Muniz to Star in “Christopher Hope and the Secret of Napoleon”

Posted on November 14, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Frankie Muniz has found his next treasure…

The 30-year-old half-Puerto Rican actor, best known as the star of Fox’s Malcolm in the Middle, will star opposite Ashley Rickards in Christopher Hope and the Secret of Napoleon, a Paris-set mystery adventure thriller along the lines of National Treasure.

French newcomer Thomas Lemoine, who came up with the idea for the film and co-wrote the script with Christiane Lemoine-Vultaggio, also stars in the $10 million production.

Lemoine will play Christopher Hope, a student working toward his master’s degree in history who is determined to uncover the secret behind the legendary lost treasure of Napoleon, supposedly hidden by Freemasons somewhere in Paris.

Lemoine also will co-direct the pic with cinematographer Peter Lyons Collister, who has lensed features such as Alvin and the Chipmunks and The Amityville Horror.

Munoz’s film credits include Big Fat Liar, Racing Stripes and Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!

Zovatto Joins Cast of Hulu’s Sci-Fi/Fantasy Anthology Series “Dimension 404”

Posted on July 21, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Daniel Zovatto is reaching a new Dimension…

The 25-year-old Costa Rican actor has joined the cast of Dimension 404, Hulu’s six-episode sci-fi/fantasy anthology scripted series from RocketJump and Lionsgate.

Zovatto, who has appeared on Fear the Walking Dead, joins a cast that includes new additions Chilean actress and model Lorenza Izzo and Tom Noonan.

Inspired by the Internet’s “404” error code, Dimension 404 aims to evoke that 3 AM feeling of wandering onto the weird side of the web and stumbling upon stories that cannot be explained in the world that we know.

In one episode, Zovatto will play Zach alongside Sarah Hyland and Patton Oswalt, a smooth-talking heartthrob who can not only sell people on the merits of the brand new and terrifyingly real “Cinethrax” movie format, but gain the adoration of the episode’s young heroin.

In another episode, Izzo will play Val, a confident, brash upstart in the world of competitive video games. But while she ignores her burgeoning adult responsibilities, she discovers a mysterious Energy Drink that can slow down time and give her the competitive edge she thinks she needs.

The cast also includes Ashley Rickards, Joel McHale, Lea Michele, Ryan Lee and Sterling Beaumon.

Dez Dolly created the series with Will Campos, and Dolly is executive producer/showrunner. Co-creators are Dan Johnson and David Welch.

Justice to Star in the Female-Centric Comedy “The Outskirts”

Posted on May 15, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Victoria Justice is headed to the outskirts…

The 21-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress/singer, who will topline MTV’s new drama Eye Candy, will star in the female-centric comedy The Outskirts alongside Eden Sher.

Directed by Peter Hutchings for BCDF Pictures, the film tells the story of two best friends who, having suffered years of torment under the thumb of their high school’s alpha female, decide to unite their school’s other outcasts to start a social revolution.

The screenplay was written by Dominique Ferrari and Suzanne Wrubel and appeared on last year’s Black List.

In addition to Justice and Sher, the film’s cast also includes Ashley Rickards, Peyton List, Avan Jogia, Claudia Lee, Katie Chang and William Peltz.

Shooting will begin this summer in New York.

IFC Midnight Acquires the U.S. Distribution Rights to Rivera’s Thriller “Home”

Posted on April 12, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

All’s moving forward on the home front for Naya Rivera…

IFC Midnight has acquired the distribution rights to 27-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress and Glee star’s feature film Home, following its premiere last month at the SXSW Film Conference and Festival.

From writer-director Nicholas McCarthy (The Pact), the thriller stars Rivera, Academy Award-nominee Catalina Sandino Moreno, Awkward’s Ashley Rickards, Wyatt Russell and Ava Acres.

It centers on an ambitious real estate agent (Moreno) who is selling a house with a checkered past. When she tries to help the runaway daughter of the property’s owners, she and her sister (Rivera) cross paths with a sinister supernatural force.

IFC Midnight will release Home in theaters and via video on demand (VOD) this year.

NSFW Trailer Released for Iglesias’ “Haunted House 2,” Starring Marlon Wayans

Posted on April 2, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a haunting role for Gabriel Iglesias…

The 37-year-old Mexican American actor/stand-up comedian is starring in the horror-spoof sequel Haunted House 2.

The Open Road film, which recently released its NSFW trailer, sees Marlon Wayans moving into his dream house with new squeeze Jaime Pressly, but nightmare house is more like it.

The Michael Tiddes-directed film’s trailer parodies Facebook’s recent Look Back videos, which were released to celebrate the social media site’s 10-year anniversary.

Haunted House 2 was written and produced by Wayans and Rick Alvarez.

In addition to Iglesias, Wayans and Pressly, the film also stars Ashley Rickards, Steele Stebbins, Essence Atkins, Affion Crocket, Dave Sheridan, Hayes MacArthur, Missi Pyle and Cedric the Entertainer.

Haunted House 2 will be released on April 18, 2014.

Rivera’s “Home” to Premiere at the South by Southwest Film Conference and Festival

Posted on February 9, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Naya Rivera is heading home to Austin this March…

The 27-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress and Glee star’s latest film, Home, will have its world premiere at the South by Southwest Film Conference and Festival (SXSW).

Rivera stars as Vera in the horror thriller, which centers on a realtor who is asked to sell a vacant home. She and her sister ultimately come across the home’s previous tenant: a teenage girl who sold her soul to the devil.

In addition to Rivera, the Nicholas McCarthy-direct film’s cast includes Catalina Sandino Moreno, Ashley Rickards, Wyatt Russell and Ava Acres.

Home has been scheduled in the fesival’s Midnighters section, which is described as scary, funny, sexy, controversial – provocative after-dark features for night-owls and the terminally curious.

The SXSW Film Conference and Festival will run from March 7-15 in Austin, Texas.

Here’s a look at this year’s chosen films in the Midnighters category:

The Guest
Director: Adam Wingard, Screenwriter: Simon Barrett
A soldier on leave befriends the family of a fallen comrade, only to become a threat to all around him when it’s revealed he’s hiding dangerous secrets from his past.
Cast: Dan Stevens, Maika Monroe, Leland Orser, Lance Reddick, Sheila Kelley

13 Sins
Director/Screenwriter: Daniel Stamm, Screenwriter: David Birke
A cryptic phone call sets off a dangerous game of risks for Elliot, a down-on-his luck salesman. The game promises increasing rewards for completing 13 tasks, each more sinister than the last.
Cast: Mark Webber, Rutina Wesley, Devon Graye, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Richard Burgi, Tom Bower, Ron Perlman (World Premiere)

Among The Living (France)
Director/Screenwriter: Julien Maury, Alexandre Bustillo
After horror favorites Inside and Livid, Maury and Bustillo pair up again for a horror-thriller at the cross roads between Stand by Me and Friday the13th. Cast: Anne Marivin, Béatrice Dalle, Francis Renaud, Fabien Jegoudez, Nicolas Giraud (World Premiere)

Exists
Director: Eduardo Sánchez, Screenwriter: Jamie Nash
Five friends on a camping weekend in the remote woods of East Texas struggle to survive against a legendary beast that is stronger, smarter and more terrifying than they would have ever believed exists. Cast: Chris Osborn, Dora Madison Burge, Roger Edwards, Denise Williamson, Samuel Davis (World Premiere)

Starry Eyes
Directors/Screenwriters: Dennis Widmyer, Kevin Kolsch
In the city of dreams, a desperate actress will do whatever it takes for the role of a lifetime… no matter what the cost. Cast: Alexandra Essoe, Amanda Fuller, Fabianne Therese, Noah Segan, Shane Coffey (World Premiere)

Home
Director/Screenwriter: Nicholas McCarthy
When a realtor is asked to sell a vacant home, she and her sister cross paths with its previous tenant: a teenage girl who sold her soul to the devil. Cast: Naya Rivera, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Ashley Rickards, Wyatt Russell, Ava Acres (World Premiere)

Honeymoon
Director/Screenwriter: Leigh Janiak, Screenwriter: Phil Graziadei
Young newlyweds find their honeymoon spiraling mysteriously into chaos.
Cast: Rose Leslie, Harry Treadaway, Ben Huber, Hanna Brown (World Premiere)

Late Phases
Director: Adrián García Bogliano, Screenwriter: Eric Stolze
When deadly attacks from the forests beset a secluded retirement community, it is up to a grizzled veteran to figure what the residents are hiding.
Cast: Nick Damici, Ethan Embry, Erin Cummings, Tom Noonan, Lance Guest (World Premiere)

Oculus
Director/Screenwriter: Mike Flanagan, Screenwriter: Jeff Howard
As children, two siblings witnessed their parents’ harrowing descent into madness and death. Now, as adults, they reunite to expose and destroy the supernatural entity responsible: the Lasser Glass – a legendary mirror their parents owned. Cast: Karen Gillan, Brenton Thwaites, Rory Cochrane, James Lafferty, Katee Sackhoff (U.S. Premiere)

Stage Fright
Director: Jerome Sable
Stage Fright tells the story of a snobby musical theater camp terrorized by a bloodthirsty masked killer who despises musical theatre. “Scream” meets “Glee” in this genre-bending R-rated horror-musical. Cast: Allie MacDonald, Douglas Smith, Brandon Uranowitz, Kent Nolan, Melanie Leishman
(World Premiere)

Iglesias Joins Cast of the Horror Comedy “A Haunted House 2”

Posted on September 2, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Gabriel Iglesias’ career is about to get haunted…

The 37-year-old Mexican American stand-up comedian and actor has been cast in A Haunted House 2, the sequel to the horror comedy A Haunted House from Marlon Wayans and director Mike Tiddes.

Iglesias, Jaime Pressly and Ashley Rickards will join returning cast members Essence Atkins, Affion Crockett and Dave Sheridan.

Crossing new lines and breaking old barriers, A Haunted House 2 stars Marlon Wayans as Malcolm who, after exorcising the demons of his ex, is starting fresh with his new girlfriend and her two children. After moving into their dream home, Malcolm is once again plagued by bizarre paranormal events. The film is inspired by the latest supernatural horror movie franchises and shows that this time… it’s not just the house that’s haunted.

On board as writers and producers are Wayans and Rick Alvarez.

Open Road, which scored a hit with A Haunted House, returns as the film’s U.S. distributor with a March 2014 release planned.

Iglesias, best known for his comedy shows I’m Not Fat… I’m Fluffy and Hot & Fluffy, has appeared on screen in El Matador and Magic Mike, as well as the voice cast of Planes.

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