Juani Feliz Tapped to Lead CBS’ Potential “The Equalizer” Spinoff

Juani Feliz may be equalizing her career soon…

The 36-year-old Dominican actress and Titus Welliver have been tapped as the two leads of CBS‘ potential spinoff from The Equalizer.

Juani FelizThe Queen Latifah procedural will introduce the two new characters, which could anchor their own series, in Episode 516 this season.

Welliver will play Hudson Reed, a former top CIA operative with a dark secret who is connected to Robin McCall (Queen Latifah) by an old mentor.

Feliz plays Samantha Reed who has been trained by her father to be a weapons expert, skilled martial artist and true chameleon all while hiding a mysterious past.

Both Welliver and Feliz have been cast as guest stars with series regular options for the potential spinoff.

Episode 516, written by Joseph C. Wilson who’ll serve as executive producer on the potential series, will air in the spring.

It’s not designated as a backdoor pilot. CBS has been taking a more informal approach with its lead offshoot characters in storylines integrated into regular episodes of the mothership series, something the network has done twice now on Fire Country, first with Morena Baccarin, whose offshoot was picked up to series, and more recently with Jared Padalecki.

A reimagining of the classic series, The Equalizer stars Queen Latifah as Robyn McCall, an enigmatic woman with a mysterious background who uses her extensive skills as a former CIA operative to help those with nowhere else to planted spinoff efforts, introducing potential turn.

If the offshoot goes forward, its two-hander format would be a departure from the original 1985 Equalizer series, the current CBS reboot as well as the film franchise, all of which had a single lead, male (first series and movies) and female (the Queen Latifah version).

The Season 5 cast also includes Tory Kittles, Adam Goldberg, Liza Lapira, Laya DeLeon Hayes with Lorraine Toussaint.

From Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, in association with CBS Studios, The Equalizer is executive produced by Joseph C. Wilson, Dana Owens (Queen Latifah), Debra Martin Chase, Shakim Compere, John Davis, John Fox, Loretha Jones and Rob Hanning.

The series airs on Sundays at 9:00 pm, moving to 10:00 pm on February 18.

Feliz recurs on Tracy Oliver’s Amazon television series Harlem, currently airing its third season.

Her credits also include series Fleishman Is In Trouble and DMZ and the upcoming A24 feature Civil War and AMC’s The Terror: Devil In Silver. 

Jordana Brewster to Guest Star on CBS’ Drama Series “Elsbeth”

Jordana Brewster has landed a special guest-starring role…

The CBS drama series Elsbeth has added the 44-year-old half-Brazilian Panamanian actress to its growing list of guest stars for Season 2.

Jordana BrewsterNew episodes return on January 30 at 10 p.m.

Based on the character featured in The Good Wife and The Good Fight, the series follows Elsbeth Tascioni (Carrie Preston), the astute but unconventional consent decree attorney working with the NYPD to catch New York’s well-heeled murderers utilizing her unique point of view.

Brewster will play Chloe, a beautiful, elegant “lifestyle consultant,” usually found on the arms of the high rollers on billionaire’s row. Of course, one man’s “lifestyle consultant” is another man’s high-price escort. Chloe will do anything for her clients, even murder.

Elsbeth is produced by CBS Studios.

Brewster is best known for her portrayal of Mia Toretto in the Fast & Furious franchise.

Her recent film credits include Simulant with Robbie Amell and Sam WorthingtonWho Invited Charlie? with Adam Pally and Cellar Door with Laurence Fishburne.

Her next project is Heart Eyes, which will be released next month.

Her television credits include Ryan Murphy’s American Crime Story, Fox’s Lethal Weapon, TNT’s Dallas and ABC’s Secrets and Lies.

Shakira Barrera Signs with Innovative Artists for Representation

Shakira Barrera is ready to innovate…

The 34-year-old Nicaraguan American actress has signed with Innovative Artists for representation.

Shakira BarreraThe actress, dancer, producer and humanitarian is best known for her breakout role in Netflix’s G.L.O.W. as Yolanda Rivas, a lady wrestler.

Most recently, she starred as First Officer Jensen Corbyt in Star Wars: Ahsoka opposite Rosario Dawson and in the series regular role of Gloria, a college-educated scam artist who discovered her love for conning people at a young age, in Greg Garcia’s Sprung from Prime Video alongside Garret Dillahunt and Martha Plimpton.

Her upcoming projects include a guest-starring role on HBO’s Hacks and a series regular role on Marvel’s Ironheart starring Dominique Thorne and Anthony Ramos.

Her additional TV credits include Showtime’s Shameless, TNT’s Animal Kingdom, Netflix’s It’s Bruno! and OWN’s All Rise for Season 3.

Most recently, Barrera has been producing and creating projects of her own.

In addition to acting and producing, she is a global ambassador for the Nicaraguan Human Rights Alliance, helping immigrants coming from Central America and is also an ambassador for the non-profit, “Project SchoolHouse,” building permanent water structures in Nicaragua.

AMC Acquires Rights to All Four Seasons of Roberto Urbina’s Post-Apocalyptic Drama Series “Snowpiercer”

Roberto Urbina’s most recent season of Snowpiercer will air after all.

AMC has acquired the exclusive U.S. linear and streaming rights to all four seasons of the post-apocalyptic drama series starring the 40-year-old Colombian actor after it was previously axed at its original network home, TNT.

Roberto UrbinaIt had previously been announced that Season 4 would be the show’s last before TNT parent company Warner Bros. Discovery decided not to air Season 4 altogether in a cost-cutting move.

Producer Tomorrow Studios then shopped the show to other outlets.

The first three seasons of Snowpiercer will be available to stream on AMC+ later this year, while Season 4 will premiere on AMC and AMC+ in early 2025.

Roberto UrbinaSnowpiercer is an edge-of-your-seat thrill ride with a loyal fanbase – similar to the passionate fandoms we serve across our biggest franchise series – and a welcome addition to AMC and AMC+,” said Ben Davis, executive vice president of original programming for AMC Networks and AMC Studios. “We look forward to giving viewers an opportunity to binge the first three seasons later this year, in anticipation of the arrival of a remarkable fourth season helmed by Paul Zbyszewski and this stellar cast, which will premiere in 2025.”

Snowpiercer is based on the 2013 film of the same name, which was itself based on a graphic novel by Jacques Lob and Jean-Marc Rochette. The show was first put into development in 2015, ordered to pilot in 2016, and ordered to series in 2018.

“We’re so thrilled the train has finally found a home, and we’re incredibly grateful to everyone at AMC and Tomorrow Studios for giving the fans of Snowpiercer a chance to enjoy season four with all the hard work this amazing cast and crew put into it,” said showrunner Zbyszewski.

In addition to Urbina, who portrays Javier De La Torre, the series also stars Daveed Diggs, Jennifer Connelly,  Sean Bean, Rowan Blanchard, Alison Wright, Mickey Sumner, Iddo Goldberg, Katie McGuinness, Lena Hall, Sam Otto, Chelsea Harris, Mike O’Malley and Sheila Vand.

Previously announced new cast members for Season 4 include Clark Gregg and Michael Aronov.

Tomorrow Studios’ founder & CEO Marty Adelstein, president and partner Becky Clements, and executive vice president Alissa Bachner added, “We love Snowpiercer and AMC is the perfect partner to share its final season, which completes an incredible series filled with brilliant talent that entertains viewers while exploring important global issues.”

Zbyszewski executive produces Snowpiercer along with Christoph Schrewe, Adelstein, Clements and Bachner through Tomorrow Studios, Matthew O’Connor, Ben Rosenblatt and Scott Derrickson, and the original film’s producers, including Bong Joon Ho, Miky Lee, Jinnie Choi, Park Chan-wook, Lee Tae-hun and Dooho Choi. The show is produced by Tomorrow Studios along with CJ Entertainment. ITV Studios distributes “Snowpiercer” internationally and brokered this acquisition.

Pedro Pascal Earns First-Ever SAG Awards Win for “The Last of Us”

Pedro Pascal has broken the succession plan…

The 48-year-old Chilean actor has claimed his first-ever SAG Award, breaking the winning streak of Succession’s Kieran Culkin.

Pedro PascalPascal took home the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series award for his performance in HBO‘s The Last of Us during Sunday’s SAG Awards. This awards season, Culkin had previously beat out Pascal at the Primetime Emmys and Golden Globes.

“This is wrong, for a number of reasons. Umm, I’m a little drunk. I thought I could get drunk,” he said on stage while accepting the award for outstanding performance by a male actor in a drama series for his role in “The Last of Us.”

“Uh, geez Louise, I’m making a fool of myself. But thank you so much for this!” he emotionally exclaimed.

The Narcos actor called the award an “incredible f–king honor” and he intended to thank his fellow nominees, but he could “not remember any of your names right now.”

Pascal began to thank his family who “may be watching” at home, but he briefly paused when his voice cracked and he began to get even more emotional.

“I’m going to have a panic attack, and I’m going to leave,” he concluded before walking off the stage amid the crowd applause.

Meanwhile, Jose Cervantes Jr., Liza Colón-Zayas and Richard Esteras earned the first SAG Awards of their careers alongside their The Bear cast mates, claiming the Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series.

Cervantes stars as Angel; Colon-Zayas stars as Tina; and Esteras stars as Manny on the acclaimed series.

The 30th annual SAG Awards took place across a live streaming ceremony — the awards body’s first-ever live show to debut on Netflix‘s main platform, following a decades-long broadcast partnership with TNT and TBS that ended in 2022.

Here’s the full list of 2024 SAG Awards winners in both the film and television:

FILM CATEGORIES

Motion Picture cast
Oppenheimer

Male Actor in a Leading Role — Motion Picture
Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer

Female Actor in a Leading Role — Motion Picture
Lily Gladstone, Killers of the Flower Moon

Male Actor in a Supporting Role — Motion Picture
Robert Downey, Jr., Oppenheimer

Female Actor in a Supporting Role — Motion Picture
Da’Vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers

Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning, Part One

TELEVISION CATEGORIES

Drama Series Ensemble
Succession

Comedy Series Ensemble
The Bear

Male Actor in a TV movie or Miniseries
Steven Yeun, Beef

Female Actor in a TV movie or Miniseries
Ali Wong, Beef

Male Actor in a Drama Series
Pedro Pascal, The Last of Us

Female Actor in a Drama Series
Elizabeth Debicki, The Crown

Male Actor in a Comedy Series
Jeremy Allen White, The Bear

Female Actor in a Comedy Series
Ayo Edebiri, The Bear

Stunt Ensemble in a TV Series
The Last of Us

2024 SAG Life Achievement Award
Barbra Streisand

Laz Alonso Signs with Independent Artist Group for Representation

Laz Alonso is going independent

Independent Artist Group has signed the 49-year-old Afro-Cuban American actor for representation.

Laz AlonsoAlonso is best known for starring on the hit Amazon series The Boys, centering on vigilantes’ efforts to take down a group of corrupt superheroes, which returns for its fourth season this year.

On the show developed by Eric Kripke from the same-name comic by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, Alonso portrays the vigilante Mother’s Milk, sharing the screen with Karl Urban, Jack Quaid, Antony Starr, Erin Moriarty and more.

He’s also currently voicing the title character on Netflix’s animated series My Dad the Bounty Hunter,.

Alonso’s past television credits include A&E’s cult hit Breakout Kings, Starz’s Power Book II: Ghost, TNT’s Southland, NBC’s Deception and The Mysteries Of Laura and Spectrum Originals’ L.A.’s Finest.

On the film side, he’s been seen portraying the villain Fenix opposite Vin Diesel in multiple Fast & Furious titles, also appearing in James Cameron’s Avatar. Other notable big screen credits include the Jason Statham action thriller Wrath of Man, Kathryn Bigelow’s Detroit, Spike Lee’s Miracle at St. AnnaStomp the YardJarhead and Constantine.

Additionally, Alonso has executive-produced titles including Alan JacobsTIFF drama Down for Life, in which he starred alongside Danny Glover, and the indie thriller Detained co-starring Abbie Cornish. He heads up the production company Abundancia Pictures as CEO and continues to be represented by Authentic Talent and Literary Management and attorney Rick Genow at Goodman, Genow, Schenkman.

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

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.

Yul Vazquez

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 DollTNT 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.

Sammy Guevara to Appear in TBS’ Documentary Series “AEW: All Access”

Sammy Guevara is granting the public elite access

TBS has expanded its All Elite Wrestling franchise by giving the green light to AEW: All Access, a documentary series featuring the league’s biggest stars, including the 29-year-old half-Cuban American professional wrestler.

Sammy GuevaraSigned to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), Guevara is a member of the Jericho Appreciation Society. He is a record tying three-time former AEW TNT Champion. He also appears in AEW’s Mexico based partner promotion Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA), where is a former AAA Mixed Tag Team Champion with real life wife Tay Melo, and a former AAA Crusierweight Champion.

In addition to Guevara, the show will also feature Adam Cole, Dr. Britt Baker, Tay Conti, The Young Bucks, Saraya, Wardlow and Eddie Kingston, along with AEW CEO, GM, and Head of Creative Tony Khan.

“With the new AEW: All Access series, they’ll have a chance to peek behind the curtain and into the lives of their favorite wrestlers like never before,” said Khan.

Each episode will showcase AEW’s stars as they navigate their week-to-week challenges. AEW: All Access joins TBS and TNT’s other wrestling content, including AEW: Dynamite and AEW: Rampage.

This marks the first new unscripted series greenlighted by TBS in 2023 and falls under the strategy by the new WBD regime for launching entertainment programming that complements the Turner networks’ sports/wrestling coverage.

“What really works on the Turner networks is sports and off-net sitcoms,” Kathleen Finch, Chairman and Chief Content Officer of Warner Bros. Discovery’s U.S. Networks Group, said last month. “We will commission around 4500 hours of content for this year… We like sports-adjacent, a couple of reality shows in the sports world that we’re working on.”

From Warner Bros. Unscripted Television, AEW: All Access is produced by Shed Media in association with AEW and Activist Artists Management.

“AEW has such an amazingly loyal and dedicated fan base that brings in more than 4 million viewers to TBS every Wednesday night,” said Jason Sarlanis, president, Turner Networks, ID, & HLN Linear and Streaming. “With All Access, we are bringing that incredible audience a whole new way to experience the wrestling universe they love.”

George Lopez to Star in Snoop Dogg’s Sports Comedy “The Underdoggs” for MGM

George Lopez is embracing the underdogg status…

The 61-year-old Mexican American comedian/actor will star in MGM’s Snoop Dogg sports comedy The Underdoggs.

George LopezLopez joins a roster of cast additions that includes Tika SumpterMike Epps and Andrew Schulz.

Meanwhile, the kid team of actors added to the cast include Jonigan Booth, Adan James Carrillo, Kylah Davila, Caleb Dixon, Alexander Michael Gordon and Shamori Washington.

Billed as The Bad News Bears in the world of Youth Football, The Underdoggs tells the story of Jaycen Jenning, “2J’s” (played by Snoop Dogg), a former NFL superstar who, after a run in with the law, agrees to coach a youth football team in lieu of prison in the hopes of relaunching his fledgling career.

Charles Stone directs off a script by Danny Segal and Isaac Schamis based off a pitch by Snoop Dogg and Schwartz-Morini.

The film is produced under Snoop Dogg’s Death Row Pictures banner, with Kenya Barris and Mychelle Deschamps for Khalabo Ink Society, Snoop Dogg’s longtime producing partner Constance Schwartz-Morini of SMAC Entertainment and Jonathan Glickman for Panoramic Media.

Production is underway for an October 20, 2023 theatrical release.

Lopez is currently shooting his upcoming multi-camera comedy series Lopez vs. Lopez, featuring his real-life daughter Mayan Lopez, and is performing stand-up in arenas across the country on his OMG Hi! Comedy Tour, through October.

Lopez will join the DC Extended Universe in the upcoming superhero film Blue Beetle, releasing in-theaters August 2023.

His extensive film credits include Walking with Herb, the modern-day Western No Man’s LandThe Tax CollectorEl Chicano, the romantic comedy box-office hit Valentine’s DayThe Spy Next DoorThe Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl, and Spare Parts, which he also produced. Lopez has produced and starred in the series Lopez, co-created and starred in the series Saint George, hosted TBS’ inaugural late night talk show, Lopez Tonight, and co-created, wrote, produced and starred in the hit sitcom George Lopez.

Carrillo began his career at the age of nine and has shared the screen with Robert DeNiro in About My Father, appeared in David E. Kelley’s Lincoln Lawyer, as well as As We See It from creator Jason Katims, and Mayans M.C. from creator Elgin James.

Davila appeared in the pilot episode HBOMax’s Gordita Chronicles, and the short film Troop InvadersThe Underdoggs reps her first feature film role. An actor and gymnast, Davila hails from Manhattan Beach, California.

Christina Ochoa Developing Sci-Fi Series “Empty Earth” with Freeform Studios

Christina Ochoa is running on empty

The 37-year-old Spanish actress, science communicator and producer is developing the sci-fi series Empty Earth, based on the Rick McManus book series of the same name, with Freedom Studios.

Christina OchoaIn Empty Earth, climate change has forced humanity to a dystopian bargain: seek safety, or risk everything to find the answers. The book trilogy is post-apocalyptic adventure series, with an empowered female protagonist, wrapped in an epic of love, family, and survival with science at the forefront.

“Freedom is constantly searching for great stories, great people, and content that matters. We knew this book needed to be brought to life. We are thrilled to be in partnership with QE Productions; we believe this will become one of the most impactful shows on TV,” said Salazar.

“I would partner with Freedom on pretty much anything… but the fact that they brought us such an epic, sci-fi, adventure show made it a project we not only want as filmmakers – but one we need as audiences,” added Ochoa.

Executive producers include Julia Carias-Linares, Meiling Macias-Toro, and Johanna Salazar from Freedom Studios and Ochoa, Jessica Heath, and Karen Goro from QE Productions. Freedom Studios is leading the project.

Ochoa is notably recognized for her role as Renn Randall in John Well’s Animal Kingdom, which recently concluded its six-season run on TNT. Additionally, she starred in ABC’s Promised Land from Matt Lopez and Adam Kolbrenner.

Her additional credits include CW’s Valor, ABC’s A Million Little Things, and NBC’s Blood Drive. Her company QE Productions focuses on STEM-infused content.

Freedom Studios is an award-winning, Latina-owned media company focusing on thought-provoking projects with strong female leads, and social awareness.