Néstor Carbonell to Star in Netflix’s First Original Medical Procedural “Pulse”

Posted on April 24, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Néstor Carbonell is scrubbing in…

The 56-year-old Cuban American actor will star in Netflix’s first original medical procedural Pulse.

Carbonell is among a roster of new cast additions that includes Santiago Segura, Ash Santos, Jessica Rothe and Arturo Del Puerto.

The drama series hails from first-time creator Zoe Robyn and veteran Carlton Cuse.

Pulse follows the staff of Miami’s busiest Level 1 Trauma Center as they navigate medical emergencies centering on young ER doc Danny Simms (Willa Fitzgerald) who is unexpectedly promoted to Chief Resident amidst the fallout of her own provocative romantic relationship.

In addition to Fitzgerald, Justina Machado, Colin Woodell, Jack Bannon, Jessie T. Usher, Chelsea Muirhead, Daniela Nieves and Jessy Yates also star.

Carbonell will play Dr. Ruben Soriano, a respected and sometimes feared senior surgeon. His commitment and passion have led him to prioritize his job above all else and he’s as demanding of his residents as he is of himself.

Segura will play Gabriel Moreno, an ER nurse who is a highly competent team player — but not always easy to impress.

Santos will play Nia Washington, a confident and scrappy Miami-Dade County EMT from a large, close-knit family.

Rothe will play Cass Himmelstein, a charismatic and charming senior ER nurse who knows what she wants for her life, and has a plan to get it.

Del Puerto will play Luis Dominguez, the ER’s Charge Nurse. He is unflappable amidst the ER chaos without sacrificing his signature wit and is beloved among his staff. All are recurring roles.

Robyn and Cuse serve as showrunners and executive producers. Bradley Garner, Emma Forman and Michael Klick also executive produce. Kate Dennis will serve as director and executive producer on Episodes 1 and 2.

The project reunites Carbonell and Cuse who worked together on the hit ABC series Lost. Carbonell is currently a series regular on Apple’s The Morning Show, and is recurring on the FX series Shogun. He can also be seen in feature films Bandit and Clawfoot. Prior, he starred as ‘Sheriff Alex Romero’ opposite Vera Farmiga and Freddie Highmore in the hit A&E series, Bates Motel. He is most often recognized for his portrayal of ‘Richard Alpert’ in Lost.

Segura can most recently be seen recurring on CW’s Walker: Independence. He is best known for his series regular role in Scream, as well as a recurring arc on Grey’s Anatomy and the thriller 47 Meters Down opposite Mandy Moore.

Santos’ breakthrough role was on the eighth season of FX’s American Horror Story. Additional credits include Netflix’s True Story, alongside Kevin Hart and Wesley Snipes, as well as Hulu’s biopic series, Mike, playing Mike Tyson’s wife, Kiki Spicer. She’s currently set to reprise her role of Coco in Season 3 of Mayor of Kingstown, as well as the upcoming romantic comedy for Netflix, Our Little Secret. Her latest film, Half Baked 2, premiered on April 20.

Del Puerto is currently recurring on the Apple+ series For All Mankind as well as Killing It for Peacock. Previously, he starred in the HBO series Camping alongside Jennifer Garner, Juliette Lewis and David Tennant. On the film front, he played opposite Liam Hemsworth, Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman in Twentieth Century Fox’s Independence Day: Resurgence and the Universal Pictures feature Ride Along 2.

Jenna Ortega’s “Miller’s Girl” to World Premiere at the Palm Springs Film Festival

Posted on December 13, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Jenna Ortega’s latest project will have its debut in the California desert…

Jade Halley Bartlett‘s Miller’s Girl, starring the 21-year-old Mexican American actress and Wednesday star and Martin Freeman, will make its world premiere at the 2024 Palm Springs Film Festival before it opens in theaters next month.

Lionsgate and Point Grey Pictures are behind the movie, which marks the feature writing and directing debut for Bartlett, who wrote the original play in 2011 and adapted it into a screenplay that landed on the 2016 Black List.

Miller’s Girl will premiere at the festival on January 11 and open in cinemas beginning Friday, January 26.

Ortega, Freeman and Bartlett are set to attend the Palm Springs screening at the festival, which runs January 4-15. They will be a part of the fest’s Talking Pictures program that features post-screening Q&As with cast and creatives.

The film centers on the unraveling of a complex connection between lonely intellectuals: a failed writer named Jonathan Miller (Freeman) and his remarkable student Cairo Sweet (Ortega). When a creative writing assignment prompts uncomfortable realities, both realize they’ve blurred lines beyond the academic. The pic is about the imminent, inexorable attraction between characters who become both hero and villain in each other’s stories.

Bashir Salahuddin, Gideon Adlon and Dagmara Domińczyk also star.

Ortega’s hit Netflix series Wednesday will begin shooting in late April in Ireland, after Season 1 was shot in Romania. The first season ranks as Netflix’s most popular series of all time with 252.1 million views to date.

On the film front, Ortega recently confirmed that the Wednesday schedule means she won’t be able to return for the next installment of Scream, after she helped Scream VI this year to the horror franchise’s best opening grosses ever at $44.4 million in the U.S.

Ortega is next up opposite Ben Foster, Toby Wallace and Tommy Lee Jones in Brian Helgeland’s crime thriller Finestkind, which has its world premiere Tuesday.

She also has Beetlejuice 2 in the works for a September 2024 launch.

Melissa Barrera to Star in Radio Silence’s Untitled Monster Thriller

Posted on April 15, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Melissa Barrera has reportedly landed a monster role…

The 32-year-old Mexican actress has been cast in Radio Silence’s Untitled Monster Thriller at Universal.

Radio Silence’s Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett, who directed the recent Scream films that Barrera has starred in, will helm the project with Scream producer Chad Villella serving as producer alongside William Sherak, Paul Neinstein and James Vanderbilt at Project X Entertainment.

The script was written by Stephen Shields, with revisions by Guy Busick.

Universal Monster films are rooted in the horror genre, with no restrictions on budget, rating or genre. They are not part of a shared interconnected universe, which allows each film to stand on its own. This new direction is filmmaker-driven, inviting innovative filmmakers with original, bold ideas for these characters to develop the stories and pitch them.

Radio Silence has been loosely developing the project since last year following the success of their first Scream pic, but given the success of that film, Paramount moved fast to get Scream VI up and running. While they began meeting with other talent, it became evident pretty quickly that Barrera was the perfect fit for the role following two successful shoots with the rising star and offered her the part.

Barrera is in theaters as the lead of Scream VI, which is the highest-grossing film of the franchise. She next will be seen this spring in the modern musical reimagining of Carmen, opposite Paul Mescal for Sony Pictures Classics.

Also upcoming for Barrera is God’s Country, directed by Egor Abramenko as his American directorial debut; Your Monster from Merman Productions; and The Collaboration written by four-time Oscar nominee Anthony McCarten (Bohemian Rhapsody), based off the acclaimed play.

She most recently was seen in the independent film All the World Is Sleeping as well as Netflix’s global hit Keep Breathing and STX’s supernatural thriller Bed Rest, which was also Barrera’s producorial debut.

Melissa Barrera & Jenna Ortega’s “Scream VI” Breaks Franchise Record with $44.5 Million Opening Weekend

Posted on March 12, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega are officially Scream queens…

The 32-year-old Mexican actress and singer and her 20-year-old Puerto Rican and Mexican American’s Scream VI collected $44.5 million in its opening weekend, a great start for Paramount and Spyglass Media’s long-running slasher film series.

The ticket sales were enough to top domestic box office charts over two newcomers, Sony’s prehistoric sci-fi thriller 65 and Focus Features’ heartwarming comedy Champions, as well as last weekend’s victor Creed III.

The initial haul for Scream VI is frighteningly strong for the sixth installment in a franchise. Not only did it greatly improve upon the start of last year’s hit reboot Scream, which scored with $30 million, but it crushed the series’ opening weekend record, previously set by 2000’s Scream 3 with $34 million. Scream VI cost $35 million, so it’ll easily turn a profit in its theatrical run.

“It’s extraordinary to have this type of result after six films,” says Chris Aronson, Paramount’s president of domestic distribution. “We blew away the opening of the last ‘Scream.’ That doesn’t happen.”

The R-rated “Scream VI” added another $22.6 million from 53 international markets, bringing its global tally to $67.1 million.

“Reviews and audience scores are very good, and international business should be solid,” says David A. Gross, who runs the film consulting firm Franchise Entertainment Research. “27 years after launching in 1996, the franchise is healthier than ever.”

Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, Scream VI follows survivors of Ghostface’s murders as they leave Woodsboro behind for a fresh start in New York City. Courteney Cox, Barrera, Ortega and Hayden Panettiere return for the film, which is the first installment without Neve Campbell’s Sidney Prescott. The actor departed the film because she felt “the offer that was presented to me did not equate to the value I have brought to the franchise.

”Opening weekend audience members skewed slightly male (51%), while 71% were between the ages of 18-24.

Jenna Ortega Doesn’t Flinch During Appearance on Sean Evans’ “Hot Ones” Show

Posted on March 3, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Jenna Ortega isn’t afraid of a little spice…

The 20-year-old Puerto Rican and Mexican American actress appeared on Hot Ones, the series from host Sean Evans, who interviews celebrities as they eat progressively spicier chicken wings.

While he’s shared wings with the likes of Lizzo, Kevin Bacon, the Wednesday star may just be the bravest celebrity he’s met thus far.

“I’m feeling pretty confident, honestly,” Ortega said at the start of the interview. “Typically I can handle my stuff, so I’m curious.”

And Ortega did manage to handle her stuff, taking on all ten wings without breaking a sweat. All while fielding questions from Evans about Wednesday, Scream VI, and when she knew she liked to “scare people” (“From a very early age.”)

But Ortega admits that one thing has gotten her down, and that was missing certified Bob Ross instructor David Arquette‘s painting class on the set of the fifth installment of Scream.

“David Arquette in, like, the first week sat us all down in this common room we had in the hotel where we played all the board games, and he taught us how to paint like Bob Ross,” Jack Quaid recalled from the Scream reboot set.

“I think I was actually working when people took that class,” Ortega said between bites of a level three hot wing. “There have been very few times when I’ve felt completely defeated. And that is one of them.”

Ortega, however, was not defeated by even the hottest hot sauce or by Evans attempting to win a staring contest with someone who doesn’t blink for a living.

Melissa Barrera Starring in New Genre Film “God’s Country”

Posted on February 6, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Melissa Barrera is heading to God’s country…

Matt Reeves’ 6th & Idaho is teaming up with ZQ Entertainment to produce God’s Country, a new genre film starring the 32-year-old Mexican actress and Scream reboot star.

The film will mark the American directorial debut of Egor Abramenko.

The film, which will head into production this summer, will see Barrera playing a young Salvadoran woman who travels to Kentucky to meet her fiancé. What she uncovers is something sinister beyond comprehension, as her American dream curdles into a nightmare of biblical proportions.

Will Soodik wrote the script. Reeves and Rafi Crohn will produce for 6th & Idaho, alongside ZQ Entertainment’s Ara Keshishian and Petr Jákl (who financed the development), Adam Kassan (End of Watch), and Barrera.

“Egor is an exciting emerging talent,” Reeves told Deadline, “and I’m thrilled to be making a monster movie together.”

Barrera is best known for her turns in Paramount/Spyglass’ Scream reboot, Jon M. Chu’s adaptation of the Lin-Manuel Miranda musical In the Heights for Warner Bros. and HBO Max and the acclaimed Starz series Vida.

She’ll next be seen in Scream VI, which is out March 10; Sony Pictures Classics’ Carmen with Paul Mescal; and the Anthony McCarten-scripted feature The Collaboration, based on the acclaimed play.

Sony Pictures Looking to Relaunch “I Know What You Did Last Summer” with Return of Freddie Prinze Jr.

Posted on February 6, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Freddie Prinze Jr. is thisclose to finalizing his summer plans…

Following the successful reboot of the Scream franchise Sony Pictures is hoping to relaunch its own slasher film franchise, I Know What You Did Last Summer, which starred the 46-year-old half-Puerto Rican actor.

Jennifer Kaytin Robinson has reportedly been tapped to direct a sequel to I Know What You Did Last Summer, with Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt in talks to reprise their roles.

The project is in early development, according to sources, with Neal H. Moritz is in talks to return as producer and Leah McKendrick on board to write the script.

Sony had no comment on the project.

The original film follows four young friends bound by a tragic accident who are reunited when they find themselves being stalked by a hook-wielding maniac in their small seaside town.

The original was a hit and not only led to a sequel but also helped launch the careers of Hewitt, Prinze, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Ryan Phillippe. Plot details for this latest installment are unknown.

While McKendrick is penning the film, the idea for the new film came from Robinson and McKendrick, who blew away studio execs when they pitched this idea for a sequel last fall, especially given the recent success of the Scream franchise.

That film was recently relaunched with original cast members returning, and the idea of bringing back original cast members to draw in old-school fans while also adding fresh faces to relaunch the series was too good for the studio to pass up. Another big factor was the recent success of Robinson’s Netflix film Do Revenge, which was lauded for its throwbacks to late-’90s pics like Cruel Intentions and was something execs knew Robinson could tap into when developing the new story.

Gravitas Ventures Acquires North American Rights to Melissa Barrera’s Drama “All the World is Sleeping”

Posted on January 26, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Melissa Barrera will be sleeping throughout the U.S.

Gravitas Ventures has picked up the North American rights to the drama All the World is Sleeping, starring the 32-year-old Mexican actress and Scream reboot star.

The film is slated for release in theaters and on demand on March 17.

Written and directed by Ryan Lacen, All the World is Sleeping follows Chama (Barrera), who as a young girl in New Mexico, strived to be different from her mother. Now in her twenties, she’s found herself falling into a similar cycle of generational addiction. This struggle then threatens her balance as a mother to her own daughter. As Chama tries to keep it all together, a harrowing accident will spiral her out of control, causing her daughter to be taken from her custody. With nothing left, she’ll have to confront her past in order to fight for a future — one that can either guide her closer to getting her daughter back or lead her deeper into this dangerous cycle.

The film also stars Jackie Cruz, Jorge Garcia, Kristen Gutoskie, Valentina Herrera, Lisandra Tena and Luis Bordonada.

“This film is not only based on the lived experiences of seven women with a history of addiction, it was made by them. Through a unique collaboration with the non-profit Bold Futures, their stories and input shaped this film throughout its development and production,” Lacen told Deadline. “As a director, whose own family has been affected by addiction, my intention was to create a film that felt truthful while unraveling in a unique, visually cerebral way. All the World is Sleeping is grounded in the axiom that while this is a movie, we understand that these moments are happening all around us. Hopefully it gets the audience talking.”

“We are thrilled to be bringing All the World is Sleeping to theaters and homes this upcoming March,” added Gravitas’ Senior Director of Acquisitions, Danielle Gasher. “Melissa Barrera delivers an incredible performance as a young mother battling addiction. We are proud to be the North American partner for such a hard-hitting drama.”

Barrera was introduced as Sam Carpenter — the daughter of Ghostface killer Billy Loomis, who comes to have her own brush with death — in 2022’s Scream relaunch from Paramount, and will reprise the role in the classic horror franchise’s latest entry Scream IV, out on March 10.

Also coming up for her is the Kwame Kwei-Armah film The Collaboration, based on the play of the same name, which has her starring alongside Paul Bettany, Daniel Brühl, Jeremy Pope and more.

Jenna Ortega to Star in Lionsgate’s “Miller’s Girl”

Posted on September 21, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Jenna Ortega is readying for a new project…

The 19-year-old Puerto Rican and Mexicam American actress and new Scream queen has boarded Lionsgate and Point Grey’s Miller’s Girl opposite Martin Freeman.

The film reps the directorial debut from writer-director Jade Halley Bartlett, whose screenplay for the project ranked on the 2016 Black List.

In Miller’s Girl, a creative writing assignment yields complex results between a teacher and his talented student. Point Grey has been attached to the project ever since it arrived on the Black List.

Mary-Margaret Kunze is producing with Point Grey.

Erin Westerman, President of Production for the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, tells Deadline, “While we are excited for the movie to speak for itself, the level of talent assembled for this special film is a testament to Jade, whose screenplay lures you in with her dazzling voice. And then eats you alive.”

The film is currently shooting in Georgia. Lionsgate is handling global sales.

Ortega will next star in the title role of the Tim Burton Netflix series Wednesday, centering on the Addams Family character.

In January she starred in the $140M-global grossing Scream and is set to reprise her role in the hit franchise’s sixth installment.

She recently wrapped production on the crime thriller Finest Kind directed by Oscar winner Brian Helgeland, was last seen starring in A24’s X and HBO’s The Fallout.

Melissa Barrera to Star in the Warhol-Basquiat film “The Collaboration

Posted on September 8, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Melissa Barrera has a new collaboration…

The 32-year-old Mexican actress and singer will star in Muse of Fire’s Warhol–Basquiat film The Collaboration, based on the acclaimed play by four-time Oscar nominee Anthony McCarten.

Barrera will star alongside Jeremy Pope, Paul Bettany and Daniel Brühl in the project.

The Collaboration revolves around the relationship of the two iconic artists, starting in the summer of 1984. International superstar Andy Warhol (Bettany) and the art scene’s newest wunderkind, Jean-Michel Basquiat (Pope), agree to work together on what may be the most talked about exhibition in the history of modern art. But can these two creative giants co-exist with such opposing views of life and art?

Today, Warhol and Basquiat’s works sell for tens of millions.

Barrera will play the role of Maya, a formidable truth-teller who loves Basquiat and is wary of Warhol.

McCarten penned the screen adaptation of his play, which made its world premiere at London’s Young Vic Theatre in February, with Bettany and Pope as Warhol and Basquiat, respectively. Renowned theatre director and writer Kwame Kwei-Armah is making his feature directorial debut with the project, after directing the play in its original run.

Production on The Collaboration begins this month in Boston at Marina Studios’ Quincy location.

Once production on the Collaboration film has wrapped, the play will head to Broadway, with Kwei-Armah, Bettany and Pope again returning. December 20 has been set as opening night, with previews beginning at MTC’s Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on November 29.

Barrera is best known for her turns in Paramount/Spyglass’ recent Scream reboot, Jon M. Chu’s film adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hit Broadway musical In the Heights for Warner Bros. and HBO Max, and the acclaimed Starz series, Vida.

She more recently led Keep Breathing, the Netflix series, which rose to #1 on the streamer when it premiered in late July.

She’s currently in production on Scream 6, reprising her role as Sam Carpenter, and will next be seen in Benjamin Millepied’s musical Carmen, which is world premiering this month at the Toronto Film Festival.

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