Peacock Releases Teaser Trailer for Melissa De Sousa’s New Limited Series “The Best Man: The Final Chapters”

It’s the final chapter(s) for Melissa De Sousa.

Peacock has released the teaser trailer for its upcoming series The Best Man: The Final Chapters, starring the 55-year-old Panamanian American actress.

Melissa De SousaThe limited series will premiere all eight episodes on December 22.

Based upon the eponymous Universal film franchise written and directed by Malcolm D. Lee, the series will catch up with Harper, Robyn, Jordan, Lance, Quentin, Shelby, Candace, and Murch as relationships evolve and past grievances resurface in the unpredictable stages of midlife crisis meets midlife renaissance.

In addition to De Sousa, the cast of The Best Man: The Final Chapters includes Morris Chestnut, Taye Diggs, Regina Hall, Terrence Howard, Sanaa Lathan, Nia Long and Harold Perrineau.

The Peacock original was filmed on locations like New York City, New Jersey and Dominican Republic. Malcom D. Lee of Blackmaled Productions is the creator of the Best Man franchise, which he co-developed, wrote, executive-produced, directed and served as a co-showrunner. Dayna Lynne North of Loud Sis Productions also co-developed, wrote, executive-produced and served as co-showrunner.

Directors for the series include Malcom D. Lee for four episodes, Charles Stone III, Robert Townsend and Stacey Muhammad.

Valery M. Ortiz to Star in the Horror Film “Skeletons in the Closet”

Valery M. Ortiz is embracing the skeletons in the closet

The 37-year-old Puerto Rican actress and model will star opposite Terrence Howard and Cuba Gooding Jr in the horror film Skeletons in the Closet.

Valery M. OrtizShooting is getting underway this week in Las Vegas on the film that will also star Clifton Powell.

The film is about the spirit of La Llorona granting a costly wish to the parents of a child by curing her of cancer. In saving the child, the mother of the child suffers the consequences by losing her beloved husband and becoming more evil until she pledges her allegiance to La Llorona. The father (Howard) spirals down the path of self-destruction after borrowing hard money from a ruthless mobster to pay the hospital bills for his daughter.

Lance Kawas is directing from a script by Koji Steven Sakai and Joshua A. Cohen.

The original story comes from Al Bravo.

Ortiz’s previous credits include South of Nowhere, Gabby Duran & the Unsittables, Hit the Floor and Diary of a Single Mom.

Melissa De Sousa to Appear on Fourth Season of the CW’s “Black Lightning”

Life’s a flash for Melissa De Sousa. 

The 53-year-old Panamanian American actress will appear on the fourth season of the CW’s Black Lightning in a key recurring role.

Melissa De Sousa

De Sousa plays Chief Anna Lopez, the new Chief of Police of Freeland. Determined to rebuild the city and bring it to a place of peace and justice, Lopez has strong views on the metahuman population that differ from her predecessor, the late Chief Henderson. Seeing metahumans as “freaks” equally as bad as The 100 gang members, Lopez believes they should all be documented, tagged, and monitored at all times. In the end, Lopez will do whatever it takes to level the playing field and protect her officers from the metahumans.

Based on the DC characters, the series hails from Berlanti Productions and Akil Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television.

De Sousa most recently starred opposite Kirsten Dunst on Showtime’s On Becoming a God in Central Florida. She also led the cult hit series Single Ladies for BET Networks.

In film, De Sousa is best known for her work in The Best Man and The Best Man Holiday, starring opposite Terrence Howard.

George Lopez to Star in Dito Montiel’s Dramatic Thriller “Afterward”

George Lopez knows where he’s going afterward

The 59-year-old Mexican comedian/actor has joined the cast of Dito Montiel’s dramatic thriller Afterward.

George Lopez

The film centers on a father’s struggle to deal with the passing of his daughter, which leads him on a quest for truth and justice against corruption and small-town politics.

No word yet on what role Lopez will play in the film, but he joins an ensemble that includes Aaron Eckhart and Terrence Howard.

Lionsgate Grindhouse is distributing the film in North America., with Angel Oak Films backing the film and all pre-sold foreign rights.

Afterward will shoot this winter in California. Production was supposed to begin in the spring, but was delayed due to COVID-19.

Montiel made his feature directorial debut with 2006’s A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints. His other credits include Fighting, The Son of No One, Empire State, Boulevard, Man Down and The Clapper.

Lopez starred in ABC’s George Lopez, a situation comedy that ran from 2002 to 2007, as well as headlined the TBS talk show Lopez Tonight for two seasons. On screen, Lopez has starred in Meet the Blacks, River Runs Red, Gnome Alone and The Smurfs.

Lopez is best known for his comic work, but has been branching out of late into other genres. He recently appeared in The Tax Collector, a gritty thriller from David Ayer.

His upcoming projects for Lopez include No Man’s Land, an American western film, directed by Conor Allyn, and co-starring Frank Grillo and Andie MacDowell; as well as Walking With Herb, a comedy film helmed by Ross Marks, and toplined by Edward James Olmos and Kathleen Quinlan.

Eiza González’s Heist Drama “Cut Throat City” to Open in Limited Theater Release Next Month

It’s a Cut Throatworld for Eiza González

The RZA-directed heist drama Cut Throat City, starring the 30-year-old Mexican actress/singer, will open in limited release on Friday, July 17.

Eiza González

Written by P.G. Cuschieri, the plot follows four childhood friends in New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward who return after Hurricane Katrina to find their homes decimated, with no jobs and no help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Out of options, they reluctantly turn to a local gangster, who offers them one shot at turning their situations around – by pulling off a dangerous heist in the heart of the city. When the job goes bad, the friends find themselves on the run, hunted by two relentless detectives and a neighborhood warlord who thinks they stole the heist money.

The film was originally set to open in theaters April, but those plans were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Well Go USA and Patriot Pictureswill now release the film in 300 screens across the U.S. 

Demetrius Shipp Jr.Denzel WhitakerIsaiah WashingtonKat GrahamKeean JohnsonShameik Moore, and Tip T.I. Harris star in the film along with González, who portrays Lucinda Valencia, Ethan HawkeTerrence Howard and Wesley Snipes

The film was originally scheduled to have its world premiere at SXSW 2020.

The distributors have committed to donating a portion of the film’s proceeds to lowernine.org, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the long-term recovery of New Orleans’ historic Lower Ninth Ward.

Scotty Tovar Lands Recurring Role on Fox’s “Empire”

Scotty Tovar is exploring anEmpire

The Latino actor has signed on for a recurring role on Fox’s hit musical family drama Empire.

Scotty Tovar

Tovar will portray Carlito, a young rap star on the rise, who believes he’s the savior of hip-hop and acts as such.

Empire, created by Lee Daniels and Danny Strong and starring Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson, hails from Imagine Television and 20th Century Fox Television.

Tovar recently guest-starred on Amazon’s Too Old To Die Young and Animal Kingdom and he recurred on Freeform’s The Fosters.

First Trailer Released Featuring Longoria on Fox’s “Empire”

Here’s a first look inside Eva Longoria’s Empire

Empire is back from its winter hiatus and the battle between Lucious and Cookie explodes into their biggest war yet.

Eva Longoria

After the hit Fox series’ return Wednesday night, a teaser was unveiled that features the first look at the characters played by the 42-year-old Mexican American actress and Desperate Housewives star, Demi Moore and Nia Long.

The second half of Season 3 finds Lucious (Terrence Howard) announcing his new music project, Inferno, and putting everyone on notice – especially Cookie (Taraji P. Henson), who then vows to knock him off his throne for good.

Longoria guest stars as Charlotte Frost, the formidable director of Nevada’s all-powerful state gaming commission. Charlotte has the power to make or break Lucious’ dreams of expanding Empire’s reach to Las Vegas, and beneath her alluring façade lies a force of darkness and corruption. Her episode is slated to air this spring.

Additional actors and musicians who will appear on Empire this spring include Rumer Willis, Taye Diggs and Phylicia Rashad.

Longoria to Star in Fox’s Workplace Comedy Pilot “Type-A”

Eva Longoria is being Type(- A) cast…

The 42-year-old Mexican American actress and former Desperate Housewives star will play the lead in Type-AFox’s single-camera workplace comedy pilot from the Life in Pieces duo of executive producer Jason Winer and writer-producer Lesley Wake-Webster.

Eva Longoria

Written by Wake-Webster and loosely based on the book Assholes: A Theory by Aaron James, Type-A — in the vein of Up in the Air — is an office comedy about a group of consultants hand-picked to do the dirty work most professionals can’t handle: layoffs, downsizing, generally delivering horrible news. To everyone else, they’re the enemy – to one another, they’re family.

Longoria will play Axler, the ambitious, brutally honest consultant who is at war with her inner “nice girl.”

Winer is directing as well as executive producing with Wake-Webster, while James serves as consultant for 20th Century Fox Television.

Fox and 20th have been high on Longoria, courting her for multiple projects. She also is set for a high-profile guest-starring turn this spring on the Fox flagship drama series Empire, playing Charlotte Frost, the formidable director of the Nevada Gaming Commission who has the power to make or break Lucious’ (Terrence Howard) dreams of expanding Empire’s reach to Las Vegas.

Through her production company UnbeliEVAble Entertainment, Longoria executive produced the Lifetime series Devious Maids and NBC comedy Telenovela, in which she also starred.

Longoria next stars opposite Demian Bichir in the feature Lowriders and is featured in the British miniseries Decline and Fall opposite Jack Whitehall, which premieres in the spring. She recently directed an episode of the CW’s Jane the Virgin and is set to direct an episode of ABC’s Black-ish.

Longoria to Appear on Fox’s Drama Series “Empire”

Eva Longoria is heading to a new empire

The 41-year-old Mexican American actress will guest star on Fox’s hit drama series Empire.

Eva Longoria

The former Desperate Housewives star will play Charlotte Frost, the formidable director of the all-powerful state gaming commission. Charlotte has the power to make-or-break Lucious’ (Terrence Howard) dreams of expanding Empire’s reach to Las Vegas and beneath her alluring facade, lies a force of darkness and corruption. Her episode is slated to air this spring.

The second half of Season 3 picks up on March 22 when the battle between Lucious (Howard) and Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) explodes into their biggest war yet. After launching a deadly missile at Angelo, Lucious announces his new music project, Inferno, and puts everyone on notice – especially Cookie, who then vows to knock him off his throne for good.

Longoria joins previously announced actors and musicians who appear on Empire this spring, including Taye Diggs, Phylicia Rashad, Rumer Willis and Nia Long. 

Golden Globe-nominated for her role as Gabrielle Solis in Desperate Housewives, Longoria stars in the in the upcoming feature film Lowriders, slated for release on May 12. She’s also featured in the British miniseries Decline and Fall, opposite UK comedy star Jack Whitehall, which premieres this spring.

 

Smollett & His Empire Castmates to Appear at This Year’s PaleyFest Los Angeles

Jussie Smollett is bringing his Empire to this year’s PaleyFest…

Fox’s hip-hop drama Empire, starring the 32-year-old Brazilian American actor/singer, will make its debut at the 33rd annual PaleyFest Los Angeles in March, headlining the lineup unveiled by the Paley Center for Media.

Jussie Smollett

Smollet will be joined onstage by the show’s leads Terrence Howard and newly minted Golden Globe winner Taraji P. Henson and other cast members, as well as creators Lee Daniels and Danny Strong and executive producer Ilene Chaiken.

Empire will be joined by panels featuring the casts and creators of FX’s anthology  Starz drama Power, which launches it third season in June; and Fox’s freshman Scream Queens.

Also on the schedule this year: Fear The Walking Dead on March 19 and ABC’s Scandal on March 15.

This year’s William S. Paley Television Festival runs March 11-20 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

Here’s the list so far of panels with Latino cast and crew making an appearance, along with dates and times:

Friday, March 11

Opening Night Presentation
Empire (7:30 PM)
Moderator: TBA
Terrence Howard, “Lucious Lyon”
Taraji P. Henson, “Cookie Lyon”
Jussie Smollett, “Jamal Lyon”
Bryshere Gray, “Hakeem Lyon”
Trai Byers, “Andre Lyon”
Grace Gealey, “Anika Calhoun”
Kaitlin Doubleday, “Rhonda Lyon”
Gabourey Sidibe, “Becky”
Ta’Rhonda Jones, “Porsha”
Serayah, “Tiana Brown”
Lee Daniels, Co-Creator & Executive Producer
Danny Strong, Co-Creator & Executive Producer
Ilene Chaiken, Executive Producer
Brian Grazer, Executive Producer 

Scream Queens (7 PM)
Moderator: TBA
Emma Roberts, “Chanel Oberlin”
Jamie Lee Curtis, “Dean Cathy Munsch”
Lea Michele, “Hester Ulrich”
Abigail Breslin, “Chanel #5”
Skyler Samuels, “Grace Gardner”
Keke Palmer, “Zayday Williams”
Billie Lourd, “Chanel #3”
Niecy Nash, “Officer Denise Hemphill” 

Tuesday, March 15

Scandal (7:30 PM)
Moderator: TBA
Kerry Washington, “Olivia Pope”
Guillermo Diaz, “Huck”
Darby Stanchfield, “Abby Whelan”
Katie Lowes, “Quinn Perkins”
Tony Goldwyn, “President Fitzgerald ‘Fitz’Grant”
Jeff Perry, “Cyrus Beene”
Bellamy Young, “Mellie Grant”
Joshua Malina, “David Rosen”
Scott Foley, “Jake Ballard”
Portia de Rossi, “Elizabeth North”
Cornelius Smith Jr., “Marcus Walker”
Joe Morton, “Rowan Pope”
Shonda Rhimes, Creator & Executive Producer
Betsy Beers, Executive Producer 

Saturday, March 19

Fear the Walking Dead (2 PM)
Moderator: TBA
Kim Dickens, “Madison Clark”
Cliff Curtis, “Travis Manawa”
Frank Dillane, “Nick Clark”
Alycia Debnam-Carey, “Alicia Clark”
Lorenzo James Henrie, “Christopher Manawa”
Ruben Blades, “Daniel Salazar”
Mercedes Mason, “Ofelia Salazar”
Colman Domingo, “Victor Strand”
Dave Erickson, Showrunner/Executive Producer/Co-Creator/Writer
Gale Anne Hurd, Executive Producer 

Sunday, March 20

Power (2 PM)
Moderator: TBA
Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, “Kanan” & Executive Producer
Omari Hardwick, “James ‘Ghost’ St. Patrick”
Lela Loren, “Angela Valdes”
Naturi Naughton, “Tasha St. Patrick”
Joseph Sikora, “Tommy Egan”
Courtney Kemp Agboh, Creator, Showrunner, and Executive Producer