Carlos Santos has landed a primo role…
The 36-year-old Puerto Rican actor and comedian has joined the cast of Amazon’s Freevee project from Shea Serrano, formerly titled Primo.
Santos is among a list of new series regulars that includes Ignacio Diaz-Silverio, Martin Martinez, Johnny Rey Diaz, Henri Esteve, Jonathan Medina, Nigel Siwabessy, Christina Vidal, Efrain Villa and Stakiah Washington.
The single-camera series hails from Serrano and The Good Place creator Mike Schur.
Inspired by Serrano’s life growing up in San Antonio, the project follows a teenager balancing college aspirations, societal expectations, and a hectic home life, anchored by his single mom and five uncles.
Diaz-Silverio will portray Rafa, a 16-year-old high school junior who must balance his mom and five uncles’ opinions after finding out that he has the chance to be the first person in his family to ever attend college.
Rey Diaz will portray Rollie, one of Rafa’s uncles and the middle child of his brothers. He’s the wildman of the family. He is regularly in minor trouble with the law. Though he’s feared as a brawler in the neighborhood, he’s also the most sentimental of the group.
Esteve will portray Mike, the second youngest of Rafa’s uncles. He is a fit, disciplined, military man who acts extremely alpha male-y all the time, though nobody in the family buys it.
Martinez will portray Miguel, one of Rafa’s closest friends who is a bit of a smart aleck.
Medina will portray Jay, the eldest of Rafa’s uncles. He has worked at a full-time, labor-intensive job since he was 17. He moves through life in the most straightforward way possible. He is the ultimate pragmatist.
Santos will portray Ryan, the youngest of all Rafa’s uncles. He works as a mid-level bank teller, but he tells everyone he works in finance.
Siwabessy will portray Harris, another one of Rafa’s closest friends, who has plenty of swagger and no use for college, as he intends to inherit his parents’ corner store.
Vidal will portray Drea, Rafa’s mom and the third eldest among her and her brothers. She’s the beating heart of the family. She’s insightful, clever, and resourceful.
Villa will portray Mondo, the second oldest of Rafa’s uncles and a cosmic wanderer. His advice usually has a bizarrely comforting philosophical hue to it that rarely translates to practical application.
Washington will portray Mya, Rafa’s friend who also happens to be his secret crush. She comes from a well-educated family for whom attending college is not an accomplishment but an expectation.
Production for the series will begin later this month in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Peter Murrieta serves as an executive producer. The series is produced by Amazon Studios and Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.
Santiago is among a roster of new cast additions that includes Christina Anthony and Melanie J. Newby.
