Oscar Isaac In Talks to Star In & Executive Produce Crime Thriller “Helltown”

Oscar Isaac may be hell bound

The 44-year-old Cuban-Guatemalan actor is in talks to star in and executive produce Helltown, a project based on the book of the same name by Casey Sherman.

Oscar IsaacFilmmaker Ed Berger is set to direct and executive produce the eight-episode crime thriller in development at Amazon Studios from Mohamad El Masri, Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey’s Team Downey.

Written by El Masri, who serves as executive producer and showrunner, Helltown centers on Kurt Vonnegut (Isaac) before he was a renowned author and cultural lightning rod. In 1969 Kurt was a struggling novelist and car salesman living life with his wife and five children on Cape Cod. When two women disappear and are later discovered murdered underneath the sand dunes on the outskirts of Provincetown, Kurt becomes obsessed and embroiled in the chilling hunt for a serial killer and forms a dangerous bond with the prime suspect.

Isaac would executive produce with Gena Konstantinakos through his Mad Gene banner.

Isaac, who recently headlined Marvel’s Disney+ series Moon Knight, can be seen alongside Rachel Brosnahan in the revival of Lorraine Hanberry’s The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window, directed by Anne Kauffman at the BAM Harvey Theater.

Last year, he was nominated for a SAG and Emmy award for HBO’s Scenes from a Marriage.

Isaac launched Mad Gene in 2019 with his wife, writer and director Elvira Lind. The company’s first project, short film The Letter Room, was nominated for a 2021 Academy Award.

Fernando Meirelles to Direct an Episode of Drama Series “The Sympathizer”

Fernando Meirelles is sympathizing

The 67-year-old Brazilian film director, producer and screenwriter and Marc Munden will direct episodes of The Sympathizer, a drama series adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel.

Fernando MeirellesProduced by and co-starring Robert Downey Jr., the HBO/A24 series is an espionage thriller and cross-culture satire about the struggles of a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy during the final days of the Vietnam War and his resulting exile in the United States.

Described as a “blistering exploration of identity and America, a gripping spy novel and a powerful story of love and friendship,” the novel is hailed as a new classic of war fiction and has been compared to the works of Kafka, Orwell, and le Carré.

Munden will direct episodes 5,6, and 7 and Meirelles will direct episode 4.

The main cast also includes Sandra Oh, Kieu Chinh, Ky Duyen, Hoa Xuande, Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Vy Le  and Alan Trong.

The series is currently in production, with filming in Los Angeles and Thailand.

The series is a co-production between HBOA24 and Rhombus Media in association with Cinetic Media and Moho Film.

Meirelles received a Best Director Academy Award nomination for his renowned film City of God. He most recently directed The Two Popes, which earned Academy Award, Golden Globes and British Film Academy nominations.

Dania Ramirez to Star in Netflix’s DC Vertigo Comic-Based Series “Sweet Tooth”

Dania Ramirez has landed a Sweet role…

The 40-year-old Dominican actress and Devious Maids star will star in Sweet ToothNetflix’s new drama series based on the DC Vertigo comic.

Dania Ramirez

Ramirez will be part of the series’ core cast of series regulars, which includes Christian ConveryNonso Anozie and Adeel AkhtarWill Forte has a recurring role, while James Brolin serves as the series’ narrator.

The eight-episode Sweet Tooth follows the adventures of Gus (Convery) — part deer, part boy — who leaves his home in the forest to find the outside world ravaged by a cataclysmic event. He joins a ragtag family of humans and animal-children hybrids like himself in search of answers about this new world and the mystery behind his hybrid origins.

Ramirez will reportedly play Aimee, a pioneer in the middle of dystopic America, a lone scavenger in an abandoned city, rebuilding a sustainable habitat and giving orphaned hybrids a home.

The project hails from Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey’s Team DowneyJim MickleBeth Schwartz and Warner Bros. Television.

Along with fellow new Netflix series Cowboy Bebop, Sweet Tooth was among of a handful of Hollywood television series and movies to be granted border exemptions by the New Zealand government several weeks ago, a crucial step for any overseas production to be able to film in the country, which has largely eradicated COVID-19.

The tentative plan is for the cast to travel to New Zealand in August, where they’ll self-isolate for two weeks ahead of a potential September 7 start of production, according to Deadline.com. 

Ramirez can currently be seen as one of the leads in the first season of Kevin Williamson’s CBS All Access anthology drama series Tell Me a Story, airing on the CW

She previously starred on Marc Cherry’s Lifetime series Devious  Maids and had major roles on ABC’s Once Upon a Time and NBC’s Heroes

The Bella Twins to Take Part in This Year’s Teen Choice Awards

The Bella Twins have made their choice

The 35-year-old half-Mexican American identical twin sisters and former WWE Divas ChampionsBrie Bella and NikkBella, are set to make an appearance at this year’s Teen Choice Awards.

The Bella Twins

The Bella Twins are nominated this year in the Choice Female Athletec ategory, a title they previously won in 2016.

Lucy Hale will host Teen Choice 2019, which Fox will air live on Sunday, August 11, from Hermosa Beach, CA

The trophy show will feature performances by One RepublicBazziBlanco BrownMabelJordan McGraw and special guest Sarah Hyland of Modern Family.

Others previously set to appear include Robert Downey Jr., Jessica Alba, Maia Mitchell and Gregg Sulkin.

Teen Choice 2019 will celebrate stars and projects in more than 50 categories covering film, television and Music. 

Cabello to Perform with Pitbull & J Balvin at the MTV Movie & TV Awards

Camila Cabello is ready to take the stage…

The 20-year-old Cuban singer and former Fifth Harmony member will join Pitbull and J Balvin as performers for the 2017 MTV Movie & TV Awards on May 7.

Camila Cabello

The trio will perform their hit collaboration “Hey Ma,” which appears on the soundtrack to The Fate of the Furious.

The Fast & Furious franchise will receive the Generation Award at this year’s event, which, for the first time, will combine kudos for both the big and small screen.

Comedian Adam Devine will host the show live from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

Since 1992, the Generation Award has honored artists for their body of work, with past recipients including Will Smith, Reese Witherspoon, Robert Downey Jr., Mark Wahlberg, Sandra BullockJamie Foxx, Johnny Depp, Ben StillerAdam Sandler, Mike Myers, Tom Cruise and Jim Carrey.

Vin Diesel and Michelle Rodriguez will accept the Generation Award on behalf of the Fast crew.

The Spanish-language version of “Hey Ma” debuted at No. 5 on Billboard‘s Hot Latin Songs chart dated April 1.

Rodriguez & Her Fast & Furious Co-Stars to Receive Generation Award at the MTV Movie & TV Awards

It’s a new generation for Michelle Rodriguez

The 38-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican American actress and her fellow Fast & Furious franchise co-stars will receive the Generation Award at this year’s MTV Movie & TV Awards on May 7, marking the first time the award show will give the honor to a film franchise rather than an individual actor.

Michelle Rodriguez

Fast & Furious star and producer Vin Diesel will accept the award alongside his co-stars Rodriguez, who portrays Letty in the franchise, Tyrese Gibson and Jordan Brewster.

Since 1992, the Generation Award has honored talent with a body of work throughout their career that speaks directly to the MTV audience. Past recipients include Will Smith, Reese Witherspoon, Robert Downey Jr., Mark Wahlberg, Sandra Bullock, Jamie Foxx, Johnny Depp, Ben Stiller, Adam Sandler, Mike Myers, Tom Cruise and Jim Carrey.

MTV will air marathons of the first three Fast & Furious films this weekend. They’ll feature a trivia game hosted by stars Diesel and Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, offering social engagers a chance to win a trip to attend the MTV Movie & TV Awards.

The 2017 MTV Movie & TV Awards will be hosted by actor and comedian Adam Devine, with the telecast airing live on Sunday, May 7, at 8:00 pm EST from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

Lopez to Serve as a Presenter at the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards

Jennifer Lopez has a golden responsibility this weekend…

The 45-year-old Puerto Rican actress/singer and American Idol judge is among the second batch of presenters announced today by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) for the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards.

Jennifer Lopez

Lopez, who received a Golden Globe nomination in 1998 for her breakout role in Selena, joins a list of presenters that includes Jennifer Aniston, Kate Beckinsale, Bryan Cranston, Jamie Dornan, Colin Firth, Jane Fonda, Harrison Ford, Bill Hader, Katherine Heigl, Dakota Johnson, Adam Levine, Matthew McConaughey, Seth Meyers, Lupita Nyong’o, Jeremy Renner, Meryl Streep, Lily Tomlin, Vince Vaughn, and Kerry Washington.

They will join previously announced presenters; Amy Adams, Adrien Brody, Robert Downey Jr., Anna Farris, Ricky Gervais, Kevin Hart, Salma Hayek, Kate Hudson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Chris Pratt, Channing Tatum, Kristen Wiig, Owen Wilson and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

The ceremony, hosted by Tina Fey and Amy Poehler for the third year in a row, will air on Sunday, January 11 live coast-to-coast on NBC with the pre-show from 4-5 PM (PST)/7-8 PM (EST), and main telecast from 5-8 PM (PST)/8-11 PM (EST) from the Beverly Hilton.

Brühl Cast in Marvel Studios’ “Captain America: Civil War”

Prepare to Marvel at Daniel Brühl

The 36-year-old half Spanish actor and Golden Globe nominee has joined the cast of 2016’s Captain America: Civil War.

Daniel Brühl

In a statement accompanying Marvel Studios’ announcement, studio president Kevin Feige cited the actor’s “ability to deliver intense, nuanced performances” as the reason behind his joining a cast that already includes Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr. and Chadwick Boseman, making his Marvel debut as the Black Panther ahead of the 2017 solo feature for the character.

Jeremy Renner has also been rumored to be attached to the project.

No details have been given about the character Brühl will play in the film, to be directed by Captain America: The Winter Soldier‘s Joe and Anthony Russo, beyond the fact that he’ll play the villain in the movie — a potential break from the original Civil War comic series, which features pits Captain America and Iron Man against each other without a villain behind it all.

Brühl’s previous credits include his critically acclaimed performance in Rush, as well as 7 Days in Havana and Inglourious Basterds.

Captain America: Civil War is scheduled for a May 6, 2016 release.

Leto to Appear at This Year’s Hollywood Film Awards

Jared Leto is Hollywood bound…

The 42-year-old actor, singer-songwriter and director will make an appearance at the Hollywood Film Awards.

Jared Leto

Leto, who won an Oscar last year for his critically acclaimed performance in Dallas Buyers Club, be joined by Angelina Jolie, Johnny Depp, Steve Carell, Laura Dern, Jennifer Lopez, Mike Myers, Robert Pattinson, Eddie Redmayne, Chris Rock and Hilary Swank at the annual awards ceremony, held at the Hollywood Palladium on Friday, November 14, from 8:00 to 10:00 pm ET and broadcast on CBS. Queen Latifah will host the 17th annual gala.

Previously announced attendees include Amy Adams, Gerard Butler, Benedict Cumberbatch, Robert Downey Jr., Robert Duvall, Jonah Hill, Keira Knightley, Michael Keaton, Julianne Moore, Jack O’Connell, Chris Pratt, Kristen Stewart, Channing Tatum, Jean-Marc Vallée, Reese Witherspoon and Shailene Woodley.

A half-hour red carpet show will kick off the evening at 7:30 pm ET. Following the two-hour awards show, a one-hour aftershow with interviews and highlights from the evening, hosted by CBS This Morning‘s Charlie Rose, Norah O’Donnell and Gayle King, starts at 10:00 pm.

The Hollywood Film Awards is produced by Dick Clark Productions.

Trailer Released for Jon Favreau’s “Chef,” Co-Starring Vergara

Sofia Vergara’s is cookin’ up something special in her next film project…

The 41-year-old Colombian actress is starring in Jon Favreau’s soon-to-be released comedy Chef, which just saw its theatrical trailer released.

Sofia Vergara in Chef

The film centers on Favreau’s character, Miami-born chef Carl Casper, who tries and fails to open a restaurant in Los Angeles. He returns to Miami to fix up a food truck he names El Jefe Cubanos and reacquaints with his ex-wife (portrayed by Vergara). He plans to drive across the country to reclaim his success in L.A.

In addition to Favreau and Vergara, the film also stars John Leguizamo, Robert Downey Jr., Dustin Hoffman, Oliver Platt, Scarlett Johansson, Bobby Cannavale and Amy Sedaris.

Open Road, which acquired the distribution rights to Chef in June, and will release the film stateside on May 9.