Kirk Acevedo Upped to Series Regular on The CW’s “Arrow”

Posted on October 12, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

There’s more Arrow in Kirk Acevedo’s future…

The 46-year-old Puerto Rican, who recurred last season as the drug kingpin and crime lord Ricardo Diaz (aka as Dragon), has been promoted to series regular for Season 7, which premieres on October 15 on the CW.

A thorn in the side of Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) in season six, Diaz saw Team Arrow launch an attack on him during the season finale in May, only to escape. FBI agent Samandra Watson vows to haul him in, however.

The character has a publishing history with roots that date back more than 40 years. In 1975, DC Comics started publishing a series called Richard Dragon, Kung Fu Fighter, which featured a martial arts master who grew up as a thief but changed his ways. The series lasted a mere 18 issues. Jump forward to 2013, and a new fighter calling himself Dragon was introduced; he eventually was revealed to be a younger man named Ricardo Diaz, a traitorous protege to the original Dragon who stole his heroic master’s name when he murdered him. The television version has hewed more to that recent mythology.

Based on the DC characters, the series is executive produced by Greg Berlanti, Beth Schwartz and Sarah Schechter.

Arrow is produced by Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros Television.

It moves to a new night this season after airing on Thursdays in 2017-18.

Acevedo’s previous television credits include 12 Monkeys, Prime Suspect and Kingdom.

Josh Segarra to Star in Netflix’s Comedy Series “AJ and the Queen” with RuPaul

Posted on September 23, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Josh Segarra has landed a royalproject…

The 32-year-old Puerto Rican actor has joined the cast of AJ and the Queen, Netflix’s upcoming comedy series starring RuPaul Charles.

Written by Sex and the City creator Michael Patrick King and RuPaul, the series stars RuPaul as Ruby Red, a bigger-than-life but down-on-her-luck drag queen who travels across America from club to club in a rundown 1990s R/V with her unlikely sidekick AJ, a recently orphaned, tough-talking, scrappy 11-year-old stowaway. As these two misfits, one tall, one small, travel from city to city, Ruby’s message of love and acceptance winds up touching people and changing their lives for the better. And RuPaul performs a killer musical number in every drag club.

Segarra will play Hector in the series.

He can be seen as Jason in the feature remake of Overboard for MGM, as Adrian Chase/Prometheus on the CW’s Arrow and ‘C.O’ Stefanovic on Netflix’s Orange is the New Black.

His other recent credits include Judd Apatow’s feature film Trainwreck and USA comedy series Sirens.

Ricky Martin to Receive Special Honor at the Gala Vanguard Awards

Posted on August 23, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Ricky Martin is a Vanguard…

The 46-year-old Puerto Rican superstar will be honored at the 49th anniversary Gala Vanguard Awards, held annually by the Los Angeles LGBT Center.

The charity event honors Los Angeles-based leaders and influencers for their LGBT advocacy. Previous recipients of the Vanguard Awards include the likes of Miley Cyrus, Jane Fonda, Elton John, George and Brad Takei, and Wanda Sykes.

The 49th anniversary Gala Vanguard Awards will take place on September 22 at the Beverly Hilton.

Other 2018 honorees include Arrow and Supergirl showrunner Greg Berlanti; Berlanti’s partner, producer and retired soccer player Robbie Rogers; and philanthropist Ariadne Getty.

Martin released the Wisin and Yandel-featuring “Fiebre” and starred in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story earlier this year.

J.W. Cortes to Appear at Pop Culture Event “DC in D.C.”

Posted on December 15, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

J.W. Cortes is invading The District…

Warner Bros. Television Group, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment are joining forces for DC in D.C., a pop culture Martin Luther King weekend event that merges the worlds of entertainment and public service in Washington, D.C.

DC in D.C. brings together stars, including the Puerto Rican Marine-combat-veteran-turned-actor and Gotham star, as well as producers from WBTV’s DC TV series, including Arrow, The Flash, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Gotham, Supergirl and Freedom Fighters: The Ray, with DC comic book writers and artists, along with invited guests from politics, government service, business academia and more.

The event, which takes place Friday, January 12 and Saturday, January 13, will explore the intersection of comic books, culture, entertainment and enlightenment through a series of panel discussions open to the public.

Events will take place both days at the Newseum, and will culminate with the world premiere screening of the upcoming DC series Black Lightning in the Warner Bros. Theater at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.

A party will follow at the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

In addition to Cortes, participants include Black Lightning stars Cress Williams, China Anne McClain, Nafessa Williams, Christine Adams, Marvin “Krondon” Jones III, Damon Gupton and James Remar — along with executive producers Salim Akil & Mara Brock Akil; along with executive producers Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter, plus TV series stars Caity Lotz (DC’s Legends of Tomorrow), Candice Patton (The Flash), Danielle Panabaker (The Flash), Russell Tovey (Freedom Fighters: The Ray) and others to be announced.

More information can be found at http://www.DCinDC2018.com.

Lima to Star in CW’s Superhero Series “Supergirl”

Posted on July 13, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Floriana Lima has landed a Super-sized role…

The Latina actress has landed a series regular role on the CBS-turned-CW superhero series Supergirl.

Lima will portray Maggie Sawyer, a character inspired by the historic gay DC Comics character.

Created by John Byrne, Maggie was first introduced in 1987 as a captain of the Metropolis Special Crimes Unit where she was a highly skilled member of the Science Police, the division of the police department that deals with metahumans.

Additionally, Maggie was revealed to be a lesbian in the Superman titles, making her one of the first openly characters in mainstream comics. She later went on to become romantically involved with another famous female superhero, Batwoman, in addition appearance in several Batman titles.

On the Warner Bros.-produced Supergirl, Maggie will be a detective for the National City Police Department who takes a special interest in the cases involving aliens.

Supergirl executive producer Greg Berlanti, who is also an EP on Arrow, The Flash and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, spoke with The Hollywood Reporter earlier this year about the importance of being all inclusive. His DC Comics shows have changed the ethnicity and sexuality of several iconic comic book characters to better reflect present day, like Supergirl‘s Jimmy Olsen (Mehcad Brooks) and Arrow‘s Curtis Holt (Echo Kellum), respectively.

“I wanted to contemporize these comics that I loved growing up and have them reflect the society that we live in now,” Berlanti said. “It’s still about working in some of those very real qualities so that everyone feels represented.”

Maggie Sawyer is one of several famed DC Comics characters coming to Supergirl for season two. Teen Wolf‘s Tyler Hoechlin has been cast as Kara’s cousin Clark Kent aka Superman, and Cougar Town vet Ian Gomez will play journalist Snapper Carr. Additionally, former Wonder Woman star Lynda Carter is set to appear as the President of the United States.

The character of Maggie Sawyer previously appeared in several episodes of former CW series Smallville, as played by Jill Teed.

In addition to the ABC drama The Family, Lima’s credits include Allegiance and The Mob Doctor.

Supergirl‘s second season premieres on Monday, October 10 at 8 p.m. on The CW.

Ramirez Lands Recurring Role on Fox’s “Rosewood”

Posted on March 6, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Everything’s coming up rosewood for J.R. Ramirez

The 35-year-old Cuban actor has landed a recurring role on Fox’s drama series Rosewood.

Ramirez will portray Frank Escajeda, a former NYPD homicide detective from Miami that now finds himself working out of the basement of the police station, heading up the East Miami PD Cold Case division. Haunted by a personal and mysterious murder that went unsolved, he throws himself head on into any case that presents even the smallest clue.

Ramirez is currently a series regular on Starz’s Power, which just wrapped filming of season three, and he also recurs as Ted ‘Wildcat’ Grant on CW’s Arrow.

Alejandro Cast as Series Regular on Fox’s Comic Book Drama “Lucifer”

Posted on July 4, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Kevin Alejandro has earned a devilish role…

The 39-year-old Mexican American actor has been cast as a series regular on Fox’s comic book midseason drama Lucifer.

Alejandro, who appeared on True Blood and Arrow, replaces Nicholas Gonzalez who played the role in the pilot, written by Tom Kapinos and directed by Len Wiseman.

Based on the characters from the DC Entertainment’s Vertigo, the series, from Warner Bros. Television and Jerry Bruckheimer Television, centers on Lucifer (Tom Ellis) who, bored and unhappy as the Lord of Hell, resigns his throne and abandons his kingdom for the gorgeous, shimmering insanity of Los Angeles, where he gets his kicks helping the LAPD punish criminals.

Alejandro will play Dan, a gruff LAPD homicide detective who is wary of Lucifer’s involvement with his wife and daughter.

Alejandro just recently became available, coming off the A&E drama The Returned. He previously was a regular on Southland and Golden Boy.

Ramirez Upped to Series Regular on Starz’s “Power”

Posted on August 16, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

J.R. Ramirez is powering up…

The 33-year-old Latino actor, who recurred on the first season of Starz’s drama series Power, has been promoted to regular for the show’s second season.

Power centers on wealthy New York City nightclub owner James “Ghost” St. Patrick (portrayed by Omari Hardwick), who is living a double life as a kingpin.

Ramirez portrays Julio, second in command to Tommy (Joseph Sikora).

Ramirez, who portrayed Dr. A.J. Aquino on Emily Owens M.D., was also recently cast as Ted “Wildcat” Grant on the upcoming third season of the CW‘s Arrow.

His other television credits include GCB, 24 and Hacienda Heights.

Alejandro to Star in the A&E Drama Series “The Returned”

Posted on June 4, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Kevin Alejandro is returning to television once again…

The 38-year-old Mexican American actor will star opposite Mark Pellegrino in Carlton Cuse’s 10-episode A&E drama series The Returned.

Directed by Keith Gordon. The Returned, from A+E Studios and FremantleMedia, focuses on a small town that’s turned upside down when several local people who’ve long been presumed dead suddenly reappear, bringing with them both positive and detrimental consequences.

Alejandro will play the town’s authoritative but accessible Sheriff Tommy Moran.

Alejandro is best known for his roles on the crime drama Southlandand HBO’s supernatural thriller True Blood. Most recently he had a recurring role on CW‘s Arrow.

The CW Picks Up the “Arrow” Spin-Off “The Flash,” Starring Valdes

Posted on May 9, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Carlos Valdes is preparing to flash television audiences…

The CW has ordered to series the Arrow spin-off The Flash, starring the Latino actor and Broadway star.

The series centers on Barry Allen (Glee’s Grant Gustin), a Central City assistant police forensics investigator who arrives in Starling to look into a series of unexplained robberies that may have a connection to a tragedy in his past. A comic book fanboy, Barry is obsessed with the Arrow unaware that working with Oliver and Felicity to solve the crime has brought him right into the dangerous world of the vigilante.

Valdes portrays Cisco Ramon, a mechanical engineering genius at S.T.A.R. Labs. He came from a rather poor family, and provides much-needed comic relief around his stiff workplace.

Valdes previously appeared as his character in the Arrow episode entitled “The Man Under the Hood.”

In addition to Gustin and Valdes, the series also stars Jesse L. Martin, Tom Cavanagh, John Wesley Shipp, Rick Cosnett, Danielle Panabaker, Candice Patton, Michelle Harrison and Patrick Sabongui.

The Flash comes from co-creators Greg Berlanti and Andrew Kreisberg who, along with Geoff Johns, wrote the pilot episode with Arrow pilot director David Nutter at the helm.

The Flash is set to premiere this fall.

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