FX’s “Mayans M.C.,” Starring J.D. Pardo, to End with Season 5

Posted on January 12, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

It’s the end of the road for J.D. Pardo.

The 42-year-old Salvadoran & Argentine American actor’s hit series Mayans M.C. will end with Season 5 on FX.

Created by Kurt Sutter and Elgin James, Mayans M.C.— a spin-off series of the network’s hit Sons of Anarchy— follows a motley crew of Latin men who found a family in the motorcycle club charter Santo Padre on the California and Mexico border. While the story is about the M.C., it also features powerful female characters that are bold and powerful in their own right.

Returning series stars include Pardo, Clayton Cardenas, Danny Pino, Michael Irby, Carla Baratta, Sarah Bolger, Emilio Rivera, Edward James Olmos, Frankie Loyal, Vincent Vargas and Joseph Raymond Lucero.

The Season 4 finale saw the M.C. mourn the loss of their brother Coco (Richard Cabral) who was killed in battle earlier in the season. It was also a big episode for Sons of Anarchy fans with the return of Kim Coates as Tig where he shared a particularly emotional reunion with OG Marcus Alvarez (Rivera).

In another tie-in to SOA, Meth Mountain’s Isaac Packer’s (JR Bourne) reaper tattoo was finally explained in the episode. He is the younger brother of Les Packer (Robert Patrick), President of SAMCRO’s San Bernadino chapter who had been undergoing cancer treatment. Still alive and kicking, a return of Les would make total sense for Mayan M.C.‘s final season.

When the series returns, Santo Padre will have a new leader in EZ (Pardo) who orchestrated the ouster of El Padrino snatching the seat at the head of the table. Alvarez wanted to barter peace between SAMCRO and Santo Padre but EZ and his brothers want war. Hopefully, this sets up the ultimate Sons of Anarchy and Mayans M.C. crossover fans have ever seen.

Jacob Vargas to Appear on Disney+’s TV Series “National Treasure”

Posted on June 22, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Jacob Vargas is treasuring his latest gig…

The 50-year-old Mexican-American actor and performer has landed a heavily recurring role in National Treasure, Disney Branded Television’s television series for Disney+ produced by ABC Signature.

Executive produced by the films’ producer Jerry Bruckheimer, director Jon Turteltaub and writers Marianne and Cormac Wibberley, the project is an expansion of the National Treasure film franchise told from the point of view of young heroine Jess (Lisette Olivera), a DREAMer in search of answers about her family who embarks on the adventure of a lifetime to uncover the truth about the past and save a lost Pan-American treasure.

The series, whose pilot episode is written by the Wibberleys and will be directed by Mira Nair, centers on Jess, a Latina whose brilliant and resourceful mind loves a good mystery, and she has a natural talent for solving puzzles. Over the course of the show, Jess will uncover her own buried history, as well as the truth about her parents and her connection to a long-lost treasure.

Vargas plays Rafael a rugged, treasure-obsessed, adventurous soul with a good sense of humor.

Vargas recently portrayed Tony Ochoa on Mr. Iglesias for Netflix. He also recurred on Mayans M.C. and appeared on Luke Cage and Sons of Anarchy.

On the film side, he most recently was seen in Steven Soderbergh’s Kimi. His other film credits include Princess of the Row, The 33 and Diego Luna’s biopic Cesar Chavez.

Jimmy Smits to Star in CBS’ Cop Series Pilot “East New York”

Posted on March 23, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Jimmy Smits is officially on the beat…

The 66-year-old half-Puerto Rican actor and NYPD Blue alum has been cast as the male lead opposite Amanda Warren in CBS’ hourlong cop-series pilot East New York.

Co-written by William Finkelstein and Mike Flynn and directed by Mike Robin, the project centers on Regina Haywood (Warren), the newly promoted deputy inspector of East New York, an impoverished, working-class neighborhood at the eastern edge of Brooklyn. She leads a diverse group of officers and detectives, some of whom are reluctant to deploy her creative methods of serving and protecting during the midst of social upheaval and the early seeds of gentrification.

Smits will play three-star Chief John Suarez, whose experience, commanding presence and strong moral center helps oversee the melding of communities and the precincts that serve them.

The Emmy-winning actor has a personal connection to the project. Born in Brooklyn, Smits grew up around the East New York section of the borough and went to school there. Additionally, East New York reunites Smits with Finkelstein, with whom he worked on NYPD Blue, and with Robin, who was a director-producer on the Smits-starring series, NYPD Blue and L.A. Law.

Warner Bros. Television is the studio.

Smits, who won an Emmy for L.A. Law, recently was recently seen in the feature adaptation of In the Heights. His series credits also include Sons of Anarchy and Dexter.

Fernanda Andrade to Appear in Showtime’s Vampire Drama Series “Let The Right One In”

Posted on February 2, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Fernanda Andrade is letting the right role in…

The 37-year-old Brazilian actress and model will appear in the new Showtime series Let The Right One In in a recurring role.

Andrade, known for her work in Narcos: Mexico and Songs of Anarchy, will play Elizabeth, the spirited wife of Mark (Demián Bichir) and devoted mother of Eleanor (Madison Taylor Baez). Elizabeth’s love for her family motivates her to go to any length to protect them.

The roles has been recast. Andrade replaces Susan Santiago, who played the role in the pilot.

The vampire drama series is inspired by the bestselling 2004 novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist and its 2008 Swedish film adaptation. It’s described as an exploration of human frailty, strength, and compassion through an elevated genre lens.

It centers on Mark and his daughter Eleanor, whose lives were changed forever 10 years earlier when she was turned into a vampire. Locked in at age 12, perhaps forever, Eleanor lives a closed-in life, able to go out only at night, while her father does his best to provide her with the human blood she needs to stay alive.

Let the Right One In is produced by Tomorrow Studios. Bichir will serve as a producer on the series.

Andrade most recently appeared in Fox’s NeXt in the role of Shea Salazar. She also has credits in big and small screen projects including Sons of Anarchy, Scorpion, NCIS: Los Angeles, and Narcos: Mexico.

Jesse Garcia to Star Opposite Jennifer Lopez in the Action Film “The Mother”

Posted on October 14, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Jesse Garcia has landed a Mother of a role…

The 38-year-old Latino actors has joined the cast of The Mother, the action film, emerging from a newly announced creative partnership between Netflix and Jennifer Lopez’s Nuyorican Productions.

Garcia will star opposite Lopez, Joseph Fiennes, Omari Hardwick, Gael García Bernal, Paul Raci, Yvonne Senat Jones and Lucy Paez in the film, which will be directed by Niki Caro.

The Mother centers on a deadly female assassin who comes out of hiding to protect the daughter that she gave up years before, while on the run from dangerous men.

Lovecraft Country creator Misha Green penned the original screenplay, with Peter Craig handling the most recent revisions.

Lopez and Elaine Goldsmith Thomas are producing for Nuyorican Productions with Roy Lee and Miri Yoon for Vertigo, along with Green, Benny Medina, and Marc Evans. Molly Allen is executive producing.

Garcia can currently seen in Ted Melfi’s Netflix film The Starling, starring Melissa McCarthy and Chris O’Dowd. He’ll next appear in Michael Bay’s action thriller Ambulance, and star alongside Annie Gonzales in Flamin’ Hot, the film about Flamin’ Hot Cheetos creator Richard Montanez that Eva Longoria is helming for Searchlight Pictures, in her feature debut.

The actor has starred on the TV side in From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series, finding recurring roles in Narcos: Mexico and Snowfall. He has also appeared in shows including The Last Ship, Sons of Anarchy and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, along with films including Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day and The Avengers.

Frankie Loyal Upped to Series Regular on FX’s “Mayans M.C.”

Posted on September 24, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

There are more rides in Frankie Loyal’s future…

The 51-year-old Latino actor/producer has been upped to series regular on FX’s biker drama Mayans M.C. alongside Joseph Lucero and Vincent Vargas for season 4, which is scheduled to return in early 2022.

Loyal, Lucero and Vargas took on larger roles in season 3, which saw their characters Hank Loza, Neron “Creeper” Vargas, and Gilly Lopez, respectively, flourish and develop into fully rounded characters with storylines fans embraced fully.

The trio have been a part of the series throughout its three-season run.

Mayans M.C., a spin-off series of the network’s hit Sons of Anarchy, follows a motley crew of Latino men who found a family in the motorcycle club charter Santo Padre on the California and Mexico border. While the story is about the M.C., it also features powerful female characters that are bold and powerful in their own right.

The character of E.Z. Reyes (JD Pardo) is at the center of the story as he finds his place in the gray area of a world that is mostly black and white.

It’s helmed by co-creator and executive producer Elgin James; and co-stars Clayton Cardenas, Danny Pino, Richard Cabral, Michael Irby, Carla Baratta, Sarah Bolger, Emilio Rivera, Edward James Olmos, Raoul Trujillo, Emily Tosta, and Sulem Calderon.

Loyal, whose character Hank serves as Sergeant-of-Arms to the M.C., guest-starred on FX’s Better Things opposite Pamela Adlon. On the big screen, he starred in The Deep End alongside Tilda Swinton and Goran Visnjic. He will next be seen in the drama feature Die Like A Man.

Lucero made his debut in the 2006 drama Gridiron Gang alongside Dwayne Johnson, Xzibit, Moe McCrae, and Jurnee Smollett. He was also featured in Father G and the Homeboys, an award-winning documentary chronicling Father Greg Boyle’s work with Los Angeles’ toughest gang members. Lucero’s television credits include Dirt, ER, The Shield, Cold Case, Criminal Minds, The Closer, Shameless, S.W.A.T., and FBI.

Vargas is a veteran of the U.S. Army that served three combat deployments who continues to serve his country today for the Army Reserve. In 2009, he became a Federal Agent with the Department of Homeland Security and was a Medic with the Special Operations Group.

He has starred and produced several films including Lucy Shimmers and the Prince of Peace (co-executive producer), Not a War Story (executive producer), and Dads in Parks (writer). Vargas pulled double duty since season 2 on Mayans M.C. as recurring star and technical advisor.

Aubrey Plaza to Star in the Indie Film “Emily the Criminal”

Posted on August 23, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Aubrey Plaza has landed an out of this (under)world role…

The 37-year-old half Puerto Rican actress/comedian will star opposite part-Spanish actor Theo Rossi in Emily the Criminal, the indie written and directed by John Patton Ford.

The film tells the story of Emily (Plaza), a woman down on her luck and saddled with debt, who gets involved in a credit card scam that pulls her into the criminal underworld of Los Angeles, ultimately leading to deadly consequences.

Rossi will play Youcef, a Middle Eastern immigrant who has big dreams and a lot of hustle, with Gina Gershon and Megalyn Echikunwoke co-starring.

Plaza is producing the film with Tyler Davidson and Drew Sykes. Low Spark is the film’s financier.

Plaza’s previous credits include Parks and Recreation, Legion and Ingrid Goes West.

Rossi is best known for his turn as the menacing Hernan ‘Shades’ Alvarez in Marvel’s Luke Cage, and as hacker and intelligence officer Juan Carlos ‘Juice’ Ortiz in FX’s Sons of Anarchy.

FX Renews JD Pardo’s “Mayans M.C.” for Fourth Season

Posted on May 3, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

JD Pardo is still ridin’ high…

FX’s Sons of Anarchy spinoff Mayans M.C., starring the 40-year-old Salvadoran and Argentinian-American actor, has been renewed for a fourth season, coming ahead of the third-season finale of the gritty biker drama on May 11.

Co-creator Elgin James took over as showrunner for the third season following the firing of his co-creator Kurt Sutter.

The fourth season will air in 2022.

Mayans M.C. follows the life of Ezekiel “EZ” Reyes, played by Pardo, a newly patched member of the Mayans M.C. charter on the Cali/Mexi border. Once the golden boy with the American Dream in his grasp, EZ and his brother Angel (Clayton Cardenas) are closer than ever after uncovering the truth behind their mother’s murder while their father Felipe (Edward James Olmos) struggles to reconcile the choices he and his sons have made.

After U.S. Assistant District Attorney Lincoln Potter (Ray McKinnon) threatens to deport Felipe, EZ and Angel chose to leverage incriminating information to protect him rather than to free rebel leader Adelita (Carla Baratta) from federal custody, leaving her to give birth to Angel’s son while in handcuffs. Meanwhile, Miguel Galindo (Danny Pino), is left reeling over the loss of his mother to apparent suicide, while others quietly suspect foul play.

Additionally, the Mayans seek vengeance on their rivals, the Tijuana M.C. Vatos Malditos, after a surprise attack on their club. When the smoke clears, they discover the body of a Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club Redwood Original – there will be hell to pay.

Michael Irby, Raoul Max Trujillo, Richard Cabral, Emilio Rivera, Sarah Bolger and Sulem Calderon also star.

Mayans M.C. is executive produced by James, Michael Dinner and Sutter. The 10-episode third season is produced by 20th Television and FX Productions.

“Elgin James, his creative collaborators, this incredible cast and crew delivered on another epic season of Mayans M.C.,” said Nick Grad, President, Original Programming, FX Entertainment. “Through three seasons, Mayans has told stories that resonate well beyond the border where the club thrives and survives, inviting fans inside their world and giving them a seat at the table.”

Jacob Vargas to Star in Steven Soderbergh’s Next Film “KIMI”

Posted on March 18, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Jacob Vargas has lined up his next big role…

The 49-year-old Mexican actor has joined the cast of Steven Soderbergh’s next film, the New Line Max Original feature KIMI, with Zoë Kravitz on board to star.

Byron Bowers and Jaime Camil are also on board.

The film will premiere exclusively on HBO Max. David Koepp penned the script and will produce with Michael Polaire.

Plot details are being kept under wraps.

The film would mark the second collaboration between Warner Bros Pictures Group, HBO Max and Soderbergh since the recent restructuring of the studio, and the third between Soderbergh and HBO Max. It follows No Sudden Move, the upcoming starry Max Original ensemble crime thriller from Warner Bros. Pictures that features Don Cheadle, Benicio Del Toro, David Harbour, Amy Seimetz, Jon Hamm, Ray Liotta, Kieran Culkin, Brendan Fraser, Noah Jupe, Bill Duke, Frankie Shaw and Julia Fox.

Soderbergh’s most recent pic, Let Them All Talk, with Meryl Streep, premiered on HBO Max in December.

Vargas and Soderbergh’s partnership goes all the way back to Soderbergh’s Oscar-winning drug trafficking film Traffic, where Vargas played del Toro’s partner Manolo. Vargas would later appear in Soderbergh’s HBO series Mosaic.

He currently stars in the Netflix series Mr. Iglesias and was previously on the series Luke Cage and Sons of Anarchy. Recent film credits include Mark Carlson’s Princess of the Row opposite Martin Sheen and Ana Ortiz, The 33 as Edison “Elvis” Peña, one of the 33 Chilean miners that was trapped for 69 days, and Diego Luna’s biopic Cesar Chavez as Richard Chavez opposite Michael Peña.

FX to Debut Third Season of J.D. Pardo’s “Mayans M.C.” in March

Posted on February 7, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

J.D. Pardo will be riding again next month…

FX will launch the third season of Mayans M.C., starring the 39-year-old Salvadoran and Argentine-American actor, in March.

The series, the next chapter in the Sons of Anarchy saga, will premiere on Tuesday, March 16 at 10:00 pm ET/PT on FX with the first two episodes of its 10-episode third season.

After US Assistant District Attorney Lincoln Potter (Ray McKinnon) threatens to deport Felipe, EZ (Pardo) and Angel chose to leverage incriminating information to protect him, rather than to free rebel leader Adelita (Carla Baratta) from federal custody, leaving her to give birth to Angel’s son while in handcuffs.

Meanwhile, Miguel Galindo (Danny Pino) is left reeling over the loss of his mother to apparent suicide, while others quietly suspect foul play. Additionally, the Mayans seek vengeance on their rivals, the Tijuana M.C. Vatos Malditos, after a surprise attack on their club. When the smoke clears, they discover the body of a Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club Redwood Original – there will be hell to pay.

Michael Irby, Raoul Max Trujillo, Richard Cabral, Emilio Rivera, Sarah Bolger and Sulem Calderon also star in the gritty motorcycle drama.

Mayans M.C. was co-created by Kurt Sutter and Elgin James. The series is executive produced by James, Michael Dinner and Sutter. The 10-episode third season is produced by 20th Century Television and FX Productions.

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