Gigi Zumbado’s Horror Rom-Com “Heart Eyes” to Hit U.S. Theaters in February

Posted on September 18, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Gigi Zumbado will be bringing the thrill next Valentine’s Day.

Sony will be releasing Spyglass’ horror romantic comedy Heart Eyes, starring the Cuban American Actress, on February 7, 2025.

In addition to Zumbado, the Josh Ruben-directed movie stars Olivia Holt and Mason Gooding, with Devon Sawa and Jordana Brewster.

The film’s description reads: When the Heart Eyes Killer strikes Seattle, a pair of co-workers pulling overtime on Valentine’s Day are mistaken for a couple by the elusive couple-hunting killer. Now they must spend the most romantic night of the year running for their lives.

The script was written by Phillip Murphy,

Zumbado’s previous credits include Hightown, The Rookie, Bridge & Tunnel and Promised Land.

Felix Solis to Star in the Horror Film “The Necklace”

Posted on May 21, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Felix Solis is expanding his jewelry collection…

The 52-year-old New York-born Puerto Rican actor, film director and film producer will star in The Necklace, a horror film from director Juan Pablo Arias Munoz.

Solis will star alongside Jacob Moran, Madeleine McGraw and Violet McGraw in the project, which will head into production in Atlanta in late May

Written by John Ducey, The Necklace watches as the Davis family navigates through tough times in 1960. Laura Davis has separated from her husband Frank due to his unpredictable temper, fueled by alcohol. As Laura returns to work as a nurse, her daughters, 11-year-old Ellen (Violet McGraw) and 16-year-old Judy (Madeleine McGraw), grapple with the changes in their family dynamics. The plot thickens when Frank attempts to win Laura back with a beautiful antique necklace, which turns out to be a conduit for the tormented soul of an evil boy from long ago, putting Laura and her daughters in grave danger.

Solis will play the role of Detective Callahan.

Daniel Aspromonte and Christina Moore will produce the film, with Violet McGraw, Madeleine McGraw, Jackie McGraw and Ali Afshar serving as executive producers.

Best known for his role as cartel boss Omar Navarro on Netflix’s Ozark, Solis has more recently been seen playing the FBI’s Matthew Garza on The Rookie and The Rookie: Feds, as well as in Netflix’s Unfrosted.

Previously the actor has also been seen on shows like City on Fire, Charmed and The Good Wife, along with such films as Netflix’s Tallulah and the Richard Gere drama Arbitrage.

Most recently, Solis signed on to star alongside Naomi Watts, Bill Murray and Owen Teague in the dramedy The Friend, which is based on Sigrid Nunez’s New York Times bestseller. He’s also set to appear in the second season of Netflix’s spy series The Recruit from creator Alexi Hawley.

Natalia del Riego to Star in Kurt Sutter’s Western Action Drama “The Abandons”

Posted on March 2, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Natalia del Riego is abandoning her plans…

The Salvadoran & Mexican actress has joined the cast of Kurt Sutter’s Western action drama The Abamdons.

del Riego is among a list of six new series regulars that includes Lucas Till, Nick Robinson, Diana Silvers, Lamar Johnson and Aisling Franciosi.

They join previously announced cast members Lena Headey and Gillian Anderson, who lead the cast as Fiona Nolan and Constance Van Ness, respectively.

del Riego will portray Lilla Belle.

Created and executive-produced by Sutter, who also serves as showrunner, The Abandons follows a group of diverse, outlier families pursuing their Manifest Destiny in 1850s Oregon, as a corrupt force of wealth and power, coveting their land, tries to force them out. These abandoned souls, the kind of lost souls living on the fringe of society, unite their tribes to form a family and fight back. In this bloody process, “justice” is stretched beyond the boundaries of the law.

The Abandons will explore that fine line between survival and law, the consequences of violence, and the corrosive power of secrets, as this family fights to keep their land.

del Riego is best known for her work on shows like NCIS: Los Angeles, Promised Land, The Rookie, How to Get Away with Murder and American Crime.

Felix Solis to Appear in the New York Dramedy “The Friend”

Posted on February 29, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Felix Solis is making a new friend…

The 52-year-old Puerto Rican actor, director and producer has landed a supporting role in The Friend, the New York dramedy starring Naomi Watts and Bill Murray.

No word yet on what role Solis will be playing.

The project is an adaptation of Sigrid Nunez’s New York Times bestseller.

Winner of the 2018 National Book Award for Fiction, The Friend follows a New York writer in the aftermath of her lifelong friend and mentor’s unexpected death. Thereafter, she’s left to deal with his complicated literary legacy, three eccentric ex-wives — and a massive, brokenhearted Great Dane named Apollo.

Scott McGehee and David Siegel are directing from their own script, also producing through their new company Big Creek Projects, with Sarah Pidgeon, Constance Wu, Ann Dowd and Noma Dumezweni rounding out the cast.

Best known for his role as the terrifying cartel boss Omar Navarro on Netflix’s Ozark, Solis has more recently been seen playing the FBI’s Matthew Garza on The Rookie and The Rookie: Feds.

Previously, he’s appeared on shows like City on Fire, Charmed and The Good Wife, among others. Film credits include Netflix’s Tallulah and the Richard Gere drama Arbitrage.

Felix Solis Lands Recurring Role for Season Two of Netflix’s “The Recruit”

Posted on January 25, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Felix Solis is officially a new recruit…

The 52-year-old Puerto Rican actor, director and producer has joined the cast for season two of Netflix’s The Recruit.

Solis, who appears in The Rookie: Feds, will appear in a recurring role alongside James Purefoy, Brooke Smith, Devika Bhise, Young-Ah Kim, Do Hyun Shin, Sanghee Lee, Omar Maskati and Alana Hawley Purvis.

Production on season two has begun in Vancouver. Filming will also take place in Seoul, South Korea on the series from Alexi Hawley.

They join previously announced new series regular Teo Yoo, along with returning Season 1 series regulars Noah Centineo as Owen Hendricks, Aarti Mann as Violet, Colton Dunn as Lester, Fivel Stewart as Hannah, Kristian Bruun as Janus and Vondie Curtis-Hall as Nyland. Kaylah Zander (Amelia), Maddie Hasson (Nichka) and Angel Parker (Dawn) recurred in Season 1 and were promoted to series regulars for Season 2.

Recurring cast for the upcoming season also includes Daniel Quincy Annoh as Terence, Jesse Collin as Dodge and Nathan Fillion as CIA Director Alton West.

Season 2 of The Recruit finds CIA Lawyer Owen Hendricks (Centineo) pulled into a life-threatening espionage situation in South Korea, only to realize that the bigger threat just might be coming from inside the Agency.

Solis is Tom Wallace, a senior diplomat in the State Department tasked with bringing American hostages home, he will talk to anyone to get our people back – even the worst of America’s enemies.

Hawley is the show’s creator, showrunner and executive producer. Additionally, Centineo, Doug Liman, Gene Klein, David Bartis, Adam Ciralsky, Charlie Ebersol and Julian Holmes also executive producer. Lionsgate Television is the studio.

Solis previous credits include The Rookie, Charmed, SEAL Team, One Day at a Time and Hawaii Five-0.

Lisseth Chavez Promoted to Series Regular on ABC’s “The Rookie”

Posted on December 15, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

There’s more patrol time in Lisseth Chavez’s future…

The 34-year-old Salvadoran actress, who heavily recurred on Season 5 of The Rookie, has been promoted to series regular on the upcoming sixth season.

Chavez plays Officer Celina Juarez, the newest rookie at the station. She appeared in 19 episodes in Season 5.

The Rookie, which recently celebrated its 100th episode, stars Nathan Fillion as John Nolan, Mekia Cox as Nyla Harper, Alyssa Diaz as Angela Lopez, Richard T. Jones as Sergeant Wade Grey, Melissa O’Neil as Lucy Chen, Eric Winter as Tim Bradford, Jenna Dewan as Bailey Nune, Shawn Ashmore as Wesley Evers and Tru Valentino as Aaron Thorsen.

The ABC series is created and executive produced by Alexi Hawley, along with executive producers Mark Gordon, Nathan Fillion, Michelle Chapman, Bill Norcross and Terence Paul Winter.

Entertainment One is the lead studio and international distributor of The Rookie, a co-production with ABC Signature, a part of Disney Television Studios.

The Rookie Season 6 premieres on Tuesday, February 20 at 9/8c on ABC.

Chavez was a series regular on The CW’s Legends of Tomorrow and NBC’s Chicago P.D.

Sarah Shahi Signs with Independent Artist Group & Untitled Entertainment

Posted on October 2, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Sarah Shahi is under new representation (and management).

The 43-year-old part-Spanish actress has signed with agency Independent Artist Group while inking a deal with Untitled Entertainment for management at the same time.

Shahi, who most recently starred in the hit Amazon Prime Video film Red, White & Royal Blue, is perhaps best known for leading Stacy Rukeyser’s show Sex/Life. She portrayed Billie Connelly, a Connecticut mother of two suffering a midlife crisis, whose wild child past winds up on a collision course with her very married present.

Inspired by BB Easton’s novel 44 Chapters About 4 Men, the drama wrapped up a two-season run in March.

Shahi’s Red, White & Royal Blue, based on Casey McQuiston’s bestseller, debuted as the streamer’s No. 1 movie globally in August and ultimately became one of its three most-watched rom-coms of all time.

Directed by Matthew Lopez, the film examines the complications that ensue when a romance blossoms between the son of the U.S. President (Taylor Zakhar Perez) and a British prince (Nicholas Galitzine). Shahi portrays Zahra Bankston, the deputy chief of staff for POTUS Ellen Claremont (Uma Thurman).

Last fall, Shahi last starred opposite Dwayne Johnson in Black Adam, which came in at No. 1 at the domestic box office for three straight weeks. In the superhero flick, which grossed close to $400 million globally, she portrayed Adriana, a university professor and freedom fighter who fights alongside Black Adam to restore freedom to her country.

She also received critical acclaim for her portrayal of Rachel Behnam, a street-smart investigator for the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office, in Showtime’s City on a Hill.

Her additional credits include series like The Rookie, Chicago Fire, Person of Interest and The L Word, along with the films For Your Consideration and Old School.

Shahi continues to be represented by attorney Lev Ginsburg of Ginsburg Daniels Kallis.

Sarah Shahi to Star in ABC’s Drama Pilot “Judgement”

Posted on March 16, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Sarah Shahi isn’t passing (on) judgement…

The 43-year-old part-Spanish actress and Sex/Life will star in and produce Judgement, ABC’s drama pilot from showrunner Joey Falco and 20th Television.

Shahi had been in talks for the project since January as ABC and the producers had to work through her commitment to Sex/Life, which she headlines.

Netflix just released the second season of the drama, inspired by BB Easton’s book 44 Chapters About 4 Men.

While there has been chatter for a while that this might be Sex/Life‘s final chapter, creator Stacy Rukeyser has shared hopes for a third season. If the show is renewed, Shahi will be able to reprise her role, subject to availability as Judgement now reportedly has her in first position.

Written and executive produced by Falco, Judgement is a high-stakes legal soap that redefines the genre by playing out over two timelines. Fifteen years from now, a woman (Shahi) being vetted for a Supreme Court seat recounts her experience at a prominent D.C. law firm in 2023, where the only thing more controversial than the cases was her messy love life, caught between two feuding brothers. Now, with a Supreme Court seat on the line, all of her darkest secrets are at risk of coming out, threatening her nomination, her reputation and her marriage.

We meet Shahi’s Mia Bahari in two distinct periods of her life. In one, she’s a brilliant, successful Appeals Court judge being vetted for the U.S. Supreme Court — so long as her dark and painful secrets don’t derail the nomination. In another, she’s a young spitfire of an attorney, painfully awkward at times but ingenious when it comes to navigating the many nuances of the law. She’s also caught romantically between two feuding brothers who are at the root of the very things she’s trying to hide from her Supreme Court investigators.

Falco executive produces with Melvin Mar, Jake Kasdan and Jordan Cerf. Paul McGuigan directs and also executive produces. 20th Television is the studio.

This marks Shahi’s return to ABC, where she had a major recurring role on The Rookie.

She also recently recurred on Showtime’s City on a Hill and was seen on the big screen in Warner Bros’ DC feature Black Adam alongside Dwayne Johnson.

Sarah Shahi Signs with William Morris Endeavor (WME)

Posted on June 29, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a new endeavor for Sarah Shahi.

The 42-year-old part-Spanish actress and Sex/Life star has signed with William Morris Endeavor (WME) for representation.

Shahi portrays Billie Connelly in the provocative Netflix drama series which is heading into its second season.

Inspired by BB Easton’s self-published memoir 44 Chapters About 4 Men, Sex/Life is the story of a love triangle between a woman, Billie Connelly (Shahi), her husband, and her past, which takes a deliciously steamy new look at female identity and desire.

The series quickly became one of Netflix’s best performing shows and drew more than 67 million viewers in its first season.

Shahi received critical praise for her portrayal of DA’s office investigator Rachel Behnam in Showtime’s City on a Hill. She also starred in an episode of the Netflix Dolly Parton anthology series Heartstrings, in which each episode is based on a Dolly song.

She also starred alongside Nathan Fillion on NBC’s The Rookie, and in the Steven Spielberg-produced NBC series Reverie.

She also is known for her roles on CBS’ Person of Interest, USA’s Fairly Legal and Showtime’s The L Word. Her other television credits include Chicago Fire, Life with Damian Lewis, The Sopranos, Ray Donovan and Alias.

Shahi next stars in the anticipated Warner Bros./DC superhero feature Black Adam alongside Dwayne Johnson, set for release in October. She also has signed on to star in the upcoming Amazon film Red, White and Royal Blue, based on the best-selling book, and she is attached to executive produce and star in The Hollys, written by Floriana Lima, Yolanda Pecoraro, and Ilaria Urbinati, with Di Novi Pictures producing.

Jason Canela to Appear on Apple TV+’s Original Comedy Series “Mrs. American Pie”

Posted on June 14, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Jason Canela is taking a swing…

The 30-year-old Cuban American actor will portray a tennis pro in Apple TV+’s original comedy series Mrs. American Pie.

Canela will recur on the series alongside Jordan Bridges, Kaia Gerber, Mindy Cohn, Julia Duffy and Claudia Ferri.

Written by Abe Sylvia and directed by Tate Taylor, Mrs. American Pie is a story about gorgeously impossible people. Set during the powder keg era of the early 1970s, it follows Maxine Simmons (Kristen Wiig) and her attempt to secure her seat at America’s most exclusive table: Palm Beach high society. As Maxine attempts to cross that impermeable line between the haves and the have-nots, the series asks the same questions that baffle us today: Who gets a seat at the table, how do you get a seat at the table, and what will you sacrifice to get there?

The 10-episode series also stars Laura Dern, Carol Burnett, Ricky Martin, Amber Chardae Robinson, Allison Janney and Leslie Bibb.

Mrs. American Pie was developed by Dern and her producing partner Jayme Lemons via their Jaywalker Pictures banner. Sylvia is writing, executive producing, and showrunning the series. Taylor will direct and executive produce alongside his producing partner John Norris via their Wyolah Entertainment banner. Katie O’Connell Marsh executive produces for Boat Rocker. Apple Studios produces.

Canela portrays Eddie, a tennis pro at the Palm Beach high society club.

Bridges portrays Perry Donahue, an entrepreneur and old schoolmate of Douglas’ (played by Josh Lucas).

Gerber portrays Mitzi, a local manicurist.

Duffy portrays Mary Jones Davidsoul, an old-money member of the Palm Beach high society.

Cohn portrays Ann, an editor for the society column.

Ferri portrays Raquel, a Cuban ex-pat and member of the Palm Beach high society club.

Canela has appeared in Always Be My Maybe, Single in South Beach and The Rookie.

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