teacher for a school that can’t seem to keep any teachers around. He meets the sweet and earnest Lucy, as well as an unruly classroom. Lucy and her fellow teachers have no control over the students, and Zequi comes in ready to lay down the law- but he quickly finds out that life on the inside may have been easier to deal with than a school full of wild and rebellious teenagers.
The film will open in Mexico in two weeks.
Added Presburger: “We’ll be supporting the movie this week with additional media, while talent will be down in Mexico to support the movie there.” No Manches Frida will expand next week, but specifics will be decided after the holiday weekend.
The deal comes after he and his business partner Ben Odell set up two comedy projects last season: one at NBC (The Great Brown Hope) and the other at ABC (Don’t Judge Me).
3Pas Studio, based in Santa Monica, also has a first-look deal with Lionsgate’s Pantelion Films and recently set up their first film there: How to Be a Latin Loverin which Derbez stars along with Salma Hayek, Rob Lowe, Kristen Bell, Raquel Welch, Rob Riggle, Linda Lavin, McKenna Grace, Renee Taylor, Rob Huebel and Michaela Watkins.
Written by Chris Spain and Jon Zack, the film is being directed by The Statealum and Wet Hot American Summerco-star Ken Marino.
Other projects 3Pas has in development include Poncewritten by Max Botkin, about the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León and his search for the fountain of youth although set in modern-day America; The Valet, a remake of the 2006 French comedy; and the animated Speedy Gonzalez at Warner Bros.
“I couldn’t be happier to be spending another year with Universal,” Derbez said. “The team has been a true pleasure to collaborate with, and I am excited about what’s to come.”
The 49-year-old Mexican actress has joined the cast of Lionsgate and PantelionFilms’ How to Be a Latin Lover, the comedy that marks Eugenio Derbez’s first English-language starring role.
Hayek joins Rob Lowe, Kristen Bell, Raquel Welch, Rob Riggle and McKenna Grace in the film being directed by The Statealum and Wet Hot American Summerco-star Ken Marino.
The story, written by Chris Spain and Jon Zack, is about an aging Latin lover forced to return to live with his estranged sister and her young son after being dumped by his sugar mama.
Other actors who have also joined are Renee Taylor, Rob Huebel, Michaela Watkins and Linda Lavin.
Latin Lover is a joint venture between 3Pas Studios, Pantelion Films, Lionsgate and Televisa Cinefrom.
Derbez’s previous collaboration with Pantelion Films, Instructions Not Included, became the highest grossing Spanish-language film released in North America, breaking box office records with a combined domestic and international gross of over $99M.
Hayek, who is a filmmaker as well as an actress, just finished Hitman’s Bodyguard starring opposite Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson and Gary Oldman.
She was honored only a week ago by Pope Francis with the Olive Medal for her work in the arts, and for the responsible use of her celebrity to promote unity and peace.
Eugenio Derbez will spread the Love(r) next spring…
Lionsgate has scheduled the 54-year-old Mexican actor’s comedy How to Be a Latin Lover for release on April 28, 2017.
The film centers on Maximo (Derbez), a fading gigolo who is kicked out of the house by his aged mistress and is forced to return to live with his estranged sister and her preteen son in their humble home. Sporting a wardrobe consisting mostly of Versace speedos, Maximo focuses on finding another sugar mama to support his expensive tastes.
Rob Lowe, Kristen Bell, Raquel Welch and Rob Riggle co-star in the film for Lionsgate’s Pantelion label.
Ken Marino is directing from a script by Chris Spain and Jon Zack.
