Peris-Mencheta to Star in FX’s Cocaine-Themed Drama Pilot “Snowfall”

Posted on August 3, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Sergio Peris-Mencheta is winter ready…

The 40-year-old Spanish actor has been cast in a lead role opposite Damson Idris and Billy Magnussen in FX’s drama pilot Snowfall.

Co-written by John Singleton and Eric Amadio and directed by Singleton, the series centers on the beginnings of the crack cocaine epidemic in Los Angeles in the 80’s.

Snowfall is set against the infancy of the epidemic and its ultimate radical impact on the culture as we know it.

Peris-Mencheta will play Gustavo Zapata, a large, talented, powerful and very popular Mexican wrestler turned gangster in search of his American dream. Also known as El Oso’ (The Bear), he’s disillusioned over his bleak future, sending his earnings back home while living day-to-day in a rundown hotel room.

Peris-Mencheta’s credits include features Love Ranch, opposite Helen Mirren, Resident Evil: Afterlife, and Jean Jacques Annaud’s His Majesty Minor, and Showtime’s The Borgias.

Carra Cast in ABC Family’s Drama Pilot “Recovery Road”

Posted on June 5, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Alexis Carra is on the road to recovery…

The Spanish, Cuban and Argentinian-American actress has been cast in the ABC Family drama pilot Recovery Road.

Based on Blake Nelson’s novel about a teenage girl dealing with addiction, the project centers on party girl high school student Maddie Graham (portrayed by Samantha Logan) who spends her nights at a rehab facility.

Carra, who most recently starred on ABC’s sitcom Mixology, will portray Cynthia McDermott, the high school guidance counselor who discovers Maddie’s problem and sends her to rehab. For obvious reasons, she and Maddie have a contentious relationship.

Sebastian De Souza, best known for his roles in the UK’s Skins and Showtime’s The Borgias, will play the mysterious, bad-boy type Wes Stewart, another patient in rehab to whom Maddie is immediately attracted.

The script for Recovery Road was written by Bert V. Royal and Karen DiConcetto.

Varela to Star in the Upcoming “Point Break” Remake

Posted on May 8, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Matias Varela is getting his big Hollywood break…

The 33-year-old Spanish actor, who was born and raised in Sweden, has signed on to appear in Alcon Entertainment’s Point Break remake.

The film is an update of the Kathryn Bigelow-helmed 1991 original to center on an ex-extreme sports athlete turned FBI trainee assigned to go undercover to investigate a string of robberies by a band of fellow adrenaline junkies.

The original starred Patrick Swayze, Keanu Reeves, Lori Petty and Gary Busey.

Varela will portray Grommet, an extreme sports athlete and member of Bodhi’s gang of outlaws.

In his native Sweden, Varela earned a Swedish Oscar nod for his turn in the final Snabba Cash film, Livet Deluxe.

His other credits include starring in several episodes of Showtime‘s The Borgias, as Ferdinand II of Naples.

BBC America Sets June Premiere Date for Cabrera’s “The Musketeers”

Posted on April 3, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

It’ll be “all for one and one for all” in the U.S. for Santiago Cabrera this summer…

BBC America has set a June 22 premiere date for The Musketeers, which stars the 35-year-old Venezuelan-born Chilean actor and former Heroes star.

The Musketeers, a BBC Drama production for BBC One, has also received a second-season pick up from the network.

It was renewed by the flagship BBC network last month.

The series – a contemporary take on the classic Alexandre Dumas characters, The Musketeers – was created by Adrian Hodges (My Week With Marilyn). It’s set on the streets of 17th century Paris, where law and order is an idea more than a reality.

In addition to being King Louis XIII’s personal bodyguards, Athos, Aramis and Porthos stand resolutely for social justice, honor, valor, love — and for the thrill of it.

Cabrera portrays Aramis in the series alongside Luke Pasqualino (The Borgias) stars as D’Artagnan, Tom Burke (Great Expectations) as Athos and Howard Charles (Royal Shakespeare Company) as Porthos.

In the United Kingdom, the 10-episode The Musketeers got off to a strong start with the premiere drawing 9.3 million viewers to become BBC’s biggest new drama launch in two years. Ratings subsequently dipped, with the finale this past Sunday averaging 3.9 million viewers.

Carter to Portray the Fairy Godmother in Disney’s Live-Action Version of “Cinderella”

Posted on June 20, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Helena Bonham Carter is about to make one princess’ wish come true…

The 46-year-old part-Spanish actress’ has landed the high profile role of the fairy godmother in Disney’s live-action version of Cinderella.

Kenneth Branagh is directing the film project, which sees Lily James in the title role, Cate Blanchett as the wicked stepmother and Game of Thrones‘ Richard Madden as the prince.

Sophie McShera (Downton Abbey) and Holliday Granger (The Borgias) are set to play the stepsisters.

The fairy godmother will be getting more screen time in this version than in Disney’s classic animated movie, with the character disguised as an old beggar who watches over Cinderella before revealing herself as the magical being she truly is.

Cinderella will be shot this fall in London.

Bonham Carter previously played the Red Queen in another Disney film, 2010’s Alice in Wonderland. She also appears in the studio’s big summer tentpole, The Lone Ranger, which reunites her with Johnny Depp, whom she starred with in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

Cabrera Cast in BBC One/BBC America’s “The Musketeers” Series

Posted on February 26, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Santiago Cabrera is preparing to become an infamous cavalryman…

The 34-year-old Chilean actor has been cast in BBC One/BBC America’s co-production of The Musketeers, a 10-part series that aims to breathe new life into Alexandre Dumas’ classic tale.

The Musketeers is a contemporary take on the classic story about a group of highly trained soldiers and bodyguards assigned to protect the crown and the country. It’s set on the streets of 17th century Paris and will feature a fresh story each week, kicking off when skilled fighter D’Artagnan meets Musketeers Athos, Aramis and Porthos while on a mission to avenge his father’s death.

“This series is all about passion, romance, heroism and action,” says the series’ scribe Adrian Hodges.

Cabrera will portray one of the titular Musketeers, alongside The Hour’s Tom Burke and the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Howard Charles. The Hour’s Peter Capaldi will play the shadowy Cardinal Richelieu and The Borgias’ Luke Pasqualiano has been cast as D’Artagnan.

Cabrera’s previous credits include Merlin and Heroes.

Shooting on The Musketeers starts next month.

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