David Del Rio to Star Opposite Kathy Bates in CBS’ Drama Pilot “Matlock”

David Del Rio is (Mat)locking in his next project…

The 35-year-old Latinx actor/director and former Baker and the Beauty star and Leah Lewis have been cast as series regulars opposite Kathy Bates and Skye P. Marshall in CBS’ drama pilot Matlock.

David Del RioThe project is a new take on the classic legal television drama starring Andy Griffith, which hails from Jane the Virgin creator Jennie Snyder Urman and NCIS: Los Angeles star Eric Christian Olsen.

In Matlock, written by Urman and to be directed by Kat Coiro, after achieving success in her younger years, the brilliant septuagenarian Madeline Matlock (Bates) rejoins the work force at a prestigious law firm where she uses her unassuming demeanor and wily tactics to win cases and expose corruption from within.

Del Rio plays Billy, a charismatic young associate a few years out of law school and assigned to work on one of the firm’s biggest cases.  He helps Matty navigate her new work environment as he seemingly knows more than he should.

Lewis plays Sarah, a Junior Associate eager to get ahead and not worried about being liked. Sarah is all ambition, determined to be seen for her smarts and willing to do anything to move up a peg at the firm. She is not pleased when she’s forced to work alongside Matty, lowering her position at the company even further.

Bates executive produces alongside Sutton Street’s Urman and Joanna Klein, Coiro, as well as Cloud Nine’s Olsen and John Will.

Del Rio can be seen as a lead in the Hulu Original series, Maggie, opposite Rebecca Rittenhouse. His most recent credits include starring as Mateo in ABC’s Baker and the Beauty. He also replaced Lin-Manuel Miranda in his Tony winning role on Broadway as Sonny in In the Heights, and teamed up with Miranda to star in the Emmy nominated Grease: Live on Fox.

Jake T. Austin to Star in the Psychological Thriller “Daft State”

Jake T. Austin is heading to a new State

The 26-year-old part Puerto Rican, Argentine and Spanish American actor will star in Daft State, the psychological thriller from Chad Bishoff, which just entered production.

Jake T. Austin

Austin will star alongside Paulo CostanzoIman Karram and Ka’ramuu Kush, as well as previously announced cast members Christopher Backus and Skye P. Marshall.

The film, scripted by Bishoff and Sam Harter, charts the mysterious psychological destruction of Easton (Backus), who is driven to the edge of sanity, and possible self-harm, by those that love him most—his wife (Marshall) and daughter. Will Easton succumb to their increasingly traumatizing pressure, or will he conquer the dark forces at play in his addled psyche?

“We’re so fortunate to have such an incredibly talented cast in our film,” said Bishoff of the additions to his ensemble. “I can’t wait for audiences to see what they bring to the screen.”

“Having a cast of this caliber with such extensive and established fan bases to help tell this gripping story centered on the complex nature of mental health, is an honor,” added producer Erich Hover.

Austin is a five-time Young Artist Award nominee and Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards nominee who co-starred in the Disney Channel series The Wizards of Waverly Place, along with other family-centric projects, including Go Diego Go!, Hotel for Dogs and The Emoji Movie. He most recently appeared in Lionsgate’s Adverse, alongside Mickey Rourke, Lou Diamond Phillips and Sean Astin.