Rita Moreno to Star in the Indie Horror Thriller “Theirs”

Posted on February 13, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Rita Moreno is preparing to scare up a new audience…

The 92-year-old Puerto Rican award-winning actress, dancer and singer has been cast in Theirs, an indie horror thriller going into production in Tulsa, Oklahoma this summer.

But she isn’t the only Latina artist joining the project.

Roselyn Sanchez, who most recently starred in the Fantasy Island reboot,

The 50-year-old Puerto Rican singer-songwriter, dancer, model, actress, producer and writer and Moreno will star alongside Harvey Keitel and Udo Kier in the project.

Written by Juan Pablo Reinoso and to be directed by Sonja O’Hara, the film centers on a mother who, after a lifetime of grappling with abusive men and a bitter divorce, finds hope for herself and her teenage daughter in a new home, only to quickly find their newfound freedom tested by malicious secrets within its walls.

Keli Price will produce for his Price Productions, alongside Reinoso for LookBook, and David Bond for Dark Elegy Films. Tom Biolchini will serve as the film’s executive producer.

Recent credits for EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar & Tony Award) winner Moreno include dark comedy The Prank, out March 15, as well as Fast X, Netflix’s Family Switch, 80 for Brady and Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, to name a few.

Most recently starring on the Fox series Fantasy Island, Sanchez has also been seen in prominent roles on shows like Grand Hotel, Devious Maids and Without a Trace.

Enrique Murciano to Star in Netflix’s “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story”

Posted on February 9, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Enrique Murciano is preparing for a monster of a role…

The 50-year-old Cuban American actor has joined the cast of Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, the second installment of Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s true-crime anthology series for Netflix.

It was in 1989 that Lyle and Erik Menendez murdered parents Jose and Kitty in their L.A.-area home. Although not initially looked at as prime suspects, they came under investigation in the months following and eventually confessed to parricide, at the same time claiming that their actions stemmed from years of physical, emotional and sexual abuse at the hands of their father.

The first of two trials, broadcast on Court TV, had the nation in its grip, much like the 1994 trial of O.J. Simpson, and is believed to have played a part in the modern-day fascination with true crime. The prosecution argued that the pair were in fact seeking to inherit their father’s multimillion-dollar estate, and the Menendez brothers were convicted in 1996 and sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

Murciano, best known for his work on Without a Trace, is part of a roster of new cast additions that includes Dallas Roberts, Jason Butler Harner and 10 others.

Murciano is Carlos Baralt, an Americanized Cuban immigrant, professor and lawyer, uncle to the Menendez Brothers and brother-in-law to Jose Menendez, and the executor of the Menendez will.

Other cast members include Michael Gladis, who plays Tim Rutten; Drew Powell as Det. Tom Linehan; Charlie Hall is Craig Cignarelli; Gil Ozeri plays Dr. William Vicary; Jeff Perry portrays Peter Hoffman; Tessa Auberjonois is Dr. Laurel Oziel; Tanner Stine plays Perry Berman; Larry Clarke portrays Brian Andersen; Jade Pettyjohn is Jamie Pisarcik and Marlene Forte portrays Marta Cano.

They join previously announced cast Javier Bardem as Jose Menendez, Chloë Sevigny as Kitty Menendez, Nicholas Alexander Chavez as Lyle Menendez, Cooper Koch as Erik Menendez, Nathan Lane as Dominick Dunne, Ari Graynor as Leslie Abramson, and Leslie Grossman as Judalon Smyth.

Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story will debut in 2024.

Murphy and Brennan executive produce with Alexis Martin Woodall, Eric Kovtun, David McMillan, Louise Shore and Carl Franklin.

The first installment of the anthology, Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, starred Evan Peters as the notorious serial killer. It debuted in September 2022 and became one of Netflix’s most popular English-language series ever, leading to Netflix’s green light of two follow-up installments, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story being the first.

Roselyn Sánchez to Return as Co-Host of This Year’s Latin Grammy Awards Show

Posted on October 21, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Roselyn Sánchez is reporting for Latin Grammy duty…

The 50-year-old Puerto Rican singer-songwriter, dancer, model, actress, producer and writer will serve as a co-host of this year’s Latin Grammy Awards ceremony, which will be broadcast from the Conference and Exhibition Centre (FIBES) in Seville, Spain, on Thursday, November 16, at 8:00 pm ET via Univision, UniMás and Galavisión in the U.S., and at 10:30 p.m. CET on Radiotelevisión Española (RTVE) in Spain.

Sanchez, best known for her work on Devious Maids and Without a Trace, will host the awards show alongside Mexican singer Danna Paola, Colombian superstar Sebastián Yatra and Spanish actress Paz Vega.

A host staple for the awards show, Sánchez returns for the sixth time after presenting the 16th, 17th, 18th, 20th and 22nd annual Latin Grammys.

Racking up a total of 15 Latin Grammy nominations throughout his career, Yatra is nominated for best pop song for “Contigo,” featuring Pablo Alborán.

Previously nominated for a Latin Grammy, Danna Paola joins the lineup of hosts for the first time.

Last but not least, award-winning actress Paz Vega returns for a second time after hosting the 20th annual ceremony.

The first round of performers were announced earlier this week, which includes Maria Becerra, Bizarrap, Feid, Kany García, Carin León, Christian Nodal, Rauw Alejandro and Alejandro Sanz.

This year, Mexican-American super producer Edgar Barrera leads the list of nominees with 13 nods, including songwriter of the year, producer of the year and song of the year. Barrera is followed by Colombian stars Camilo, Karol G, Shakira and composer Kevyn Mauricio Cruz (also known as Keityn), each with seven nominations.

Prior to the Latin Grammys, the Latin Recording Academy will bestow the Person of the Year title to Italian icon Laura Pausini. Marco Antonio Solís received this prestigious honor last year.

Roselyn Sanchez to Star in Fox’s “Fantasy Island” Reboot

Posted on April 27, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Roselyn Sanchez is livin’ her fantasy…

The 48-year-old Puerto Rican actress/singer will star in Fantasy Island, Fox’s contemporary reboot of the classic drama series.

Sanchez will portay Elena Roarke, a descendant of the original series’ enigmatic Mr. Roarke, in the project, which received a straight-to-series order and will debut on August 10.

The project hails from writer-producers Liz Craft and Sarah Fain as well as Sony Pictures Television and its Gemstone Studios label, which co-produce with Fox Entertainment.

Fantasy Island is set at a luxury resort, where literally any fantasy requested by guests is fulfilled, although they rarely turn out as expected.

The resort is run by Elena Roarke (Sanchez) who set aside her own ambitions, and even the love of her life, to uphold her family’s legacy. Sophisticated, insightful and always charming, Elena’s calm exterior masks the challenges of the responsibilities she has assumed as steward of this mysterious island.

Sanchez joins previously cast series regular Kiara Barnes and heavily recurring John Gabriel Rodriquez. The reboot is keeping the semi-anthological format of the original Fantasy Island with three main characters played by Sanchez, Barnes and Rodriquez, who live/work on the island and new guests arriving in every episode.

The original 1977 series, created by Gene Levitt and executive produced by Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg, starred Ricardo Montalbán as Mr. Roarke and Hervé Villechaize as his assistant Tattoo as they grant guests so-called “fantasies” on the island for a price.

The original Fantasy Island series and the 1998 reboot starring Malcolm McDowell as Mr. Roarke, will begin streaming on Fox Entertainment’s free-streaming platform, Tubi, on May 1.

On the new series, alongside Sanchez’s Elena Roarke, Barnes plays Ruby Okoro, a young woman with an old soul who arrives on Fantasy Island with a terminal illness, and is given a new lease on life there; Rodriquez plays pilot Javier, who also is the head of island transportation and a jack of all trades. There is no direct version of the Tattoo character in the reboot.

The Fantasy Island reimagining, written and executive produced by Craft and Fain, delves into the “what if” questions that keep us awake at night. Each episode will tell emotional, provocative stories about people who walk in with a desire but end up reborn to themselves through the magical realism of Fantasy Island.

Sanchez, whose major English-language television credits include lead roles in Without a Trace, Devious Maids and Grand Hotel, has been nominated for an ALMA Award six times, winning in 2008 for Without a Trace.

Enrique Murciano to Star in Starz’s Reimagined “Step Up” Series

Posted on February 23, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Enrique Murciano is steppin’ up…

The 47-year-old Cuban American actor has been cast in the new installment of Starz’s re-imagined Step Up series.

Murciano will serve as a series regular on the series, joining Christina Milian and Ne-Yo.

The series hails from creator and executive producer Holly Sorensen, Starz and Lionsgate Television. Starz will air the first two seasons of the series beginning on Friday, March 5 across all platforms.

Inspired by the Step Up Lionsgate film franchise that grossed over $600 million at the worldwide box office, the original series centers on Sage Odom (Ne-Yo) as the legendary founder of Atlanta’s famed High Water Performing Art School. Collette (Milian is the Queen of High Water and Sage Odom’s partner in art, business, and love. Collette built and nurtured Sage’s visionary academy from the ground up. Grinding her way to the top with grit and resourcefulness, Collette earned a new role, manager of Sage Odom and his tour, all this while hiding a dark secret. As this secret comes crashing down on Sage, High Water, and the tour, Collette is tempted by an opportunity to step out of her role as the woman behind the man, to become the powerful woman in front of the man.

Murciano plays “Cruz,” a man hoping to carve his face into the Mount Rushmore of high profile, celebrity lawyers and who will do whatever it takes to claw his way to the primetime status of Cochran, Dershowitz, and Geragos, finally joining the pantheon of litigation gods. The case that will get him there, Sage Odom’s murder accusation. As Cruz fights through the intrigue and conspiracy to save Sage’s life and career, he can’t help but think to the future, imagining himself sauntering down a red carpet like an urban cowboy in his sharply tailored Dries Van Noten.

Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan, who both co-starred in the original Step Up film, will executive produce through Free Association production company and Everheart Productions, Inc., respectively..

The series is inspired by the Lionsgate franchise spanning five films: Step Up, Step Up 2: The Streets, Step Up: 3D, Step Up: Revolution and Step Up: All In. The film series also inspired the live music and dance show Step Up Dubai, All In! at Motiongate Dubai theme park.

The new Step Up series will air on Starz in the U.S. and Canada and on its international streaming platform Starzplay across Europe, Latin America and Japan.

Murciano’s previous credits include Tell Me Your Secrets, Bloodline and Without a Trace.

Murciano to Star Opposite Anna Paquin in ABC’s Drama Pilot “Broken”

Posted on March 24, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Enrique Murciano is reporting for medical duty…

The 42-year-old Cuban American actor will star opposite Anna Paquin in ABC’s drama pilot Broken.

Written by Meaghan Oppenheimer, the project follows the personal and professional life of Gemma (Paquin), a ruthless divorce attorney in Dallas whose life begins to unravel when her emotionally damaged, love-addicted sister (Charity Wakefield) resurfaces, triggering self-destructive tendencies and exposing long-hidden family secrets.

Murciano, who most starred as Marco Diaz on Netflix’s Bloodline, will play Peter, Gemma’s (Paquin) childhood friend-turned-nemesis after she represented his ex-wife in his divorce. Peter comes from a similarly rough upbringing as Gemma, but through hard work has become a successful doctor.

Murciano, best known for starring on CBS’ mystery drama Without a Trace, has also appeared on Power, 666 Park Avenue, NCIS and Medium.

Sanchez Believes Latinos Can Stop Donald Trump From Being Elected President

Posted on December 19, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Roselyn Sanchez is speaking out against presidential hopeful Donald Trump…

The 42-year-old Puerto Rican actress, who will serve as a co-host at Sunday’s Miss Universe pageant, says Hispanics have the power to prevent Trump from being elected president.

“I refuse to believe it. I don’t think it’s possible,” said Sanchez when asked by EFE whether the business mogul and Republican candidate could win the 2016 election.

“Hispanics have the power to prevent it,” she said.

Sanchez, an advocate for the Latino community, bowed out as co-host of the 2015 Miss USA pageant, of which Trump had been part owner, saying that incendiary remarks by Trump about Mexican immigrants were degrading.

“He said what he said and never apologized,” Sanchez recalled, adding that hearing Trump’s views on Latinos was “devastating” and “sad.”

Trump, a former reality television star who has performed well in early polling ahead of the first Republican primaries, generated controversy when he said most Mexican immigrants crossing the border were a scourge on U.S. society.

“They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people,” Trump said in launching his candidacy in June.

The magnate sold the Miss Universe Organization to the WME/IMG agency in September after a legal spat with NBC Universal, which along with Univision refused to broadcast the Miss USA pageant, held in July, due to Trump’s remarks.

The Miss Universe Organization runs both the Miss USA and Miss Universe competitions.

Sanchez, known for her roles in the film Rush Hour 2 and the television series Without a Trace and Devious Maids, said Hispanics were doing “incredible things” in fields as diverse as entertainment, science, politics and business.

In that regard, she said she hoped Latinos would “be able to make their voice heard” in the future no matter who is elected as the next U.S. president.

The actress said she agreed to co-host this year’s edition along with comedian Steve Harvey because there were new owners and new people behind this event, which will be held Sunday at the AXIS Theater in Las Vegas and televised by Fox.

Sanchez to Co-Host This Year’s Miss Universe Pageant

Posted on December 16, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Roselyn Sanchez has landed a universal role…

The 42-year-old Puerto Rican actress, singer and Devious Maids star will co-host this year’s Miss Universe pageant.

Sanchez, who recently co-hosted this year’s Latin Grammys, will report live from the show and backstage.

Sanchez made headlines around the world when she walked out of Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump’s Miss USA Pageant as co-host after his remarks about Mexican immigrants in the Unites States.

Trump sold his interest in the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants after the controversy that erupted in remarks in his bid for the presidency. Univision and NBC severed their relationship with the real estate mogul, and Sanchez, whose credits include Without a Trace, walked away from the pageant broadcast in protest.

At the time, Roselyn wrote on her Facebook page: “As a Latino, proud of my roots, culture and all that we have contributed to this nation, I decided to cancel my participation in the Miss USA Pageant.

“I cannot tolerate the disrespectful and hurtful words out of the mouth of Mr. Trump. Mexicans, like all Latinos, contribute positively to this great nation. We are the force that keeps the country afloat.”

Hosted by Emmy winner Steve Harvey, the annual broadcast will feature performances from Seal, Charlie Puth and The Band Perry.

The 2015 Miss Universe telecast will air live from Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on Sunday, Decenber 20, at 7:00 pm ET on Fox.

ABC Developing Drama Project About a Mexican Family from Salma Hayek

Posted on August 9, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Salma Hayek may soon bring some serious Mexican family drama to The Alphabet Network…

ABC has put in development a drama project executive produced by Salma Hayek and Michael McDonald through ABC Studios.

Written by From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series scribe Diego Gutierrez, the untitled project is described as a soapy ensemble drama about the heirs to a wealthy Mexican conglomerate, who are in the midst of a battle for its future when they all become suspects in the murder of their father.

Тhe drama reflects some personal experiences for Gutierrez who was born and raised in a well-to-do family in Mexico City before attending Wesleyan University and making a life and career for himself in Los Angeles. His family is still in Mexico, with him traveling back and forth. The story on the show also spans Mexico City and Los Angeles.

Gutierrez pitched the idea to McDonald, who reached out to Hayek. The two have an existing relationship stemming from the ABC dramedy Ugly Betty, which Hayek executive produced and McDonald helped develop as an executive at ABC Studios.

Hayek and her producing partner Jose Tamez responded to the idea and boarded the project. It was pitched to ABC, which bought it preemptively with penalty, unusual for a project from sibling ABC Studios.

McDonald’s Stearns Castle and Hayek and Tamez’s Ventanarosa are producing for ABC Studios where McDonald is under an overall deal.

Gutierrez’s series credits also include Kingpin, Without A Trace and Warehouse 13.

Sanchez Releasing Music Video for New Single “Pick Up Your Game”

Posted on August 3, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Roselyn Sanchez is making sweet music again…

The 41-year-old Puerto Rican actress/singer is returning to the music world with the release of the official video for “Pick Up Your Game,” a song that grew out of her role on Lifetime’s primetime sudser Devious Maids.

Sanchez performed the track last December on last season’s finale of Mira Quien Baila.

For this version, Rapper Flo Rida collaborated with Sanchez on the production, which will have its world premiere on Friday.

Sanchez, known for her role as FBI agent Elena Delgado on Without a Trace, released the song “Pick Up Your Game” last November, as part of the show.

Her character on Devious Maids, Carmen Luna, is an aspiring singer.

Sanchez said she was excited about the debut of the “Pick Up Your Game” video, her first musical release since the 2003 album Borinqueña, which featured contributions from Puerto Rican stars like Tego Calderon and Victor Manuelle.

The first single from the album entitled “Amor Amor” was nominated for a Latin Grammy Award for Best Music Video.

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