Showtime Renews Mel Rodriguez’s Comedy “On Becoming a God in Central Florida” for a Second Season

Posted on September 27, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

There’s more God-like action in Mel Rodriguez’s future…

One month after its season 1 premiere, Showtime has ordered a second season of its critically acclaimed comedy On Becoming A God In Central Florida, starring the 46-year-old Latino actor.

Hailing from Sony’s TriStar Television, the series was created and executive produced by Robert Funkeand Matt Lutskyand stars Kirsten Dunst.

On Becoming A God is a darkly comedic story about the cult of free enterprise and one woman’s relentless pursuit of the American Dream. In addition to Dunst and Rodriguez, the first season stars Théodore Pellerin, Beth Dittoand Ted Levine.

“With such imaginative storytelling and an absolutely inspired lead performance, On Becoming A God In Central Florida has been a revelation,” said Jana Winograde, President of Entertainment, Showtime Networks. “Kirsten, Esta, Robert, Matt and Charlie have crafted a wondrous blend of satirical light within the economic and emotional melancholy that confronts so many Americans. We couldn’t be happier that On Becoming A God is on Showtime, nor more eager to see what wild events await our ensemble in the downline of season two.”

Set in a small Orlando-adjacent town in 1992, On Becoming A God In Central Florida follows Krystal Stubbs (Dunst), a minimum-wage water park employee who lies, schemes and cons her way up the ranks of Founders American Merchandise (FAM) — the cultish, flag-waving, multibillion-dollar pyramid scheme that drove her to ruin in the first place, run by the powerful Obie Garbeau II (Levine). Determined to make a better life for herself, Krystal dives deep into FAM and develops a tangled relationship with FAM’s most loyal and fanatical follower Cody (Pellerin), until her business begins to affect those closest to her, including Ernie (Rodriguez), her affable water park boss, and his FAM-skeptic wife Bets (Ditto).

Season 1 is currently airing on Sundays at 10:00 pm ET/PT on Showtime.

Mel Rodriguez to Star in YouTube Premium’s Dark Comedy “On Becoming a God in Central Florida”

Posted on September 15, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Mel Rodriguez has landed a God-sized project…

The 45-year-old Latino actor has been cast in On Becoming a God in Central Florida, YouTube Premium’s a one-hour dark comedy series set in the 1990s.

Rodriguez will star opposite Ted Levine, Kirsten Dunst and Beth Ditto, the lead singer of Gossip, who’ll be series regulars, as well as Usman Ally, who has a recurring role.

The web series hails from George Clooney and Grant Heslov’s Smokehouse Pictures and Sony’s TriStar Television.

On Becoming A God In Central Florida, one of the passion projects for the late TriStar television head Suzanne Patmore Gibbs, was written by Robert Funke and Matt Lutsky based on a spec script they wrote.

Set near Orlando in the early 1990s, it centers on Krystal Gill (Dunst), a minimum-wage-earning water park employee who will eventually scheme her way up the ranks of the Founders American Merchandise, the cultish, flag waving, multi-billion dollar pyramid scheme that drove her family to ruin.

Rodriguez will play the manager of the low-rent waterpark where Krystal works.

Rodriguez’s previous credits include Getting On, The New Normal, Hot in Cleveland and The Middle.

de la Huerta to Star in Modern-Day Film Adaptation of William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”

Posted on April 24, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Paz de la Huerta is living the Dream…

The 31-year-old half-Spanish American actress will star in a modern-day film adaptation of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, according to Variety.

de la Huerta will star alongside Rachel Leigh Cook, Hamish Linklater, Avan Jogia, Fran Kranz, Charity Wakefield, Lily Rabe, Ted Levine and Finn Whitrock in the film, which completed production on Dec. 18.

Producers announced the project Saturday to coincide with the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death.

The new version takes place in present-day Hollywood where fantasy and reality collide. It’s set in a world where glamorous stars, commanding moguls, starving artists and vaulting pretenders all vie to get ahead.

Casey Wilder Mott wrote and directed the feature, marking his directorial debut.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream will feature original music by Mia Doi Todd and Saul Williams, both of whom also appear in the film.

de la Huerta starred in Boardwalk Empire for two seasons. Her other credits include The Cider House Rules, Riding in Cars with Boys and A Walk to Remember.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream has been adapted into movies numerous times, most recently in the 1999 Fox Searchlight film, which included Kevin Kline, Michelle Pfeiffer, Rupert Everett, Stanley Tucci, Calista Flockhart and Christian Bale.

Open Road Films to Release Verastegui’s “Little Boy” Next February

Posted on July 2, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Eduardo Verastegui will be performing the duties of a man of the cloth early next year.

Open Road Films has set a February 27, 2015 release date for Little Boy, the inspirational family film starring the 40-year-old Mexican actor-model-singer as Fr. Crispin.

Directed by Mexican filmmaker Alejandro Monteverde and executive produced by Roma Downey and Mark Burnett, the film centers on a 7-year-old boy willing to do whatever it takes to end World War II so he can bring his father home.

In addition to Versategui, the film also stars Emily Watson, Tom Wilkinson, Kevin James, Ben Chaplin, Michael Rapaport, Cary Tagawa, Ted Levine, David Henrie and Jakob Salvati.

Pepe Portillo and Monteverde wrote the script.

Open Road Films acquired the U.S. distribution rights to the film last month.

Open Road Films to Distribute “Little Boy,” Starring Verastegui,” in the U.S.

Posted on June 20, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Eduardo Verástegui‘s latest little project will be heading to American theaters…

Open Road Films has acquired the U.S. distribution rights to Little Boy, a new family film featuring the 40-year-old Mexican actor-model-singer as Fr. Crispin.

Executive produced by Roma Downey and Mark Burnett, the film stars Emily Watson and Tom Wilkinson and centers on a 7-year-old boy who is willing to do whatever it takes to end World War II and bring his father home.

In addition to Verástegui, Watson and Wilkinson, the cast also includes David Henrie, Kevin James, Ben Chaplin, Michael Rapaport, Cary Tagawa, Ted Levine and 7-year-old newcomer Jakob Salvati.

It was directed by Mexican filmmaker Alejandro Monteverde and written by Pepe Portillo and Monteverde.

“Little Boy is a truly uplifting movie that resonates with family audiences, and we are thrilled to add it to our slate,” Open Road CEO Tom Ortenberg said as he made the announcement with Burnett.

Verastegui, who will soon appear in Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2, earned a Grace Award in 2008 for Most Inspirational Movie Acting for his role in the critically acclaimed film Bella.

FX Orders 13-Episodes of “The Bridge,” Starring Demián Bichir

Posted on February 13, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Following his impressive recurring roles on Showtime’s Weeds, Demián Bichir will headline his American television series.

FX has put in a 13-episode order for The Bridge, the drama pilot starring the 49-year-old Mexican actor and Academy Award nominee and Diane Kruger.

Based on the Scandinavian series Bron, which was set on the border of Denmark and Sweden, The Bridge takes place on the border between El Paso and Juarez. It centers on two detectives — one from the United States, Detective Sonya Cross (Kruger), and one from Mexico, Marco Ruiz (Bichir) — who have to work together to hunt down a serial killer operating on both sides of the frontera.

“For years networks having been trying develop a drama series set on the U.S.-Mexican border without any success,” said FX president John Landgraf. ”I’m thrilled to say that Meredith Stiehm and Elwood Reid have become the first to crack that creative code and they have done so magnificently. There have been great films set in that world — No Country for Old Men and Lone Star come to mind — but never a great TV series. This one is special. The setting, the writing, the direction, and the way it is brought to life by Demián Bichir, Diane Kruger and the rest of the cast makes for truly riveting drama.”

The Bridge co-stars Ted Levine, Annabeth Gish and Thomas M. Wright; with Matthew Lillard guest-starred in the Gerardo Naranjo-directed pilot.

Filming on the series will begin in April for a July 2013 premiere.

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