Nina Lopez-Corrado Among New Directors for Season 2 of HBO’s “The Last of Us”

Posted on February 27, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Nina Lopez-Corrado is preparing for her own Last hurrah…

The Latina producer/director is among the directors set to helm season two of HBO’s acclaimed drama series The Last of Us.

Lopez-Corrado, who directed episodes of Perry Mason, is one of four new directors to board the post-apocalyptic zombie drama series, along with

Mark Mylod (Succession), Stephen Williams (Watchmen) and Kate Herron (Loki).

They join returning directors Peter Hoar, who was Emmy nominated for helming Season 1’s poignant Episode 3, “Long, Long Time,” as well as The Last Of Us co-creators, executive producers and showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann who will once again take on directing duties too.

It’s unclear whether any of the seven helmers will direct multiple episodes; Season 1 consisted of nine episodes helmed by seven directors.

In addition to directing multiple episodes of Perry Mason and The Nevers at HBo, At HBO, Lopez-Corrado’s other credits also ABC’s A Million Little Things, on which she served as producing director.

In its first season, The Last of Us earned 24 Emmy nominations, winning eight trophies.

Production on Season 2 is slated to begin next month in Vancouver.

Colman Domingo to Serve as a Presenter at This Weekend’s Screen Actors Guild Awards

Posted on February 21, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Win or lose, Colman Domingo will be taking the stage at the SAG Awards…

The 54-year-old Belizean-Guatemalan American actor, who is nominated for two SAG Awards, is among 30 presenters announced for the 30th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards set for Saturday in Los Angeles.

Domingo is among a roster of presenters that includes America Ferrera, nominated for being part of the cast of Barbie, Idris Elba, Margot Robbie, Jessica Chastain, Erika Alexander, Emily Blunt, Danielle Brooks, Sterling K. Brown, Michael Cera, Robert Downey Jr., Fran Drescher, Phil Dunster, Billie Eilish, , Brendan Fraser, Taraji P. Henson, Troy Kotsur, Greta Lee, Melissa McCarthy, Cillian Murphy, Glen Powell, Issa Rae, Storm Reid, Tracee Ellis Ross, Alexander Skarsgård, Omar Sy, Hannah Waddingham, Naomi Watts and Jeffrey Wright.

More presenters will be announced later.

Elba will open the ceremony, which has been host-free since 2021, and Aniston will present the 59th SAG Life Achievement Award to legendary actor, singer, producer, writer and director Barbra Streisand.

Barbie and Oppenheimer lead with four nominations apiece in the film races, while on the TV side the last season of Succession scored five nominations to top the field.

Barbie and Oppenheimer are joined in the Cast category by American Fiction, The Color Purple and Killers of the Flower Moon, with each scoring multiple nominations.

The SAG Awards historically have been an almost certain predictor of future Oscars success. Last year, Everything Everywhere All at Once scored the ensemble Cast trophy as well as wins for Michelle Yeoh, Jamie Lee Curtis and Ke Huy Kwan — all four repeated the feat later at the Oscars, as did SAG Best Actor winner Brendan Frasier from The Whale.

Winners in SAG’s 15 categories will be announced Saturday, February 24 at the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall in Los Angeles in a ceremony streaming live on Netflix.

America Ferrera to Serve as a Presenter at This Weekend’s Golden Globes

Posted on January 6, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

America Ferrera will be hitting the Golden Globes stage…

The full lineup of presenters for Sunday’s Golden Globes is set, with the 39-year-old Honduran American award-winning actress among the artists set to hand out trophies at the Beverly Hilton.

Ferrera, a Golden Globe winner for Ugly Betty and Barbie star, appears on a list of preseners that includes Amanda Seyfried, Andra Day, Angela Bassett, Annette Bening, Ben Affleck, Daniel Kaluuya, Don Cheadle, Dua Lipa, Elizabeth Banks, Florence Pugh, Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias, Gabriel Macht, George Lopez, Hailee Steinfeld, Hunter Schafer, Issa Rae, Jared Leto, Jodie Foster, Jon Batiste, Jonathan Bailey, Julia Garner, Justin Hartley, Kate Beckinsale, Keri Russell, Kevin Costner, Mark Hamill, Matt Damon, Michelle Yeoh, Naomi Watts, Oprah Winfrey, Orlando Bloom, Patrick J. Adams, Ray Romano, Rose McIver, Shameik Moore, Simu Liu, Utkarsh Ambudkar and Will Ferrell.

Jo Koy will host the Golden Globes, which will honor the year’s best in motion pictures and television.

The ceremony will air beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT live on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.

Among this year’s Golden Globe nominees in 26 categories, 2023’s box office champ Barbie from Warner Bros leads all films with nine, followed by Universal’s Oppenheimer with eight and Apple’s Killers of the Flower Moon and Searchlight’s Poor Things with seven apiece.

In the TV races, HBO’s final go-round with Succession has nine noms, the most-ever for a series, scoring mentions in all categories in which it was eligible.

George Lopez to Serve as a Presenter at This Year’s Golden Globes Awards Show

Posted on January 3, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

George Lopez is readying for his golden hour…

The 62-year-old Mexican American stand-up comedian and actor appears on the first list of presenters for Sunday’s 81st Golden Globe Awards.

Lopez, who currently stars on television in Lopez vs. Lopez and recently appeared on the big screen in Blue Beetle, will be joined by Amanda Seyfried, Angela Bassett, Gabriel Macht and Patrick J. Adams, Julia Garner, Justin Hartley, Michelle Yeoh and Will Ferrell.

Jo Koy is hosting the Golden G lobes, which will honor the year’s best in motion pictures and television. The ceremony will air beginning at 8:00 pm ET/5 p.m. PT live on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.

More presenters will be announced.

Among this year’s Golden Globe nominees in 26 categories, 2023’s box office champ Barbie from Warner Bros leads all films with nine, followed by Universal’s Oppenheimer with eight and Apple’s Killers of the Flower Moon and Searchlight’s Poor Things with seven apiece. In the TV races, HBO’s final go-round with Succession has nine noms, the most-ever for a series, scoring mentions in all categories in which it was eligible.

This year’s Globes — it’s first time back on CBS since 1982 — include two new awards categories: Cinematic and Box Office Achievement in Motion Pictures and Best Performance in Stand-Up Comedy on Television.

Longtime Globes producer Dick Clark Productions is planning, hosting and producing this year’s awards after the Globes’ assets, rights and properties were acquired by Dick Clark Productions and Eldridge from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association back in June.

Taylor Ortega to Star in Prime Video‘s Paul Feig-Directed Action Comedy “Grand Death Lotto”

Posted on April 3, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Taylor Ortega is playing the lotto…

The Latina writer, comedian and actor has joined the cast of Prime Video‘s Paul Feig-helmed action comedy Grand Death Lotto.

In addition to Ortega, who starred in HBO’s Succession, other new cast additions include Michael Hitchcock, Becky Ann Baker, Sam Asghari, Leslie David Baker, Murray Hill and Adam Ray.

The actors join an ensemble led by John Cena, Awkwafina and Simu Liu, which also includes Ayden Mayeri, Seann William Scott, Dolly de Leon and Donald Elise Watkins.

Written by Rob Yescombe, the film currently in production is set in a very near future, in which a Grand Lottery has been established in economically challenged California. The only catch? You’ll need to kill the winner before sundown in order to legally claim their prize. New L.A. transplant Katie (Awkwafina) accidentally finds herself with the winning ticket and must join forces with amateur jackpot protector Noel (Cena) to make it to sundown in order to claim her multi-billion-dollar prize, all while dealing with Noel’s protection rival Louis Lewis (Liu), who also wants to get her to sundown in order to claim his rich protection commission.

Ortega is a series regular on Fox’s mockumentary series Welcome to Flatch, directed and executive produced by Feig, and has also been seen in Starz’s continuation of Party Down, as well as the HBO Max anthology Love Life and HBO’s Succession. She’ll next be seen leading the indie comedy Wine Club from directors Eric D. Cohen and Matthew Hirschhorn.

Yul Vazquez to Star in MGM+’s Crime Thriller “Hotel Cocaine”

Posted on March 29, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Yul Vazquez is checking into his next project…

The 58-year-old Cuban-American actor and musician is set as a lead opposite Danny Pino and Michael Chiklis in Hotel Cocaine, MGM+’s upcoming crime thriller from creator Chris Brancato.

Hotel Cocaine is the story of Roman Compte (Pino), a Cuban expatriate who fought against Fidel Castro in the Bay of Pigs invasion and re-made his life in Miami. He is general manager of the Mutiny Hotel, the glamorous epicenter of the Miami cocaine scene of late ‘70s and early ‘80s. The Mutiny Hotel was Casablanca on cocaine, a glitzy nightclub, restaurant and hotel frequented by Florida businessmen and politicians, international narcos, CIA and FBI agents, models, sports stars and musicians.

Vazquez will play Nestor Cabal, Roman Compte’s (Pino) brother and one of the biggest suppliers of cocaine to a coke-hungry Miami population. He’s dangerous, funny, wily, and seeking reunion with his long-lost brother.

Chiklis plays Agent Zulio who will stop at nothing to shut down the drug trade, even if it means using innocent civilians to accomplish his ends.

Brancato serves as executive producer and showrunner. Guillermo Navarro will direct the pilot episode and executive produce the series, with Michael Panes and Alfredo Barrios Jr. also serving as executive producers.

The eight-episode series from MGM+ Studios, in partnership with MGM Television, will begin production in May in the Dominican Republic, and is slated to premiere in early 2024.

Vazquez will next be seen in the HBO Max limited series White House Plumbers, opposite Woody Harrelson and Justin Theroux. He was most recently seen on season 3 of the MGM+ series Godfather of Harlem opposite Forest Whitaker and in the Emmy-nominated Apple TV+ series, Severance, directed by Ben Stiller.

His other credits include Jason Bateman’s HBO series The Outsider, ABC’s Promised Land, Netflix’s Russian Doll, TNT miniseries I Am The Night and HBO’s Succession, among others.

His film work includes Books of Blood, Last Flag Flying, Gringo, Traffic and The Infiltrator.

HBO Releases First Footage of Issa Lopez-Directed “True Detective: Night Country”

Posted on December 21, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a night (in the) country for Issa López…

HBO has unveiled the first footage from True Detective: Night Country, which is written, directed and showrun by Mexican producer, writer and film director.

The anticipated fourth season of HBO’s Emmy-winning crime drama anthology series True Detective will debut on the premium cabler in 2023.

The new season starring two-time Academy Award winner Jodie Foster and actor-boxer Kali Reis picks up after the long winter night falls in Ennis, Alaska, as the six men that operate the Tsalal Arctic Research Station vanish without a trace. To solve the case, detectives Liz Danvers (Foster) and Evangeline Navarro (Reis) will have to confront the darkness they carry in themselves, and dig into the haunted truths that lie buried under the eternal ice.

The new True Detective footage came via a sizzle reel for HBO and HBO Max programming also teasing such upcoming shows as The Last of Us, The Idol and White House Plumbers, as well as new seasons of series like Perry Mason, Succession and Barry. While it reveals no new story information, it does offer a first look at Foster and Reis in uniform, and a sense of the thick winter atmosphere their Iceland-shot season is set against.

The newest season of the series created by Nic Pizzolatto was executive produced by Lopez alongside Foster, Barry Jenkins, Adele Romanski and Mark Ceryak for Pastel, as well as Mari Jo Winkler, Chris Mundy, Alan Page Arriaga, Steve Golin, Richard Brown, Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, Cary Joji Fukunaga and Pizzolatto.

Night Country also stars John Hawkes, Christopher Eccleston, Fiona Shaw, Finn Bennett, Anna Lambe, Aka Niviâna, Isabella Star Lablanc and Joel D. Montgrand.

Ariana DeBose Wins Critics Choice Awards Acting Prize for “West Side Story”

Posted on March 14, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Ariana DeBose is the critics’ choice…

The 27th annual Critics Choice Awards honored the best in movies and television during a Sunday night broadcast on The CW and TBS, with the 31-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress/singer/dancer among the honorees.

DeBose, who’d won the first BAFTAs trophy of her career one night earlier, was named Best Supporting Actress for her inspired work in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story. It’s the latest in a long list of acting honors for Debose for her portrayal of the iconic Anita in the latest film adaptation of the Broadway musical, including a Golden Globe and historic SAG Award.

This year’s nominations in film saw Belfast and West Side Story lead with 11 each, followed by Dune and The Power of the Dog with 10 each. For the television side, Succession, Mare of Easttown and Evil emerged as leading nominees.

Here’s the complete list of this year’s winners.

MOVIES

Best picture
The Power of the Dog

Best actor
Will Smith, King Richard

Best actress
Jessica Chastain, The Eyes of Tammy Faye

Best supporting actor
Troy Kotsur, CODA

Best supporting actress
Ariana DeBose, West Side Story

Best young actor/actress
Jude Hill, Belfast

Best acting ensemble
Belfast

Best director
Jane Campion, The Power of the Dog

Best original screenplay
Kenneth Branagh, Belfast

Best adapted screenplay
Jane Campion, The Power of the Dog

Best cinematography
Ari Wegner, The Power of the Dog

Best production design
Patrice Vermette, Zsuzsanna Sipos, Dune

Best editing
Sarah Broshar and Michael Kahn, West Side Story

Best costume design
Jenny Beavan, Cruella

Best hair and makeup
The Eyes of Tammy Faye

Best visual effects
Dune

Best comedy
Licorice Pizza

Best animated feature
The Mitchells vs the Machines

Best foreign language film
Drive My Car

Best song
“No Time to Die” – No Time to Die

Best score
Hans Zimmer, Dune

TELEVISION

Best drama series
Succession

Best actor in a drama series
Lee Jung-jae, Squid Game

Best actress in a drama series
Melanie Lynskey, Yellowjackets

Best supporting actor in a drama series
Kieran Culkin, Succession

Best supporting actress in a drama series
Sarah Snook, Succession

Best comedy series
Ted Lasso

Best actor in a comedy series
Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso

Best actress in a comedy series
Jean Smart, Hacks

Best supporting actor in a comedy series
Brett Goldstein, Ted Lasso

Best supporting actress in a comedy series
Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso

Best limited series
Mare of Easttown

Best movie made for television
Oslo

Best actor in a limited series or movie made for television
Michael Keaton, Dopesick

Best actress in a limited series or movie made for television
Kate Winslet, Mare of Easttown

Best supporting actor in a limited series or movie made for television
Murray Bartlett, The White Lotus

Best supporting actress in a limited series or movie made for television
Jennifer Coolidge, The White Lotus

Best foreign language series
Squid Game

Best animated series
What If…?

Best talk show
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

Best comedy special
Bo Burnham: Inside

The 27th annual Critics Choice Awards, hosted by Taye Diggs and Nicole Byer, are airing live on The CW and TBS on Sunday, March 13.

Tony Romo Developing Football Drama Series for Showtime

Posted on February 4, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Tony Romo is bringin’ the drama to the small screen…

The 41-year-old former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and current NFL analyst is teaming up with star Chace Crawford, executive producer and Showtime to develop a football drama.

The series, currently in the early stages of development at the ViacomCBS-owned network, follows a fictitious first family of football and the players, coaches, and power brokers behind the high stakes world of America’s biggest professional sport.

The network is searching for a writer for the untitled project, which comes from eOne, where Comins and his Creative Engine Entertainment is based.

Romo and Crawford are brothers in law. Romo, who is currently an announcer for CBS after spending 14 seasons with the Cowboys, is married to Crawford’s sister Candice.

The project has been described as a cross between Succession and Friday Night Lights.

Taylor Ortega to Star in Fox’s Comedy Pilot “This Country”

Posted on March 5, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Taylor Ortega is headed to the country-side…

The Latina actress has joined the cast of Fox’s single-camera comedy pilot This Country, starringSeann William Scott.

Ortega joins new additions to the cast that include Chelsea Holmes, Sam Straley and Krystal Smith.

Written by Jenny Bicks and to be directed by Paul Feig,This Countryis a half-hour mockumentary inspired by the BBC Threeformat created by Daisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper.

The show follows the daily lives of cousins Kelly (Holmes) and Shrub Mallet (Straley), who are trailed by a documentary crew as they go to a small town to study young adults and their current concerns. The show follows the pair as they pursue their dreams, confront challenges and fight each other for frozen pizza. These two don’t have much, but they do have each other.

Ortega will play Nadine, Shrub and Kelly’s old high school classmate who is beautiful, successful and married to Kelly’s old crush, Dylan. Nadine is the “big fish” in the “small pond” of Flatch.

Ortega played Shego in the Kim Possible TV movie. She guest-starred on Succession and will be seen in the upcoming anthology series Love Life, starring Anna Kendrick.

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