The 41-year-old Puerto Rican and Cuban American actress and activist has been cast as a series regular on Dopesick, Hulu’s eight-episode limited series based on Beth Macy’s best-selling book.
Written by Danny Strong and directed by Barry Levinson, Dopesick is described as an ambitious, harrowing and compelling look into the epicenter of America’s struggle with opioid addiction. It takes viewers from a distressed Virginia mining community to the hallways of the DEA and the opulence of “one percenter” Big Pharma Manhattan. The unsparing yet deeply human portraits of the various affected families and their intersecting stories hold up a mirror to where America is right now, while shining a hopeful light on the heroes battling the worst drug epidemic in American history.
Dawson will play Bridget Meyer, a tough DEA agent who fights to curtail the use of OxyContin.
She joins previously announced Michael Keaton, Peter Sarsgaard, Kaitlyn Dever, Will Poulter, John Hoogenakker, Philippa Soo and Jake McDorman.
The project hails from The Handmaid’s Taleexecutive producer Warren Littlefield and Touchstone Television.
Dawson most recently fronted the drama series Briarpatch, which aired for one season on USA Network. She also stars in the HBO Max/DC Comics pilotDMZ, which is being directed and EP’ed by Ava DuVernay and showrunner/writer Roberto Patino.
And she’ll soon appear on season two of Disney+’s The Mandalorian.
Disney+ offered a special sneak peek at season two of The Mandalorian, starring the 45-year-old Chilean actor as the title character, during ESPN’s Monday Night Football.
The spot, which aired during halftime of the game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Dallas Cowboys, reveals a bit more detail of the plot for the new season, with The Mandalorian (Pascal) now seemingly on a mission to return The Child (aka Baby Yoda) “to his kind” while also searching out other Mandalorians who can help him.
“Wherever I go, he goes,” Mando says about his charge.
The upcoming season follows the successful Season 1 of the first live-action Star Warsspinoff series, which scored 15 Emmy nominations including for Outstanding Drama Series, and won seven. Shooting had already wrapped on the second season before the coronavirus-related production shutdown in mid-March. Work is already underway on Season 3.
The new season of the Lucasfilm-produced returns Pascal as The Mandalorian, aka Din Djarin, and The Child who continue to attempt to evade ruthless Imperial Remnant officer Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito). Gina Carano and Carl Weathers also return from Season 1, with cast newcomers including Rosario Dawson (reportedly as Ahsoka Tano), Temuera Morrison as Boba Fett, Katee Sackhoff, Michael Biehn and Timothy Olyphant among others.
Directors for the new season include Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, Bryce Dallas Howard, Rick Famuyiwa, Weathers, Peyton Reed and Robert Rodriguez.
Season 2 of the series will debut on Disney’s streaming platform next Friday, October 30.
Selena Gomez is going straight to the source in the fight against online misinformation and hate speech…
The 28-year-old Mexican American singer/actress shared on Instagram Stories a direct message to Facebook leaders Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg, calling them out for their lack of accountability.
Gomez, who has 193 million followers on Instagram (owned by Facebook) and tops 77 million on Facebook itself, asked Zuckerberg, the Facebook founder and CEO, and Sandberg, its chief operating officer, to start talking about misinformation and hate speech.
Gomez didn’t specify what information she classified as belonging to those categories, but called on Zuckerberg and Sandberg to shut down individuals and groups promoting it.
“Facebook and Instagram are being used to spread hate, misinformation, racism, and bigotry,” she wrote, days after a significant push by stars like Rosario Dawson, Kim Kardashian, Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington, Sacha Baron Cohen, Mark Ruffalo, Dwyane Wade and Katy Perry promoted #StopHateforProfit by blacking out their social media activities.
“I am calling you both to HELP STOP THIS. Please shut down groups and users focused on spreading hate speech violence and misinformation. Our future depends on it.”
Gomez also pointed to the national election in her message. She’s a co-chair of “When We All Vote,” a claimed nonpartisan organization that encourages voter participation. Michelle Obama, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Shonda Rhimes are among its leaders.
“We cannot afford to have misinformation about voting,” Gomez said in her message. “There has to be fact-checking and accountability. Hope to hear back from you ASAP.”
Disney+ will launch the second season of The Mandalorian, starring the 45-year-old Chilean actor as the title character, on Friday, October 30.
The Mandalorian, set five years after the 1983 Star Wars movie Return of the Jedi, follows a bounty hunter (Pascal), who is protecting a highly coveted Jedi-powered being, simply called The Child, from falling into the hands of the villainous Imperial Empire. The bounty hunter is from the same rogue warrior class as legacy Star Wars character Jango Fett.
In addition to Pascal, the series also stars Gina Carano, Giancarlo Esposito, Carl Weathers, Omid Abtahi and Ming-Na Wen.
New faces for Season 2 include Rosario Dawson, Michael Biehn and a recurring Bill Burr.
Shooting had already wrapped on the second season before the coronavirus-related production shutdown in mid-March. And work is already underway on Season 3.
The series is nominated for 15 Primetime Emmy awards, including outstanding drama series.
Rosario Dawson and her henchmen are coming to your home…
Vertical Entertainment has acquired the U.S. distribution rights to Henchmen, the Bron Animation action comedy featuring the voices of the 41-year-old Puerto Rican and Cuban American actress, Thomas Middleditch and James Marsden.
Adam Wood wrote and directed the film, marking his feature-length directorial debut.
Based on a story by Jay D. Waxman and Wood, the film will be available on digital platforms on October 9.
Here’s the synopsis: In a world of super-villains, evil schemes and global domination, someone has to take out the trash. Welcome to the world of Henchmen, third class. When Lester (Middleditch), a fresh-faced recruit, joins the Union of Evil, he is assigned to a motley crew of blue-collar workers led by fallen henchmen Hank. But when Lester accidentally steals a super-villain’s ultimate weapon, Hank must break his risk-nothing code to save the boy he’s befriended, even if it means becoming the one thing he has always avoided: a hero.
Additional voice performers include Nathan Fillion, Jane Krakowski, Rob Riggle, Bobcat Goldthwait and Craig Robinson.
Brenda Gilbert and Luke Carroll produced for Bron Animation.
“We loved the idea of exploring the fantastical world of superhero villains,” says Gilbert of the film. “We couldn’t be more thrilled for the film to have found a home at Vertical and we hope children and families will enjoy the imaginative story of the Henchmen.”
“There is a lot of heavy stuff happening in the world right now, so it’s exciting for us at Vertical to share a film that can provide some levity and laughs for everyone in the family” said Rich Goldberg, co-president of Vertical Entertainment. “Henchmen marries the fun of an animated movie with the excitement of superhero flick, and we think it’ll be a perfect movie for anyone to gather around safely at home.”
Dawson’s previous credits include Sin City, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, César Chávez and Zombieland: Double Tap.
The 41-year-old Puerto Rican and Cuban American actress and activist will co-host Rock the Vote’s Democracy Summer campaign kick-off on Thursday, June 18, a two-hour virtual concert co-headlined by Katy Perry and Black Eyed Peas.
Co-hosted by Dawson and Logan Browning with Chuck D and Eve, the event will stream live beginning at 8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm PT on democracysummer.org, and Democracy Summer’s Facebook and YouTube pages.
Ne-Yo, Big Freedia, Lucy Hale, Amara La Negra, Saweetie, Sklyar Astin, Max, Leslie Grace, Dove Cameron, Sofia Carson, Rich Brian and Michael K. Williams are among those slated to appear remotely.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro will make appearances.
“I’m excited to be a part of this kickoff to Democracy Summer 2020 with so many amazing talents, activists and speakers,” says Perry. “The young people of America are speaking loud and clear on the streets and online, and come November, it will be more important than ever to fight for justice and equality, and against systemic racism, with our ballots.”
“The young people are engaged. Their voices are loud and getting louder. The world is watching. And we need to vote,” agrees Chuck D, an early and consistent supporter of Rock the Vote, which was founded in 1990 by Virgin Records America co-chairman Jeff Ayeroff primarily to increase voter turnout among young adults.
“We are seeing the urgency for change in America happening in real time. This is the moment for us to use the most important tool on the planet to fight for that change…our right to vote,” says Ne-Yo. “Our democracy needs our voices. Voting is the moment to be the voice for injustice and for equality. But most importantly, to be the voice for humanity. We cannot let each other down in the local elections or on Nov. 3.”
Produced by BWG Live and in partnership with Voto Latino Foundation, When We All Vote and March For Our Lives, the concert marks not only the first live-streamed event for the Rock the Vote, but also its first large-scale summer activation.
In previous years the organization amped up in the fall before a Presidential election and typically staged a live event. Both pivots are a direct result of Covid-19.
“One of the realities is coronavirus derailed the momentum that is required in a major election cycle,” Rock the Vote president Carolyn DeWitt tells Billboard. “A few months ago we began seeing how the restrictions were affecting young people in particular, by moving them off college campuses and disrupting graduations and proms,” she says. “Our effort is really about building that momentum back up.”
With some 4 million young people turning 18 this year and innumerable issues at stake, the goal of Democracy Summer is to bring 200,000 new voters to the polls in November when Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden challenges Donald Trump, as well as myriad primary and local elections throughout the summer and fall. Those interested in the event are encouraged to register at the Democracy Summer web site to get the latest details and lineup updates, although preregistration isn’t required to tune in. Viewers can go to Rock the Vote’s website to register to vote.
The murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer and the swell of support around the Black Lives Matter movement also has catalyzed Thursday’s event. As protesters around the country have taken to the streets, Rock the Vote registered 107,000 new voters through its platforms and gained more than 25,000 new Instagram followers during the week of June 1, DeWitt says—numbers that dwarf those of a typical week.
“With what we’ve seen over the last couple weeks, the effort around Democracy Summer has become even more important. It’s not just the virus, it’s bigger than the economy standing still. The world feels like it’s on the brink of chaos and yet this moment around Black Lives Matter is bigger than that,” DeWitt says. “Frankly speaking, a big part of that is people are exercising their rights in a democracy. Young people are looking for things they can do and actions they can take in order to create change. We want to make sure we’re continuing to sustain that fire and passion into November, and make sure young people know the power of their votes and create the change they want to see.”
The live stream will include opportunities for viewers to donate to black-led and -focused organizations including the Community Justice Action Fund and National Action Network.
“Now, more than ever, voting is key for long-term change,” Black Eyed Peas said in a statement. “The youth vote is going to decide the future of America. It’s not just our duty but our honor to spread the word in an election year.”
“The diversity of America is what makes it great, and it is also what makes it our country,” says La Negra. “I am Dominican proudly, yet I am a black woman always. I matter. You matter. And together, we will always matter!”
“The need for young people to get out and vote has never been more important,” says Participant CEO David Linde. “We are proud to be working with Rock the Vote in making that need a reality and by using the inspiring, powerful message of Rep. John Lewis to make good trouble.”
Rock the Vote is planning additional Democracy Summer activations throughout the summer including on the Fourth of July and on August 6, the anniversary of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
Robert Rodriguezis heading to a galaxy far, far away…
The 51-year-old Mexican American director/producer will serve as the director for Season 2 of Disney+’s The Mandalorian.
The Sin City and Spy Kidsfilmmaker tweeted a photo of himself with “the biggest star in the universe,” aka Baby Yoda.
“I am truly humbled to say I now have had the very rare privilege of directing the biggest star in the universe,” Rodriguez tweeted.
Production on the sophomore season of the Star Warsspinoff series already has wrapped.
Among the new faces for Season 2 are Rosario Dawson, Michael Biehnand a recurring Bill Burr. They join returning stars including Pedro Pascalin the title role, Gina Carano, Giancarlo Esposito, Emily Swallow, Carl Weathers, Omid Abtahi, Werner Herzog,Nick Nolte, Julia Jonesand Ming-Na Wen.
The live-action interstellar bounty hunter series premiered on November 12 on Disney+, the day the streaming service launched. Insiders have hinted that several established characters from the Skywalker saga’s feature films mythology will make appearances during the show’s sophomore season.
There’s no denying Cameron Diazis a boss b$tch… And, now there’s a video to prove it.
Actress and stuntwoman extraordinaire Zoe Bell has created a full-out, virtual battle royale featuring the most badass actresses and stuntwomen of Hollywood, including the 47-year-old half-Cuban American actress.
Bell’s video is appropriately called Boss Bitch Fight Challenge.
“I’m so bored! I just want to play with my friends!” she proclaims as she tries to liven things up during her quarantine with five minutes of virtual fisticuffs.
Similar to a viral video made by stuntmen, the ladies show the men how it’s really done as Bell stitches together vignettes of an all-star, blink-and-you’ll-miss-them roster of women serving us some action-packed, fighting moves.
It starts with Bell and we quickly see actresses like Halle Berry kick some tail, as well as Scarlett Johansson and her fellow Black Widow starFlorence Pugh step into action. Margot Robbiemakes use of her Harley Quinnbat while Charlie’s Angelsalums Drew Barrymoreand Diaz jump into the brawl. Also making cameos are Xenaherself Lucy Lawless, Birds of Prey actress Rosie Perez, Guardians of the Galaxy’s Zoe Saldana, DMZstar Rosario Dawsonas well as Daryl Hannahreprising her role as Elle Driver from Kill Bill.
Here’s the full roster of boss bitchesin order of appearance:
Zoe Bell, Lucy Lawless, Tara Macken, Drew Barrymore, Juliette Lewis, Tamiko Brownlee, Rosario Dawson, Amy Johnson, Cameron Diaz, Kim Murphy, Daniela Ruah, Michaela McAllister, Kaitlin Olson, Lauren Mary Kim, Florence Pugh, Julia Butters, Angela Meryl, Sarah Irwin, Daryl Hannah, Sophia Di Martino, Tracie Thoms, Shauna Duggins, Zoe Saldana, Ming Qiu, Renee Goldsberry, Rosie Perez, Lilly Aspell, Thandie Newton, Mel Stubbs, Jessie Graff, Monique Ganderton, Halle Berry, Heidi Moneymaker, Scarlett Johansson, Dayna Grant, Margot Robbie, Renae Moneymaker, KT Tunstall and finally, to make things come full circle, Zoe Bell rounds it out.
DMZ is set in the near future where Americais embroiled in a bitter civil war, leaving Manhattana demilitarized zone — hence the title of the series. The show chronicles the journey of fierce medic Alma Ortega (Dawson), who saves lives while desperately searching for her lost son. As she contends with the gangs, militias, demagogues and warlords that control this lawless no man’s land, she becomes the unlikely source of hope.
Miyares will be a series regular and play the character of Skel, the ruthless triggerman of one of the DMZ’s most powerful gangs, led by Parco Delgado (Bratt). He’s also a talented graffiti artist with a profound passion for art, which serves as his lasting connection to his humanity in a world where survival is predicated on power.
Miyares previously worked with DuVernay on the Emmy-winning Netflix series When They See Us, playing the adult Raymond Santana, one of the Exonerated Five.
He recently appeared in the Showtime drama seriesThe L Word: Generation Q. His other credits include appearances on Elementaryand The Code.
The project will be written and executive produced by showrunner Roberto Patino. DuVernay is set to direct and executive produce. The pilot is produced by ARRAY Filmworksin association with Warner Bros. Television.
Rosario Dawsonis heading to the small screen this February…
USA Network has set the mid-winter premiere date for Sam Esmail’s new anthology drama Briarpatch, led by 40-year-old Puerto Rican and Cuban American actress on Thursday, February 6.
Briarpatchfollows Allegra Dill (Dawson), a no-nonsense professional who returns to her quirky hometown to solve her sister’s murder.
The inaugural season celebrates the genres represented by Ross Thomas’ book — a stylish blend of crime and pulp fiction — while updating his sense of fun, danger and place for a new generation.
Jay R. Ferguson, Edi Gathegi, Brian Geraghty and Kim Dickens also star.
The 10-episode Briarpatchwas written for television by Greenwald, who executive produces alongside Esmail through his production company Esmail Corp and Anonymous Content’s Chad Hamilton.
Dawson also is a producer on the series from UCP and Paramount Television.
