J Balvin Releases Music Video for “Fast X” Film Soundtrack, “Toretto”

J Balvin is feelin’ the need for speed…

The 38-year-old Colombian superstar is going full speed in the music video for “Toretto,” which is part of the Fast X soundtrack.

J BalvinThe three-minute clip starts off with Balvin receiving a set of keys from a man who doesn’t appear on screen, but his deep and hoarse voice gives him away.

“Let me show you how I ride,” the hitmaker tells Vin Diesel. “Buckle up,” the action star responds. “Watch me,” Balvin says before taking off for a ride.

At the end of his drive, the artist boasts to Diesel, “Told you I’m good!” Responds the impressed actor, “Not bad!”

According to a press release, in “Toretto,” Diesel makes his first music video appearance in the 22-year-spanning Fast & Furious films. The video pays homage to the franchise’s history and affinity for cars, speed and family bonds. Balvin’s fast-paced track is part of the soundtrack for Fast X, the tenth film of the series, which is set to arrive in theaters Friday, May 19.

The Fast X soundtrack includes songs by other artists such as Maria Becerra, Myke Towers, Ludmilla, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Jimin of BTS, Kodak Black, NLE Choppa.

The soundtrack will also be available May 19 via Artist Partner Group.

Most recently, Balvin — who in total has 35 top 10 hits on Billboard‘s Hot Latin Songs chart — officially joined Roc Nation as a management client, where he will be overseen directly by Jay Brown and Chris Knight.

Over the summer, he’ll kick off a series of European tour dates, mostly festivals, beginning with a June 24 performance at the Solydays festival in Paris.

First Trailer Released for Zoe Saldaña’s “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3”

Zoe Saldaña is on guard

The first trailer has been released for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, starring the 44-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican American actress, which marks the end of an era for Marvel.

Zoe SaldañaThe film is the final adventure of this iteration of the cosmic team, and it is also a final Marvel bow for James Gunn, who has departed the MCU to take a job as a top executive at DC Studios, where he co-runs its film, television and animation efforts.\

In addition to Saldaña, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 also stars Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Sean Gunn, Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel, and introduces the character Adam Warlock, played by Will Poulter.

The first Guardians of the Galaxy was a game-changer for Marvel, which had already made $1 billion brands out of so-called “B-level” characters such as Iron Man.

But 2014’s Guardians took that formula to new heights, turning obscure characters into a global brand. The film, which earned $773.3 million internationally, ushered in an era in which quirky filmmakers such as Gunn put their own stamps on Marvel properties. A sequel followed in 2017, with the third eyed for 2020 before Gunn was fired from the property over old, offensive tweets before eventually being reinstated.

The Guardians, and the voice Gunn established, have been important to Marvel in between Vols. 2 and 3.

The characters appeared in Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Avengers: Endgame (2019), Thor: Love and Thunder (2022) and The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, released last month on Disney+.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 opens on May 5, 2023.

The new trailer is soundtracked by the 1996 top 40 Billboard Hot 100 hit “In the Meantime,” by (appropriate to the intergalactic films) Spacehog.

The soundtracks to the first two installments in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, both of which were studded with carefully curated 1970s pop gems, were both big hits.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol. 1, which featured such hits as Blue Swede’s “Hooked on a Feeling” and Redbone’s “Come and Get Your Love,” topped the Billboard 200 for two consecutive weeks in August 2014

Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol. 2, which contained such hits as ELO’s “Mr. Blue Sky” and Looking Glass’ “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl),” reached No. 4 in 2017.

Universal to Release Michelle Rodriguez’s “Fast and Furious 10” Next Easter

Michelle Rodriguez can expect a furious Easter…

Universal has set a release date of April 7, 2023, for Fast and Furious 10, starring the 43-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican American actress.

Michelle Rodriguez

That returns the Fast & Furious franchise to its Easter weekend stomping ground where F7the highest grossing title in the series was launched in 2015 to $147.1M domestic, and ended at $353M domestic, $1.5 billion global.

Universal followed with Fate of the Furious in 2017, which notched the third biggest global debut of all-time at $541.9M (before ending at $1.2 billion worldwide).

Vin Diesel is expected to announce the title at some point in the future on social media.

Universal’s F9released on a theatrical window, is the highest grossing movie during the pandemic around the world with $681.5M. The film was the first Hollywood title during the Covid-19 era to surpass $500M overseas this past weekend. F9 repped series filmmaker Justin Lin’s return to the IP after an eight year absence in the director’s chair.

No other casting confirmations or plot lines are known about the tenth film in the franchise, but there’s a lot of speculation that Diesel, Jordan Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Chris Bridges, Michelle Rodriguez and Jason Statham are returning.

Cardi B to Reprise “F9” Role in Final Fast & Furious Film

Cardi B is livin’ the Fast life…

The 28-year-old half-Dominican American rap superstar will be reprising the role of her F9 character, Leysa, in the tenth film of the franchise, according to Fast & Furious franchise star and producer Vin Diesel.

Cardi B

“We are very much excited to evolve her character and to expand it to the finale,” said the action star to Entertainment Tonight. “She made it just in time. She came in Fast 9 just in time.”

Director Justin Lin also spoke to ET about how seamlessly the rapper fit in on the set of the upcoming film, F9: The Fast Saga, which opens on Friday (June 25).

“She showed up, and within a minute, she’s part of the family, right?” he told the outlet. “And I love how when I got together with her, her and Vin were talking about the character because she’s actually really embedded into the overall universe. She’s been around for a long time and this is just the first time we are seeing her, so I’m really excited to explore that character of her.”

The rapper herself also dished on the role and how it came to be in a video shared by the film franchise on June 15.

“Vin Diesel reached out and he was talking about a role, and I’m like, ‘It’s freakin’ Fast & Furious. Get me there! Put me on a plane!'” she exclaimed. “I like the fact that it’s like I’m representing such a powerful, strong woman. She’s just that b—-!”

She also had high praise for the man who made her part of the Fast & Furious family. “Being around Vin, he’s just so nice, so dope,” she shared of the actor. “He makes me feel so comfortable.”

In addition to her debut in the film franchise this weekend, Cardi B is up for trophies in three categories at the 2021 BET Awards on Sunday (June 27). She’s vying for best collaboration (“WAP” featuring Megan Thee Stallion), best female hip-hop artist, and video of the year, in which her visuals for “Up” and “WAP” both received nods.

Universal Announces Plans to End Michelle Rodriguez’s Fast & Furious Franchise with Two Final Films

It’s the beginning of the end for Michelle Rodriguez.

Universal Pictures is planning to wrap up its Fast & Furious core film franchise, starring the 42-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican American actress, with two final movies that will bring to a close a franchise.

Michelle Rodriguez The Limit

The Fast & Furious films have revved their way to become the highest-grossing movie series in the studio’s history. Justin Lin, who’s in post-production on F9, is in talks to direct the final two installments and bring a saga that began nearly 20 years ago to a close.

It’s early days on when this will begin production but it seems likely they will tell a big story over two films that will focus on franchise patriarch Vin Diesel and bring back Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Jordana Brewster, Nathalie Emmanuel and Sung Kang.

F9 — which is the fifth film in the franchise directed by Lin and which premieres next Memorial Day — continues the storyline of the core cast and Charlize Theron, and adds John Cena, Helen Mirren, Grammy-winner Cardi B and reggaeton star Ozuna. They are just beginning to put the final two vehicles together. There’s speculation that Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham — core cast members who peeled off for the F&F spinoff Hobbs & Shaw after Johnson and Diesel had a falling out — will be back for the finale.

There’s also an opportunity to pull off the motorhead’s answer to Marvel’s Avengers, a configuration that might include Wonder Woman’s Gal Gadot, also part of the ensemble earlier in her career.

It might not have seemed probable back when The Fast & Furious launched the franchise in 2001 with Diesel and Paul Walker as lead-footed protagonists, but the entire series has eclipsed Jurassic Park to become Universal’s biggest. The eight movies and the spinoff have grossed around $5.7 billion; Jurassic is also over $5 billion and has its next installment, Jurassic World: Dominion, shooting in London.

The Fast franchise survived the tragic death of cornerstone star Walker, but it’s always good to end the race before the vehicle runs out of gas. There are still plans for other movie spinoffs and TV shows, so there will be no call for the studio to be calling Kars for Kids to cart away a junker.

It is likely that the final two installments will be produced by Diesel through his One Race Films banner, Jeff Kirschenbaum, Lin, Neal Moritz, Joe Roth, Clayton Townsend and Samantha Vincent. They are the producers of F9.

Lin berthed his Perfect Storm Entertainment banner at Universal in a multi-year overall film and TV deal in late summer, and these two films will likely keep him busy for a long time.

Universal Moves Release Date of Michelle Rodriguez’s “F9” to Memorial Day 2021

Michelle Rodriguez is getting some push back…

Universal Pictures has announced plans to move F9, starring the 42-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican American actress, to May 28, 2021, which is Memorial Day weekend.

Michelle Rodriguez F9

The move comes after MGM moved its James Bond pic No Time to Die, starring Ana de Armas, to April 2, 2021 — which had been the release date for this latest installment of The Fast and the Furious franchise.

In March, F9 drove out of its original May 22, 2020 global day-and-date release amid the coronavirus lockdown. The studio had previously reserved that April 2021 date for Fast & Furious 10.

Justin Lin returns to direct F9 a cast that includes Rodriguez, who portrays Letty Ortiz, Vin Diesel, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Jordana Brewster, Nathalie Emmanuel, Sung Kang, Helen Mirren, Charlize Theron, Cardi B and Ozuna.

The entire franchise, including spinoff Hobbs & Shaw, through nine movies counts $5.9 billion at the worldwide box office.

Eiza González Signs with William Morris Endeavor (WME)

Eiza González has new representation…

The 30-year-old Mexican actress/singer has signed with William Morris Endeavor (WME) for representation in all areas.

Eiza González

González rose to acclaim after her roles in El Rey’s series From Dusk till Dawn, in which she collaborated with Robert Rodriguez. She further increased her star power in the United States after appearing in Edgar Wright’s 2017 summer blockbuster Baby Driveras Darling, the heist girlfriend to Jon Hamm’s Buddy, in the $227M grossing movie.

González has scored roles in notable movies, including Nyssiana in the Rodriguez-directed 20th Century Fox sci-fi movie Alita: Battle Angel($404.8M WW), Madame M opposite Jason Statham and Dwayne Johnson in Hobbs & Shaw($759M WW), and the upcoming Legendary/Warner Bros. sequel Godzilla vs. Kongdue out on May 21, 2021.

She most recently starred in Sony PicturesBloodshotopposite Vin Diesel and Guy Pearce, which earned her an Imagen Award nomination for Best Actress in a Feature Film.

González will next be seen opposite Rosamund Pike and Peter Dinklage in I Care A Lot, which will premiere at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival.

The Mexico City native studied at the American School Foundation, the Edron Academy, M&M Studio and Televisa’s Centro de Educación Artística.’

Her breakthrough came in the teenage telenovela Lola: Érase una vezin 2007. González also starred in numerous additional series in Mexico. She signed with Universal Music, and recorded five albums.

Her other feature credits include Robert ZemeckisWelcome to Marwen, and voiceover credits in DreamWorksThe Croods and 20th Century Fox’s Alvin and the Chipmunks and Horton Hears A Who!

Lin-Manuel Miranda Among the Honorees at the Maestro Cares Foundation’s Gala

Lin-Manuel Mirandais real maestro

The 39-year-old Puerto Rican composer, lyricist, playwright, singer, and actorhas been named by Marc Anthony and Henry Cárdenas as one of the honorees for the Maestro Cares Foundation‘s sixth annual “Changing Lives, Building Dreams” gala.

Lin-Manuel Miranda

In addition to Miranda, the foundation—which has helped provide housing, nutrition and education to more than 500 children in the Caribbean and Latin America since 2012—will also honor Vicente Fox, founder of Centro Foxand former president of Mexico; and actor, producer and film director Vin Diesel.

Miranda will receive the Community Hero Award, Fox will receive the Maestro Cares Humanitarian Award, and Diesel will be honored with the Voice of Change of Award.

The gala fundraiser, hosted March 14 at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City, includes a cocktail hour, formal dinner, a live and silent auction, and a special musical performance by Marc Anthony

In addition to the gala and black-and-white tie masquerade, the Maestro Cares Foundation will initiate projects in El Salvador, Chile and the U.S. in 2019. 

Currently, there are two additional homes under construction in Cali, Colombia, and another project in Guatemala.

Cabello to Perform with Pitbull & J Balvin at the MTV Movie & TV Awards

Camila Cabello is ready to take the stage…

The 20-year-old Cuban singer and former Fifth Harmony member will join Pitbull and J Balvin as performers for the 2017 MTV Movie & TV Awards on May 7.

Camila Cabello

The trio will perform their hit collaboration “Hey Ma,” which appears on the soundtrack to The Fate of the Furious.

The Fast & Furious franchise will receive the Generation Award at this year’s event, which, for the first time, will combine kudos for both the big and small screen.

Comedian Adam Devine will host the show live from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

Since 1992, the Generation Award has honored artists for their body of work, with past recipients including Will Smith, Reese Witherspoon, Robert Downey Jr., Mark Wahlberg, Sandra BullockJamie Foxx, Johnny Depp, Ben StillerAdam Sandler, Mike Myers, Tom Cruise and Jim Carrey.

Vin Diesel and Michelle Rodriguez will accept the Generation Award on behalf of the Fast crew.

The Spanish-language version of “Hey Ma” debuted at No. 5 on Billboard‘s Hot Latin Songs chart dated April 1.

Rodriguez & Her Fast & Furious Co-Stars to Receive Generation Award at the MTV Movie & TV Awards

It’s a new generation for Michelle Rodriguez

The 38-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican American actress and her fellow Fast & Furious franchise co-stars will receive the Generation Award at this year’s MTV Movie & TV Awards on May 7, marking the first time the award show will give the honor to a film franchise rather than an individual actor.

Michelle Rodriguez

Fast & Furious star and producer Vin Diesel will accept the award alongside his co-stars Rodriguez, who portrays Letty in the franchise, Tyrese Gibson and Jordan Brewster.

Since 1992, the Generation Award has honored talent with a body of work throughout their career that speaks directly to the MTV audience. Past recipients include Will Smith, Reese Witherspoon, Robert Downey Jr., Mark Wahlberg, Sandra Bullock, Jamie Foxx, Johnny Depp, Ben Stiller, Adam Sandler, Mike Myers, Tom Cruise and Jim Carrey.

MTV will air marathons of the first three Fast & Furious films this weekend. They’ll feature a trivia game hosted by stars Diesel and Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, offering social engagers a chance to win a trip to attend the MTV Movie & TV Awards.

The 2017 MTV Movie & TV Awards will be hosted by actor and comedian Adam Devine, with the telecast airing live on Sunday, May 7, at 8:00 pm EST from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.