Varela to Star in the Ice Age Epic “The Solutrean”

Posted on April 6, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

It’s back to the “ice age, baby” for Leonor Varela…

The 43-year-old Chilean actress has landed a supporting role in Studio 8’s ice age epic The Solutrean from director Albert Hughes.

Inspired by the controversial “solutrean hypothesis,” which advances the idea that Stone Age Europeans might have been among the earliest settlers of the Americas, the coming-of-age tale of survival is set 20,000 years ago.

It follows a young boy injured during a hunting expedition and left for dead who must use his skills, intuition and force of will to make it back home. Along the way, he befriends a wolf, who becomes his close companion.

Varela is playing the shaman of the boy’s tribe; described as wise, powerful and compelling, she performs religious rituals of protection, healing and thanksgiving.

Varela most recently appeared in Paramount Pictures’ Captive, opposite Kate Mara, David Oyelowo and Michael Kenneth Williams.

Her other credits include Ride opposite Helen Hunt and Luke Wilson, a seven-episode arc on TNT’s Dallas, and Odd Thomas with Anton Yelchin and Willem Dafoe. She also appeared in Blade II and The Tailor of Panama.

Grindstone Entertainment Acquires North American Rights to Leguizamo’s “Cymbeline”

Posted on September 3, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

John Leguizamo’s latest project will hit U.S. theaters in the near future…

Lionsgate’s Grindstone Entertainment has acquired the North American rights to the modern-day film adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Cymbeline, starring the 50-year-old Colombian actor/comedian.

The film, which had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, centers on a battle between dirty cops and a drug dealing biker gang, set in a corruption-riddled contemporary America. Shakespeare’s play centered on the daughter of the British king Cymbeline, who discovers she has secretly married a man raised in her father’s court, resulting in his banishment from the court.

In addition to Leguizamo, the film also stars Ethan Hawke, Ed Harris, Milla Jovovich, Penn Badgley, Dakota Johnson and Anton Yelchin.

Cymbeline, which re-teams director Michael Almereyda with Hawke more than a decade after their collaboration on Hamlet in 2000, will be distributed in the spring.

It’s Leguizamo’s latest appearance in a film adaptation of a William Shakespeare work. He previously starred in 1996’s Baz Luhrmann-directed Romeo + Juliet, an abridged modernization of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

Plaza to Star in “The Driftless Area”

Posted on May 25, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Aubrey Plaza is driftless in Hollywood…

The 29-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress/comedian and Parks and Recreation star has joined the cast of The Driftless Area, starring Anton Yelchin, Zooey Deschanel, John Hawkes and Frank Langella.

The film centers on the young love between a bartender and a mysterious woman. Their relationship is threatened after the bartender, Pierre, gets mixed up with a dangerous crook and his bag of stolen cash.

The Driftless Area, an adaptation of Tom Drury‘s novel of the same name, is currently shooting in Vancouver.

Zachary Sluser, who co-wrote the screenplay with Drury, is directing.

Plaza, who starred in 2012’s Safety Not Guaranteed, which earned her the Breakthrough Performer of the Year award at CinemaCon,and 2013’s The To-Do List, can next be seen in the upcoming A Many Splintered Thing opposite Chris Evans and Michelle Monaghan and Lionsgate’s Mortdecai, co-starring Johnny Depp, Ewan McGregor and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Both films are in postproduction.

Paramount May Distribute Gomez’s “Rudderless” in North America

Posted on April 2, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Selena Gomez’s latest film project isn’t so rudderless…

Paramount Pictures is reportedly close to finalizing a low-seven-figure deal on Rudderless, starring the 21-year-old Mexican American actress/singer, according to Deadline.com.

Scripted by Casey Twenter and Jeff Robison, the film revolves around a grieving father in a downward spiral who stumbles across a box of his recently deceased son’s demo tapes and lyrics. Shocked by the discovery of this unknown talent, he forms a band in the hope of finding peace in the wake of his loss.

Paramount will acquire North American distribution rights and several additional territories for the film, which stars William H. Macy in his feature-film directorial debut.

Rudderless will begin with a theatrical run in a deal that is taking shape with Samuel Goldwyn Co. The film will be released later this fall.

Macy stars with Gomez, Billy Crudup, Anton Yelchin, Laurence Fishburne and Felicity Huffman in the musical drama about the power of a parent’s love.

Gomez’s “Rudderless” to Close the Sundance Film Festival

Posted on December 9, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Selena Gomez better invest in snow boots…

The 21-year-old half-Mexican actress/singer’s latest project Rudderless, the musical drama directed by William H. Macy, will be the closing night film at the Sundance Film Festival, which runs from January 16-26 in Park City, Utah.

Starring Gomez, the rock ‘n’ roll and roll film is Macy’s feature directorial debut. It centers on a grieving father who forms a band after finding his deceased son’s songs.

Along with starring Macy and Gomez, the film also stars Billy Crudup, Felicity Huffman, Anton Yelchin and Laurence Fishburne.

Rudderless will play at 6:30PM on the night of January 24th in the Eccles at the upcoming Sundance, which is celebrating its 30thanniversary gathering in 2014.

Gomez to Star in “Rudderless” Film

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Selena Gomez is going rudderless for her next project…

The 20-year-old half-Mexican American actress/singer, who will be releasing a new album soon, has been cast in William H. Macy’s directorial debut film, Rudderless.

The film, which stars Macy and Felicity Huffman, is a musical drama about a grieving father who forms a band after finding his deceased son’s songs.

Macy co-wrote the original story with Casey Twenter and Jeff Robison, who adapted the script.

Filming will begin this month in Oklahoma.

The Spring Breakers’ co-stars include Anton Yelchin, Laurence Fishburne and Billy Crudup.

Vergara Returning to Smurf Village

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Sofia Vergara is planning to return to Smurf Village following her scene-stealing moments in The Smurfs…

The 39-year-old Colombian actress—who received a Kids’ Choice Award nomination for Favorite Film Actress for her role in the CGI/live-action hybrid film—will participate in the sequel, according to Sony Pictures.

Filming has reportedly already begun on the sequel with director Raja Gosnell and actors Neil Patrick Harris, Jayma Mays and Hank Azaria, who portrays the evil Gargamel, back at work on the film.

In addition, George Lopez, Katy Perry, Alan Cumming and Anton Yelchin will return to provide the voices of their respective characters, with actress Christina Ricci added as a cast member.

In the second movie, part of the action will take place in Paris. Like the original film, the sequel will combine animation and real images using 3D technology.

The Smurfs, based on the books of Belgian artist Peyo, followed the beloved little blue man-like creatures from their village to the streets of New York City as they tried to escape Gargamel. The 2011 blockbuster earned $560 million worldwide.

The sequel is slated to open in theaters in July 2013.

Star Trek 2: del Toro Out, Ramirez In?

Posted on December 10, 2011 by Tom Castaneda

Edgar Ramirez received critical acclaim for his playing the infamous terrorist and murderer Carlos the Jackal in the TV miniseries Carlos… And, now he could be playing an out of this world baddie.

With Benicio del Toro no longer interested in starring as the villain in the sequel to the Star Trek reboot and production set to begin soon, J.J. Abrams is working ‘round the clock to cast the important role. And, he’s reportedly set his sights on Ramirez.

The 34-year-old Venezuelan actor is reportedly in talks to play the villain in Star Trek 2. Although Abrams hasn’t confirmed the role, several sources report the villain character in the film will be Khan. Mexican actor Ricardo Montalban played Khan in the classic Star Trek: Wrath of Khan.

Ramirez reportedly tested for the role via Skype this week.

But he isn’t the only Latino that Abrams is considering.

Jordi Mollà is reportedly in the running as well. The 43-year-old Spanish actor has starred in Colombiana, Knight and Day and Bad Boys 2.

Production on the new Star Trek movie is expected to begin on January 15, with Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, John Cho and Anton Yelchin expected to return to the cast.

The movie is scheduled to hit theaters nationwide on May 17, 2013.

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