Author Archives: Tom Castaneda

Netflix Acquires Award-Winning Selena Quintanilla Documentary Feature “Selena y Los Dinos”

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A special look at Selena Quintanilla’s breakthrough story is headed to Netflix…

The streamer has acquired the rights to the documentary feature Selena y Los Dinos, directed by Isabel Castro.

Selena QuintanillaThe film will be released globally on Netflix later this winter.

The project follows Quintanilla — the “Queen of Tejano Music” — and her family band, Selena y Los Dinos, which rose from performing at quinceañeras to selling out stadium tours.

The celebration of her life and legacy is chronicled through never-before-seen footage from the family’s personal archive.

The film premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, where it received the U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Archival Storytelling. The accolade was followed by Audience Awards at both SXSW and Miami Film Festivals.

“We are so excited to finally share that our documentary Selena y Los Dinos is coming to Netflix! Grateful to have a platform that helps bring Selena’s story to fans around the world,” shared Quintanilla’s sister, Suzette Quintanilla, who also executive produced the documentary, in a statement to Deadline.

Added director Castro, “It is an absolute honor to partner with Netflix, who will bring Selena y Los Dinos to a worldwide audience. Selena’s legacy is so meaningful and continues to inspire millions. As a filmmaker, I wanted to honor her extraordinary rise and enduring legacy, while also giving a window into her life behind the stage. Through personal archive and intimate interviews with her family, the film reveals new dimensions of her journey that have never been seen before. I am deeply grateful to her family for their trust and support throughout this journey, and I can’t wait for a global audience to experience the magic, heart, and community that Selena gave to all of us.”

At 23 years old, Selena’s life was cut short in 1995, and her death deeply shook the Latino community. Her musical legacy remains extremely popular today.

In addition to Suzette, their brother AB Quintanilla III, and Michele Anthony, executive produced Selena y Los Dinos.

Polygram Entertainment, Amsi Entertainment and Motto Pictures produced the title.

Maria Pedraza to Star Opposite Samuel L. Jackson in the Thriller “Just Play Dead”

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Maria Pedraza is playing dead…

The 29-year-old Spanish actress, dancer and model will star in the thriller Just Play Dead.

Maria PedrazaPedraza, who gained international recognition for her roles in the series Money Heist and Elite, will star opposite Samuel L. Jackson and Eva Green in the film.

Just Play Dead will be directed by Gary Fleder and is written by Dan Gordon.

The synopsis reads: “When wealthy criminal mastermind Jack Wolfe (Samuel L. Jackson) is cornered by the Feds, he plans to fake his own death and claim the $30 million life insurance payout with his “grieving” wife Nora (Eva Green), while framing her surfer lover Chad for his murder. But Nora is cooking up a scheme of her own: kill Jack for real, frame Chad and keep the fortune for herself. As lies unravel, Nora and Jack scramble to outsmart one another, leaving one burning question: who will come out on top in this twisted game of life and death?”

The film is a European co-production spearheaded by Head Gear Films’ Phil Hunt who produces alongside Gemstone Films’ Valentin Dimitrov, Sagiv Diamant, Moshe Diamant and Gaby Whyte Hart, who also serves as the casting director.

Production is set to begin this fall in the Canary Islands.

“Working with such incredible talents as Samuel L. Jackson and Eva Green is truly an honor. Eva Green will deliver a captivating performance as the cunning and seductive wife to Samuel L. Jackson’s powerful kingpin in this intoxicating thriller,” said Highland Film Group CEO Arianne Fraser.

“Dan Gordon has crafted a complex tale of lies, deceit and betrayal and Gary Fleder is the ideal director to bring this enticing and suspenseful project to life, which is already attracting buyers worldwide,” added Highland Film Group COO Delphine Perrier.

“I’ve always been drawn to stories that defy categorization, that live somewhere between genres and challenge audiences to stay on their toes. With Just Play Dead, written by the immensely talented Dan Gordon, and starring Samuel L. Jackson and Eva Green, I have the chance to return to that same rich, unpredictable territory. This film is provocative, sexy, and original—a perfect mix of clever storytelling and thrilling twists,” commented director Gary Fleder.

Pedraza appears in the music video for the 2023 Myke Towers song, “Lala“.

Kali Uchis Launching ‘The Sincerely, Tour’ This August

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Kali Uchis is preparing to hit the road…

Trading in intimacy for enormity, the 30-year-old Colombian American Grammy-winning artist will bring her lush, genre-melding sound to arena stages across North America this summer.

Kali UchisThe announcement comes less than a week after Uchis released her most vulnerable album yet, Sincerely. 

With stops at iconic venues like Kia Forum (Aug. 20) and Madison Square Garden (Sep. 11), the 24-date tour, presented by Live Nation, kicks off August 14 in Portland, Oregon, and includes stops in major cities like Miami, Toronto and Chicago, before concluding at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, on September 25.

In support of her fifth studio album Sincerely — which was released on Friday, May 9 — The Sincerely, Tour, like the album, promises to showcase her “most intimate and vulnerable body of work to date,” according to the press release.

“The 14-track record is a testament to the curative power of deep love, and a powerful representation of the way Uchis romanticizes life and her inner world.”

Tickets go on presale starting on Wednesday, May 14, at 10:00 am local time, with more presales happening throughout the week.

General sales begin Friday, May 16, at 10:00 a.m. local time on Kali Uchis’s website.

KALI UCHIS – THE SINCERELY, TOUR DATES:
Aug. 14 – Portland, Ore. – Moda Center
Aug. 15 – Seattle, Wash. – Climate Pledge Arena
Aug. 17 – Sacramento, Calif. – Golden 1 Center
Aug. 18 – San Francisco, Calif. – Chase Center
Aug. 20 – Los Angeles, Calif. – The Kia Forum
Aug. 23 – Palm Desert, Calif. – Acrisure Arena
Aug. 24 – San Diego, Calif. – Pechanga Arena
Aug. 27 – Phoenix, Ariz. – PHX Arena
Aug. 28 – El Paso, Texas – UTEP Don Haskins Center
Aug. 30 – Dallas, Texas – American Airlines Center
Aug. 31 – Austin, Texas – Moody Center
Sep. 2 – Houston, Texas – Toyota Center
Sep. 4 – Orlando, Fla. – Kia Center
Sep. 5 – Miami, Fla. – Kaseya Center
Sep. 7 – Atlanta, Ga. – State Farm Arena
Sep. 8 – Raleigh, N.C. – Lenovo Center
Sep. 11 – New York, N.Y. – Madison Square Garden
Sep. 14 – Boston, Mass. – TD Garden
Sep. 16 – Laval, Quebec – Place Bell
Sep. 17 – Toronto, Ontario – Scotiabank Arena
Sep. 19 – Baltimore, Md. – CFG Bank Arena
Sep. 20 – Philadelphia, Pa. – Wells Fargo Center
Sep. 23 – Chicago, Ill. – United Center
Sep. 25 – Denver, Colo. – Ball Arena

Alejandro Landes Echavarría to Direct Mikey Madison & Kirsten Dunst in the Feature Film “Reptilia”

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Alejandro Landes Echavarría preparing to two Hollywood A-listers.

Mikey Madison and Kirsten Dunst will star in the Colombian-Ecuadorian film director’s latest feature Reptilia.

Alejandro LandesThe film centers on a dental hygienist seduced by a mysterious mermaid into the dark and wet underworld of Florida’s exotic animal trade.

The film is based on a script by Landes Echavarría and Duke Merriman. Pastel, Imperative Entertainment and AF Films are set to produce alongside Landes Echavarría under his A Stela Cine banner. Black Bear is providing financing.

UTA Independent Film Group and 30West will co-handle U.S. distribution rights.

The film will be introduced to international buyers at the Cannes Market by Charades. Principal photography will commence in the fall.

The film centers on a dental hygienist seduced by a mysterious mermaid into the dark and wet underworld of Florida’s exotic animal trade.

Landes Echavarría previously directed Monos, which premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award before going on to win t Best Film at the 2019 BFI London Film Festival.

The film was subsequently selected as the official Colombian entry for the Best International Feature at the 92nd Academy Awards.

Edgar Ramírez to Star in a Yet-to-Be Titled Manhattan Real Estate Drama

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Edgar Ramírez is preparing for a real estate battle…

The 48-year-old Venezuelan actor will star in and executive produce the real estate drama pilot ordered by the Onyx Collective for Hulu.

Edgar Ramirez, Florida ManThe untitled project (aka Monopoly) was created by Roberto Patino and Cassius Corrigan. The duo wrote the pilot, which Alonso Ruizpalacios has come on board to direct.

In a cutthroat battle to dominate the Manhattan skyline, two rival real estate developers risk everything — wealth, family and their souls — as their ambition turns into obsession, and their partnership turns into war.

Ramírez will play one of the two rivals, Moises Saladín, the charismatic heir to a Latin American real estate empire, whose unyielding ambition blurs the line between visionary genius and ruthless tactician.

Patino, who serves as showrunner, Corrigan, Ramírez and Ruizpalacios executive produce alongside x and Luke Maxwell of 3 Arts, Liz Tigelaar and Stacey Silverman of Best Day Ever as well as real estate developer Donahue Peebles III who will serve as technical consultant.

Patino and Corrigan’s script had been garnering pickup momentum over the past couple of months. That was accelerated by Ruizpalacios’ hire as director, with Ramírez’s casting securing the pilot green light.

Emmy-nominated Ramírez recently starred in Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Pérez. He can be seen in Camille Perton’s feature debut Arenas and recently wrapped production on DrakeDoremus’ starring alongside Emilia Clarke.

Ramírez is repped by Impression Entertainment, CAA and Hirsch Wallerstein Hayum Matlof and Fishman.

Leslie Grace to Perform Miami Sound Machine’s “Conga” at the 2025 Grammy Hall of Fame Gala

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Leslie Grace can’t control herself any longer…

The 30-year-old Dominican American singer & actress will perform at the 2025 Grammy Hall of Fame gala, which is presented jointly by the Recording Academy and Grammy Museum.

Leslie GraceTaking place on Friday, May 16 at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, the site of the first Grammy Awards ceremony in 1959, the event will feature performances that pay tribute to the 2025 Grammy Hall of Fame inducted recordings, which were revealed on February 13.

Grace, a former Latin Grammy nominee will deliver Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine’s 1985 breakthrough hit, “Conga.”

Released in September 1985, the festive recording was Miami Sound Machine’s first Billboard Hot 100 hit.

“Conga,” which was written by Miami Sound Machine drummer Enrique Garcia,was the first single from the group’s second English-language album, Primitive Love.

Gloria Estefan assumed star billing in 1987 with the similarly infectious “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You.” She and husband Emilio received the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song in 2019. She was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame four years later. She won her fourth Grammy on February 2 for best global music performance as a featured artist on Sheila E.’s “Bemba Colorá.”

Returning as host is CBS News journalist Anthony Mason.

The show will be produced by Ken Ehrlich, alongside Ron Basile, Lindsay Saunders Carl and Lynne Sheridan.

This year’s additions to the Grammy Hall of Fame meet the main requirements – they exhibit “qualitative or historical significance” and are at least 25 years old. Eligible artist(s), producer(s), engineer(s), and mixer(s) of these 13 recordings will receive a certificate from the Recording Academy.

The Grammy Hall of Fame was established by the Recording Academy’s national trustees in 1973. Inducted recordings are selected annually by a member committee drawn from all branches of the recording arts with final ratification by the academy’s national board of trustees. Counting the 13 new titles in 2025, the Grammy Hall of Fame totals 1,165 inducted recordings.

The full list of past inducted recordings can be found here.

The Grammy Hall of Fame Gala serves as a fundraiser to support the Grammy Museum’s national education programs. It includes a cocktail reception, dinner, and concert program. Tickets are on sale now. Individual tickets are $1,250. For more information, visit this site.

An online auction is currently underway, featuring a collection of guitars signed by such artists as Chappell Roan, Charli xcx, Chris Martin, Sabrina Carpenter, and Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars. They are also auctioning off platinum tickets to the 68th Grammy Awards and more.

Lin-Manuel Miranda Producing Film “Molina: The Story of the Father Who Raised an Unlikely Baseball Dynasty”

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Lin-Manuel Miranda is helping bring the story of a baseball dynasty to life…

The 45-year-old Puerto Rican Tony Award winning actor, singer, songwriter, rapper, filmmaker and librettist and Luis Miranda, Jr.’s Viajes Miranda is producing Disney’s feature project Molina.

Lin-Manuel MirandaThe film is based on the New York Times best-selling autobiographical book Molina: The Story of the Father Who Raised an Unlikely Baseball Dynasty by Bengie Molina.

Oscar-nominated screenwriter Jose Rivera, who also hails from Puerto Rico, is writing the script.

Viajes Miranda is producing alongside Rideback’s Jonathan Eirich and Diana Nabatoff of Tiara Blu Films, who secured the rights to the book.

Rideback’s Nick Reynolds is an executive producer.

Molina’s autobiography is the backbone of the story that tracks the life and upbringing of Bengie, Jose and Yadier Molina – the only three brothers to all play Major League Baseball at the same time – with a focus on their father Benjamin’s journey with the boys as he set them on the path to success.

Incredibly, the three Molina brothers from Puerto Rico all made it to professional baseball’s highest ranks, all became catchers, and all won World Series rings.  Ad Loading

The Molina Brothers, MLBMiranda was nominated for two original song Oscars for Disney films: “Dos Oruguitas” from Encanto and “How Far I’ll Go” from Moana. 

He recently penned the songs from the studio’s profitable Mufasa, which made $175M after all ancillaries after a $722M global gross. Miranda’s filmed live stage version of his multi Tony-winning Hamilton was acquired by Disney and streamed during the COVID-19 pandemic becoming a huge hit on the service.

Felipe Rodriguez Signs with Paradigm for Representation

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It’s a paradigm shift for Felipe Rodriguez.

Paradigm has signed the Montreal-born Spanish Virgin River and The Good Doctor director for representation.

Felipe RodriguezRodriguez is known for his work at U.S. networks and streamers, and is currently directing the season finale of Netflix’s romantic drama series Virgin River.

He has directed pilots such as Citytv’s Hudson & Rex, BYUtv’s Ruby and the Well and full seasons of Netflix horror Slasher: Guilty Party and Omni crime drama Blood and Water: Fire & Ice, as directing episodes of ABC medical drama The Good Doctor.

Most recently, he completed a stylistic overhaul for Hudson & Rex‘s seventh season.

Last year, he earned three Canadian Screen Award (CSA) nominations, including a win for Best Director in a Youth Series for Hulu’s The Hardy Boys.

His feature Never Too Late to Celebrate for Hallmark Channel was nominated for Best TV Movie at the CSAs and for Best Direction at the DGC Awards, where he also picked up a nomination for Ruby and the Well, which brings his total to six DGC nods in five years.

Rodriguez originally made his name as cinematographer on Nat Geo’s Wetback: The Undocumented Documentary, which captured an illegal crossing of the Rio Grande for the first time on camera.

That inspired his debut feature, Kidnap Capital.

He works in English, French and Spanish and is known for his visual style that was influenced by his time as a DOP.

“I’m honored to join the incredible team at Paradigm, whose reputation for championing bold, diverse voices truly resonates with me,” said Rodriguez. “Their global outlook and deep industry reach align perfectly with the kinds of ambitious, visually driven projects I’m drawn to, and I’m excited to build on the momentum of recent years with such a dynamic team.”

Liza Colón-Zayas to Star in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day”

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It’s a brand new and web-derful day for Liza Colón-Zayas. 

The 52-year-old Puerto Rican award-winning actress and The Bear fan favorite has closed a deal to join Spider-Man: Brand New Day, the fourth installment in the Spider-Man saga from Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios, Deadline has learned.

Liza Colón-Zayas,Representatives for Sony and Marvel declined comment. Details on Colón-Zayas’ role remain stuck in the spider’s web.

The Emmy winner joins an ensemble led by Tom Holland, who plays Peter Parker and his superheroic alter ego, with Stranger Things‘ Sadie Sink also on board in a mystery role. Zendaya and Jacob Batalon, who respectively play Peter’s love interest MJ and close friend Ned, are expected to return.

Destin Daniel Cretton will direct, with Amy Pascal producing alongside Marvel president Kevin Feige, when production kicks off later this year.

The film is scheduled to swing into theaters on July 31, 2026.

Brand New Day will be the first live-action Spider-Man since Spider-Man: No Way Home, a box office phenomenon that grossed over $1.9 billion upon its release in December 2021.

Plot details remain under wraps, though No Way Home found Peter at a turning point, making the ultimate sacrifice to save the multiverse from chaos. He’s able to seal a rift by asking Doctor Strange to cast a spell that makes everyone forget who he is, and winds up completely alone in the process.

All past films in the Holland-led series have been major draws, with Spider-Man: Far from Home bringing in over a billion in 2019 and Spider-Man: Homecoming grossing over $880 million two years prior to that.

Colón-Zayas won an Emmy last year for her turn as tough yet tender line cook Tina Marrero on FX’s comedy The Bear, exploring Chicago’s culinary scene, where she stars opposite Jeremy Allen White, Ayo Edebiri, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach.

Her win made her the first Latina to earn the Emmy for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy, and she’s also seen her work on the show recognized with individual nominations at the Critics Choice Awards, SAG Awards, and Golden Globes. The show returned for its third season last summer and will be back for a fourth.

In film, Colón-Zayas’s recent credits include IF and Cat Person. Also seen on shows like In Treatment and David Makes Man, she’s been recognized for her stage work with Drama Desk, Obie and Lucille Lortel awards, among others.

Carín León Partners with Alejandro Fernandez to Release New Acoustic-Pop Ballad “Me Está Doliendo”

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Carín León has teamed up with a legend…

The 35-year-old Mexican singer and songwriter has joined voices with Alejandro Fernandez to release the single “Me Está Doliendo,” on Thursday, May 8.

Carin Leon, Alejandro FernandezLeón and Fernández could have gone the Regional Mexican route, or in any direction really, as two of the most versatile artists in Latin music, but they opted to go the acoustic-pop ballad route.

“Me Está Doliendo” is a beautiful, stripped-down ballad powered by prickly and acoustic guitars and a thumping drum beat that serve as a canvas to León and Fernández’s pathos-fueled delivery. They each take turns expressing just how they’re dealing with a heartbreak that doesn’t seem to heal.

“It’s hurting me, and I ask myself if maybe you’re thinking of me, I’m not meant for someone else to be hugging me,” Fernández sings evocatively. “That’s how things happen in this heart, it’s good at loving you but bad at forgetting you,” León responds, just before we get a mesmerizing electric guitar solo.

The new collaboration comes just days after León and Fernández uploaded a clip on social media singing Fernández’s hit song “Me Dediqué a Perderte” together, which prompted many to think that they were releasing a new version of the 2004 classic.

“Thank you [Alejandro Fernández] for singing with me one of my favorite songs,” León wrote on Instagram. Shortly after, the two announced it was actually a new song they were releasing, titled “Me Está Doliendo,” which will be part of an extended version of León’s Palabra de To’s.