Soledad O’Brien Partners with Rob Reiner to Co-Host “Who Killed JFK?” Podcast

Soledad O’Brien is searching for the truth about John F. Kennedy’s murder.

The 57-year-old half-Afro-Cuban American broadcast journalist and executive producer is teaming up with Rob Reiner to co-host Who Killed JFK? for iHeartPodcasts.

Soledad O’BrienThe 10-part series will take a deep dive into one of America’s greatest murder mysteries.

It will feature interviews with authors, witnesses and forensic experts as they look to connect the dots of JFK’s assassination 60 years later.

These include CIA officials, medical experts, Pulitzer-prize winning journalists, eyewitnesses and a former Secret Service agent who, in 2023, came forward with groundbreaking new evidence.

The duo will also discuss their own theories and ask why it still matters today.

The series will premiere on November 8 ahead of the 60th anniversary of President Kennedy’s death on November 22.

“Sixty years ago, President John F. Kennedy was gunned down in broad daylight on the streets of Dallas. To this day, it remains the greatest murder mystery in U.S. history,” said Reiner. “The American people deserve to know the truth of what happened on that fateful day. Who Killed J.F.K.? will take the listener on an evidenced based journey to reveal that truth.”

“Throughout the series, Rob and I revisit the 1960s, through pivotal moments like the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Vietnam War, and the Civil Rights Movement to shine a light on where the great American divide started and through the lens of Kennedy’s assassination, we can understand how we’ve reached the pinnacle of political divisiveness in America today,” added O’Brien.

“We are grateful to be partnering with Rob and Soledad on the release of this series which aims to bring to light new information surrounding a historical mystery that has been dissected for decades,” said Will Pearson, President, iHeartPodcasts. “Their passion and talent for storytelling drove their dedicated efforts to uncover the truth behind one of the best kept secrets of the last century, and we are looking forward to sharing this important story with a new generation.”

Scheana Shay Signs Deal for Representation with Independent Artist Group

Scheana Shay has new representation…

The 38-year-old half-Mexican American television personality, actress, singer and Vanderpump Rules star has inked a deal with Independent Artist Group.

Scheana Shay

The announcement comes on the heels of the show’s Season 11 renewal.

Shay has been with the Emmy-nominated Bravo reality series since its 2013 debut season and earlier this year won an MTV Movie & TV Award alongside her female castmates for Best Reality On-Screen Team.

The show was the first spin-off of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and charts the personal and professional experiences of the staff at Lisa Vanderpump’s restaurants and bars in West Hollywood, California, including SUR Restaurant & Lounge, Pump Restaurant and Tom Tom Restaurant & Bar.

Shay came to the series as a server at SUR, who was building a career as an actress and singer. The SoCal native began her entertainment career with appearances on popular series including Jonas (Disney Channel), 90210 (The CW), Greek (ABC Family), Victorious (Nickelodeon) and Entourage (HBO), and has also been seen in numerous national commercials.

She’s also known for hosting and regular commentator appearances for programs like Steve Harvey and hosts the popular podcast Scheananigans with Scheana Shay, which has a consistent presence across the global charts and over a million monthly downloads. “Good As Gold,” one of Shay’s recent singles as a recording artist, was reconfigured into an Uber One commercial that has gone viral on social media platforms this year.

Jose ‘Pepe’ Bastón’s Elefantec Global Partners Developing “Crónicas Obscuras” Horror Podcast for TV & Film

Jose ‘Pepe’ Bastón is bringing one of the most successful Latin American horror podcasts to life.

The 55-year-old Mexican businessman’s Elefantec Global Partners is developing Crónicas Obscuras for the screen.

Jose ‘Pepe’ Bastón,Elefantec Global Partners has partnered with Sonoro, which produced the audio series, to adapt it for television and film.

The series is inspired by some of the region’s most popular myths and legends.

Crónicas ObscurasCrónicas Obscuras, which has had more than 3.5 million downloads and two spinoffs, is being adapted for both English and Spanish-language markets. The idea is for Latinx writers and directors to adapt for both film and television.

The anthology series will serve as the foundation for a number of horror projects, with the two companies setting up multiple projects based on the IP.

Elefantec Global will co-produce the film and TV versions with Bastón exec producing alongside Sonoro’s co-founders, Gerónimo Ávila and Joshua Weinstein, as well as Luis de Velasco. Elefantec Global will also executive produce subsequent seasons of the podcast.

“At Sonoro, we are focused on building audio-first franchises that can come to life in TV, film and beyond,” said Sonoro CEO Joshua Weinstein. “Global audiences continue to gravitate towards the Crónicas universe, and we are proud to partner with Pepe and his team to expand this world, delighting super-fans and inviting new fans to Crónicas Obscuras. Together with our creative collaborators, we will extend this IP to the big screen. In addition, we see immediate opportunities to bring the franchise to the streaming ecosystem, serving consumers globally.”

Crónicas Obscuras is a testament to what premium Latinx storytelling can offer – a culturally relevant franchise with endless possibilities to superserve audiences in the US, Latin America, and beyond,” added Elefantec’s Pepe Bastón. “We’re excited to partner with Sonoro to continue to build out the Crónicas universe for audio, TV, film, web 3.0 and more.”

Guillermo Díaz to Co-Host “Scandal” Rewatch Podcast “Unpacking the Toolbox”

Guillermo Díaz is unpacking his toobox

The 47-year-old Cuban American actor and Katie Lowes will host Unpacking The Toolbox, a podcast that will feature conversations about the political thriller Scandal as they rewatch the series from start to finish.

Guillermo DiazReliving the show’s most memorable moments, the podcast will be produced by Shondaland Audio.

Diaz and Lowes will share behind the scenes stories, fun facts, on set memories and a healthy dose of laughs – sometimes inviting their co-stars, writers, crew members and maybe even superfans to reminisce and relive the making of Scandal together,” the podcast description reads.

Unpacking The Toolbox is one of two podcasts Shondaland Audio has announced in partnership with iHeartMedia.

Unpacking the Toolbox is expected to debut in 2023.

Diaz portrayed Diego “Huck” Muñoz on the drama series.

Michael Cimino to Star in Thriller Podcast Series “Jane Anonymous” for Apple Podcasts & the Fictionz App

Michael Cimino is ready to thrill

The 22-year-old half-Puerto Rican will star opposite Mina Sundwall in the thriller podcast series Jane Anonymous, which will premiere exclusively on Apple Podcasts and the Fictionz App.

Michael CiminoThe series based on the novel of the same name by Laurie Faria Stolarz was adapted by Stephanie Wu.

It will follow Jane (Sundwall), a 18-year-old girl who fights to escape a kidnapper—examining her relationship with a fellow captive (Cimino), and their struggle to understand that everything they thought they knew might all be a lie.

Andres Rosende, who produces and edits the popular Bad Friends podcast from comedians Bobby Lee and Andrew Santino, is directing the series, which will consist of five, 20-minute episodes.

The first is slated for release on June 2nd. Sundwall and Cimino are exec producing alongside Fictionz, which is serving as the project’s financier and distributor.

“Laurie’s confessional style of writing lends itself well to the podcast medium,” said Rosende. “This has been a passion project for me since Fictionz brought me the book.”

“It has been such a great experience working with everyone and playing off of Michael in adapting this book to audio!,” said Sundwall.

“Through Andres’ direction and Laurie and Stephanie’s writing, Mina and I have become completely absorbed in this narrative as actors and producers and hope that audiences will love it as much as we do,” added Cimino.

Cimino plays the titular character on Hulu’s Love, Victor series and can also currently be seen in Netflix’s Rebel Wilson comedy Senior Year. Additional credits include Annabelle Comes Home and the podcast series Black Box, with Joel McHale, Kelsey Grammer and more.

Rosende also recently served as the director of Fictionz’s Two Year Man. Wu penned Two Year Man, helmed the short Green Plastic Sandals with Rosende and co-wrote Sara Zandieh’s feature rom-com, A Simple Wedding.

Oona Chaplin to Host CBC/BBC Podcast Exploring J. Edgar Hoover’s Obsession with Her Grandfather Charlie Chaplin

Oona Chaplin will be helping explore J. Edgar Hoover

Canada’s CBC and the UK’s BBC are jointly working on a podcast in which the 35-year-old Spanish-British actress and former Game of Thrones star explores Hoover’s campaign to root out Communism in Hollywood and his obsession with her grandfather, silent movie star Charlie Chaplin.

Oona ChaplinThe project, from CBC Podcasts and BBC World Service, is an extension to a collaboration commitment from 2019 in which the two national broadcasters pledged to enhance their services and programs by working together.

Chaplin’s BBC Audio Wales-produced Hollywood Outcasts will see Chaplin, known for roles in Game of Thrones and Taboo, looking at how Hoover’s determination to stop perceived Hollywood Communism centered around The Tramp star Charlie Chaplin and guide listeners through the notorious House Un-American Activities Committee hearings and the ‘Hollywood blacklist.’

Charlie ChaplinThe podcast will be made available on BBC Sounds, CBC Listen and most other podcast platforms. It’s scheduled for release this year and next.

Diego Boneta to Star in Rom-Com Musical Podcast “Cupid”

Diego Boneta is joining a new pod(cast)…

The 31-year-old Mexican actor, singer and Luis Miguel: The Series star has signed on to star opposite Naomi Ackie and Rupert Friend in the rom-com musical podcast series Cupid.

Diego BonetaThe QCode production is being written and directed by Katy Cavanagh-Jupe.

Premiering summer 2022, the seven-episode piece will feature original music performed by its lead cast.

Also producing are Cavanagh-Jupe’s production company, Double Garage Films, and Boneta’s production company, Three Amigos.

The modern love story is inspired by Greek mythology. When Aphrodite’s love potion goes missing on Earth, Cupid is held responsible. Zeus strips him of his immortal powers, giving him seven days to find and return the love potion. If Cupid fails, he’ll be condemned for eternity to his father Ares’ brutal bootcamp. With help from a boy on a scooter and a quirky florist called Rose, Cupid embarks upon an epic quest to unmask the real thief and restore the stolen potion safely back to Olympus.

The podcast marks the second series from QCode to feature original music, following last year’s Electric Easy.

Stephanie Beatriz Launches Fictional True Crime Podcast “Tejana,” Expanding Project for TV

Stephanie Beatriz has found her range(r)

The 40-year-old Colombian-Bolivian Argentine actress has launched the fictional true-crime podcast Tejana in collaboration with Sonoro and Telemundo that will be adapted for television.

Stephanie Beatriz

The 6-episode first season is available now across all podcast formats.

The drama tells the story of Eileen Castillo, a Texas Ranger who is the only Latina on the force and at the center of a web of lies. She is sharp on the field but struggles with navigating office politics. She’s still haunted by the serial killer that stalked her town two decades earlier, so when a copycat killer emerges in Austin, Eileen must deal with the difficult memories she’s tried to suppress her entire life.

“In true crime fashion, Tejana is an incredibly dense and complicated mystery that centers the character of Eileen as she that mystery apart while trying to figure it out,” Beatriz tells Deadline exclusively. “Inside of that overarching story, there are also a bunch of different crimes that she and the other Rangers are trying to solve.”

She adds, “The Rangers have historically been this storied arm of the law. There are all these cultural touchstones like Walker, Texas Ranger, and the Lone Ranger. They’re these rarified, fantastical heroes in our media culture. And this puts a Latina as the lead and as this story’s hero. She’s a hero but she’s also very relatable because she’s flawed. She wants to be the best on the field and she’s a rising star who often has trouble navigating office politics. She has a heart of gold but she often puts her foot in her mouth at work.”

Series costars include Gabriela Torres, Jonah Platt, Marlaina Sims Powell, and Phil Lewis.

Beatriz reveals that the plan is to have her bring Eileen to life in the small screen version which is currently in its gathering stages— they’re assembling their writing and producing team. The executive producers are working with Sonoro to “bring it to streaming” where viewers can “watch this serialized thing take place over time.”

Beatriz said goodbye last month to Brooklyn Nine-Nine after the show concluded after 8 seasons and to her character, Detective Rosa Diaz. As she continues to portray members of law enforcement, Beatriz can’t help but reflect on what she learned from Rosa that she’s taken with her on her new journey with Eileen.

“I think these characters are very similar in that they’re extremely grounded, no-nonsense, and very direct,” the new mom said. “I think Eileen has much more a sense of humor about things; Rosa was often the straight guy character for other people to bounce things off of. Eileen understands that she often makes herself the butt of the joke to sort of lighten the mood. But I think it’s that groundedness that is just playing out in a totally different fashion because this isn’t a comedy, it’s a totally different genre.”

Beyond their plans for TV, Beatriz and her partners will continue to expand Tejana with future seasons of the podcast and are interested in taking the Texas Ranger to the big screen.

“We’re interested in creating audio content that will have a life past podcasts. The stories we’re interested in creating, Sonoro has an end goal for them to franchise it out with people like us as the leads so they continue and grow,” Beatriz said. “The story is so good! There are so many possibilities as to where this can go.”

Anitta Launching Her Own Podcast, “Anitta and Friends” via LiveXLive Media’s PodcastOne

Anitta is (pod)casting a wider net…

The 27-year-old Brazilian singer-songwriter, who has proven to be as amusing in conversation as she is when performing, will now have her own podcast.

Anitta

Titled Anitta and Friends, the podcast will launch this quarter and will feature a wide array of guests in discussions that’ll be rooted in music.

The show is part of an exclusive podcast deal Anitta inked with podcast platform PodcastOne, which will also produce the show.

The platform, a subsidiary of LiveXLive Media, is also home to Pitbull’s From Negative to Positive podcast and The Adam Carolla Show, among many others.

Anitta’s debut season will include 12 episodes featuring “intimate, insightful” conversations with celebrities from around the world.

The podcast will also be streamed as a vodcast (video podcast) on the LiveXLive platform.

“The addition of world-class talent and beloved music star Anitta to the PodcastOne family of programming is a thrill for us,” said Kit Gray, president of PodcastOne. “With the rise of powerful female voices being heard … we know that we are the perfect home for Anitta’s podcast.”

Anitta is currently working on an album in English, Portuguese and Spanish, set for release on Warner Records under a new deal inked last summer. The Brazilian star has more than 91 million social media followers across platforms, which should help fuel her podcast, a medium that is still largely untested among Latin artists.

Aside from Pitbull, J Balvin hosted Made in Medellín a year ago, an eight-part podcast about life in his hometown that was produced by Spotify. Most recently, Nicky Jam began to record a podcast where he interviews friends and artists, including reggaetón superstars, but the show hasn’t debuted yet.