Austin & Ramirez Appear in Latest “The Fosters” Family Photo

It’s all in the family for Jake T. Austin and Cierra Ramirez

Following a photo captured in the kitchen, 18-year-old Latino actor and 18-year-old Latina actress appear in the latest “official” family portrait for ABC Family’s brand new drama The Fosters, which will premiere on the network on Monday, June 3. And, the Wizards of Waverly Place and The Secret Life of the American Teenager alums also get plenty of screen time in the show’s new trailer.

The Fosters

Executive produced by Jennifer Lopez, the one-hour drama centers on a multi-ethnic mix of foster and biological kids being raised by two lesbian moms.

Starring as the show’s moms are Meet the Parents Teri Polo and Rescue Mes Sherri Saum.

Along with Austin as Jesus and Ramirez as Mariana, the series includes David Lambert (Disney XD‘s Aaron Stone) as Brandon, Polo as Stef, Saum as Lena, and Australian television actress Maia Mitchell as Callie.

In addition the show will feature newcomer Bianca Soto in a recurring role as Ramirez’s character’s good friend.

Austin Cast in J.Lo’s “The Fosters” Pilot for ABC Family

He may no longer be a Russo on the Disney Channel’s Wizards of Waverly Place… But Jake T. Austin may soon be forming part of a new TV family.

The 17-year-old Puerto Rican, Argentine and Spanish actor has joined the cast of ABC Family‘s drama pilot The Fosters, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Jake T. Austin

The hour-long drama, executive produced by Jennifer Lopez,  centers on Stef (The West Wing‘s Teri Polo) and Lena Foster (Rescue Me‘s Sherri Saum), a mixed-race lesbian couple who are parents to a biological son Brandon (David Lambert) as well as several adopted children. When Lena decides to take in Callie (Maia Mitchell), a troubled teen with an abusive past, the girl’s disruptive ways threaten to turn the Fosters’ lives upside down.

Austin, who recently guest-starred on Law & Order: SVU and Drop Dead Diva, will portray Jesus Foster, Mariana’s bilingual fraternal twin who may not be as book smart as his sister but is more sensible and pragmatic than she is. He’s described as a charming, hyperkinetic kid who’s on Ritalin.

The casting news comes shortly after Austin wrapped his four-season stint on Wizards of Waverly Place, where he played Selena Gomez’s kid brother Max Russo, one of three wizards, for more than 100 episodes of the series. He’ll reprise the role in the network’s upcoming one-hour special.

The pilot is currently in pre-production for a November shoot in Los Angeles.

Montana’s “Graceland” Headed to Series at USA

Manny Montana will be going undercover in the near future…

The USA Network has picked up the one-hour drama Graceland, which stars the Latino actor. 

Manny Montana

From White Collar creator Jeff Eastin, the ensemble series centers on a diverse group of agents from the FBI, DEA and U.S. Customs who are forced to live together in an undercover beach house in Southern California.

In addition to Montana—who most recently wrapped production of Cybergeddon, which stars Olivier MartinezGraceland stars Rescue Me‘s Daniel Sunjata as the house’s senior FBI agent Paul Briggs, “who has a legendary past but traded in his suit and tie for a more zen existence.”

Montana’s other co-stars include Aaron Tveit, Vanessa Ferlito and Brandon Jay McLaren.

“There aren’t many people we’d trust to run two shows on our air, but Jeff Eastin is one of them,” said USA Co-Presidents Chris McCumber and Jeff Wachtel. “He wrote a brilliant script… Daniel and Aaron anchor an incredible ensemble cast.”

No word on yet on when Graceland will begin airing.

Rodriguez to Direct “Addicted”…

She’s directed critically acclaimed episodes of popular television shows like The Good Wife, Covert Affairs and Blue Bloods… But, now Rosemary Rodriguez is getting ready to go big… Big screen, that is!

Rosemary Rodriguez

The Latina filmmaker has signed on to direct Lionsgate’s latest feature film Addicted, an adaptation of the provocative best-selling novel of the same name by Zane.

The book, a psychological drama, tells the story of the perfect family woman whose sex addiction is unraveling her perfect family life.

Addicted

The film is being readied for a spring/early summer start.

Rodriguez, who completed the Minority and Women’s Directing Program for John Wells Productions, rose to fame after directing the dramatic feature film Acts of Worship, which went to win her Best Director awards at several film festivals.

In recent years, she’s focusing her directing efforts on shows like Rescue Me, Castle and Law & Order.