Henry Zaga to Star in Hulu’s Limited Series “Looking for Alaska”

Posted on May 9, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Henry Zaga is ready for a little northern exposure…

The 26-year-old Brazilian actor has landed a recurring role opposite Charlie Plummer and Kristine Froseth in Looking for Alaska, Hulu’s eight-episode limited series based on John Green’s novel.

Looking for Alaska is told through the eyes of teenager Miles “Pudge” Halter (Plummer), as he enrolls in boarding school to try to gain a deeper perspective on life. He falls in love with Alaska Young (Froseth), and finds a group of loyal friends. But after an unexpected tragedy, Miles and his close friends must attempt to uncover the truth and make sense of what they’ve been through.

The series hails from Paramount Television and Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage’s Fake Empire.

Zaga will portray Jake, Alaska’s impossibly handsome, floppy-haired, college-aged boyfriend, funny and adorable.

Schwartz wrote the pilot and will serve as executive producer and showrunner.

Zaga can next be seen in the upcoming Fox film The New Mutants, which will be released August 2. He previously starred in the hit Netflix series 13 Reasons Why.

Rosario Dawson to Star in USA Network’s Pilot “Briarpatch”

Posted on July 11, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Rosario Dawson has a new (briar)patch of work…

The 39-year-old Puerto Rican and Cuban American actress is set as the lead of USA Network’s hourlong pilot Briarpatch, fromUniversal Cable Productions, Paramount Television, Mr. Robot creator Sam Esmail’s Esmail Corp and Anonymous Content.

Written by Andy Greenwald and based on the Ross Thomas novel, Briarpatch centers on Allegra “Pick” Dill (Dawson), a tenacious and highly-skilled investigator working in Washington, DC for a young, ambitious senator. When her ten-years-younger sister, a homicide detective, is killed by a car bomb, Allegra returns to her corrupt Texas hometown. What begins as a search for the murderer becomes a fraught and dangerous excavation of the past Allegra has long sought to bury.

Dawson will also serve as producer on the project, described as celebrating the book’s blend of crime, thriller, mystery, and pulp fiction while updating Thomas’ sense of fun, danger and place for a new generation.

Dawson was recently seen in the film Krystal. On television, she has played Claire Temple on Netflix’s Marvel series Daredevil, Luke Cage Iron Fist, Jessica Jones and The Defenders and also has been recurring on the CW’s Jane the Virgin.

Netflix ThisClose to Renewing Navarro’s “13 Reasons Why” for a Second Season

Posted on April 27, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Christian Navarro may soon find more Reasons…

It appears that Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why, starring the 25-year-old Puerto Rican actor, may be getting a second-season renewal soon, according to reports by Deadline.com.

The series, executive produced by Selena Gomez, is an adaption of the bestselling 2007 Young Aduly book by Jay Asher.

13 Reasons Why has been well received by critics and has created buzz on social media, quickly developing a following. There had been talks about how to extend the premise beyond Season 1.

The series follows teenager Clay Jensen (Dylan Minnette) as he returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker (newcomer Katherine Langford) —his classmate and crush—who tragically committed suicide two weeks earlier. On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Will Clay be one of them? If he listens, he’ll find out how he made the list.

In addition to Navarro, who portrays Tony Padilla, the series also stars Kate Walsh, Brian D’Arcy James, Derek Luke, Brandon Flynn, Justin Prentice, Alisha Boe and Tommy Dorfman.

13 Reasons Why is directed by Oscar winner Tom McCarthy (Spotlight), written by Tony and Pulitzer Prize Winner Brian Yorkey (Next to Normal), and executive produced by Gomez.

The series is produced for Netflix by Paramount Television.

Alvarez to Direct Starz’s Wrestling-Themed Drama Pilot “Heels”

Posted on February 17, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Kyle Patrick Alvarez is wrestling with a new project.

The 33-year-old Latino filmmaker will direct Heels, an hourlong drama set in the outrageous world of independent professional wrestling.

Kyle Patrick Alvarez

The project, which hails from Paramount Television, has been put on the fast track at Starz, with a potential eight-episode straight-to-series order on the horizon.

Written by Michael Waldron, Heels is the story of two brothers and rivals – one a villain, or “heel,” in the ring, the other a hero, or “face.” Real conflicts play out in fake matches as they war over their late father’s wrestling promotion, vying for national attention in small-town Georgia.

Alvarez’s television credits include directing two episodes of the upcoming Netflix series 13 Reasons Why, which is being executive produced by Selena Gomez.

Alvarez is the winner of the Someone to Watch Award at the 2010 Film Independent Spirit Awards for his work on Easier with Practice.

Nickelodeon Renews Hurtado’s “School of Rock” for a Second Season

Posted on April 6, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Ricardo Hurtado has another year of school left…

Four episodes into School of Rock‘s freshman run, the musical comedy series starring the 16-year-old Latino actor, has been renewed for a 13-episode second season by Nickelodeon.

The show, based on the 2003 Paramount Pictures film starring Jack Black, hails from Paramount Television. It marked the first series order for the then-newly launched TV division of Paramount Pictures, and a corporate synergy play between the Viacom companies.

School of Rock, which airs Saturdays, averages almost 2 million viewers a week. The second season, which starts production this month, will continue to mix comedy with cast performances of popular and original songs.

School of Rock follows a group of rule-abiding students — Zack (Lance Lim), Lawrence (Aidan Miner), Freddy (Hurtado), Summer (Jade Pettyjohn) and Tomika (Breanna Yde) — who learn to take risks and reach new heights thanks to substitute teacher Dewey Finn (Tony Cavalero), a down-on-his-luck musician who uses the language of rock ‘n’ roll to inspire his class to form a secret band. Throughout the school year, the middle-school classmates navigate relationships, discover their unknown talents and learn lessons on loyalty and friendships.

Season 1 featured guest appearances from musical artists like Pete Wentz (Fall Out Boy) and the cast covering hits such as “Heart Attack” (Demi Lovato) and “We’re Not Gonna Take It” (Twisted Sister).

School of Rock is developed by Jim and Steve Armogida, who serve as executive producers with Jay Kogen (The Simpsons). The original movie’s director Richard Linklater and producer Scott Rudin serve as executive producers, along with Eli Bush.

Cruz Cordova to Star in Hulu’s Drama Pilot “Citizen”

Posted on March 10, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Ismael Cruz Cordova has been granted new Citizenship…

The 28-year-old Puerto Rican actor has joined the cast of Hulu’s drama pilot Citizen.

From Me And Earl And The Dying Girl director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, Paramount Television, and Anonymous Content, Citizen is a fresh take on the hero origin story blending elements of magical realism and gritty vigilantism against the backdrop of the vibrant world of East Los Angeles.

Cordova will play Chris Martinez, a fiercely ambitious cellular phone salesman methodically putting together an illicit drug empire with Mrs. Candy.

Cordova has recurred on Ray Donovan and The Good Wife.

Netflix Gives Gomez’s “13 Reasons Why” a Straight-to-Series Order

Posted on October 30, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Selena Gomez is going behind the scenes for her next project…

Netflix has given Anonymous Content and Paramount Television’s 13 Reasons Why, executive produced by the 23-year-old half-Mexican American actress/singer, a straight-to-series order.

The show, based on the New York Times bestselling Young Adult (YA) book by Jay Asher, was created by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner Brian Yorkey, who also wrote the pilot.

13 Reasons Why is the second Netflix straight to order series for Anonymous Content. The first is the Plan B collaboration The OA, which goes into production next quarter.

Gomez recently wrapped four films: In Dubious Battle, directed by James Franco; The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving, alongside Paul Rudd; The Big Short, starring Brad Pitt, Ryan Gosling and Christian Bale; and Seth Rogen’s Neighbors 2.

Most recently, she reprised her role as Mavis in Sony Pictures’ Hotel Transylvania 2, which opened to record-breaking box office.

She is not starring in 13 Reasons Why.

As a recording artist, Gomez has sold more than 22 million singles worldwide, and her new album Revival debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. She will embark on a global tour next year.

Valderrama to Star Opposite Meagan Good in Fox’s Drama Pilot “Minority Report”

Posted on March 3, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Wilmer Valderrama is (minority) reporting for duty…

The 35-year-old Colombian and Venezuelan American actor has been cast opposite Stark Sands and Meagan Good in Fox’s drama pilot Minority Report.

The project is a sequel to the Steven Spielberg-directed movie set 10 years after the end of Precrime in D.C.

One of the three Precogs, Dash (Sands), struggles to lead a “normal” human life but remains haunted by visions of the future when he meets a detective, Lara Vega (Good), who’s haunted by her past and just might help him find a purpose to his gift.

Valderrama, best nown for the role of Fez in the sitcom That ’70s Show, will play Will Blake, a new police detective at the precinct who fills in for Vega when she’s out on leave, and when Vega sizes him up, she decides she doesn’t like him.

The pilot, written/exec produced by Max Borenstein and directed by Mark Mylod, comes from 20th Century Fox Television, Paramount Television and Amblin Television.

This marks the latest drama turn for Valderrama. He’s also returning for Season 2 of El Rey Network’s From Dusk Til Dawn.

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