Taylor Ortega to Star in Fox’s Comedy Pilot “This Country”

Posted on March 5, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Taylor Ortega is headed to the country-side…

The Latina actress has joined the cast of Fox’s single-camera comedy pilot This Country, starringSeann William Scott.

Ortega joins new additions to the cast that include Chelsea Holmes, Sam Straley and Krystal Smith.

Written by Jenny Bicks and to be directed by Paul Feig,This Countryis a half-hour mockumentary inspired by the BBC Threeformat created by Daisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper.

The show follows the daily lives of cousins Kelly (Holmes) and Shrub Mallet (Straley), who are trailed by a documentary crew as they go to a small town to study young adults and their current concerns. The show follows the pair as they pursue their dreams, confront challenges and fight each other for frozen pizza. These two don’t have much, but they do have each other.

Ortega will play Nadine, Shrub and Kelly’s old high school classmate who is beautiful, successful and married to Kelly’s old crush, Dylan. Nadine is the “big fish” in the “small pond” of Flatch.

Ortega played Shego in the Kim Possible TV movie. She guest-starred on Succession and will be seen in the upcoming anthology series Love Life, starring Anna Kendrick.

Oona Chaplin to Star in the Horror Feature “Lullaby”

Posted on February 21, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

There’s nothing soothing about Oona Chaplin’s next project…

The 33-year-old part-Chilean actress has been tapped to star in Lullaby, a horror feature from Alcon Entertainment.

John R. Leonetti, who has directed films in the same genre like Annabelle, Wish Upon, and most recently the Netflix original The Silence, has signed on to direct Lullaby, which will begin production in Toronto next month.

Based on the mythological figure Lilith, the film is rooted in folklore and follows a new mother who discovers a lullaby in an ancient book and soon regards the song as a blessing. But her world transforms into a nightmare when the lullaby (“Lilith-Abi” Hebrew for “Lilith, begone”) brings forth the ancient demon Lilith.

Chaplin, the granddaughter of Charlie Chaplin, has previously appeared on HBO’s Game of Thrones, BBC’s The Crimson Fieldand Taboo.

She’s set to appear in the forthcoming Avatar sequels.

Cristela Alonzo Joins Voice Cast of HBO/BBC’s Drama “His Dark Materials”

Posted on September 1, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Cristela Alonzo is going dark…

The 40-year-old Mexican American comedian/actress is lending her voice to HBO and BBC drama His Dark Materials.

Alonzo, Helen McCrory, and David Suchet are among those to sign up as voice actors for the Philip Pullman adaptation, written by Jack Thorne and produced by Bad Wolf.

The first season of His Dark Materials follows Lyra, played by Dafne Keen, searching for a kidnapped friend. She uncovers a sinister plot involving stolen children and becomes a quest to understand a mysterious phenomenon called Dust. As she journeys through the worlds, including our own, Lyra meets a determined and courageous boy called Will (Amir Wilson). Together they encounter extraordinary beings and dangerous secrets, with the fate of both the living — and the dead — in their hands. James McAvoy, plays Lord Asriel who has a demon in the form of a snow leopard. Ruth Wilson’s villainess Mrs. Coulter has a monkey. Lin-Manuel Miranda plays Lee Scoresby, a Texan who flies air balloons. He revealed that when we first see his character, he’s singing with his demon.

McCrory voices Stelmaria, Lord Asriel’s snow leopard daemon, Suchet is Kaisa, gyrfalcon daemon to the witch Serafina Pekkala, played by Ruta Gedmintas. Scoresby’s daemon is an arctic hare called Hester, voiced by Alonzo and Lyra’s unsettled daemon, Pantalaimon, is voiced by Kit Connor. Mrs Coulter’s mysterious daemon, a Golden Monkey, doesn’t speak or have a name but his animal noises and vocal characteristics will be created by Brian Fisher, who also serves as the lead puppeteer and CFX co-ordinator on the series.

Iorek Byrnison, a bear who Lyra meets on her quest will be voiced by Joe Tandberg. In the frozen wilderness of the North exists a race of armored bears. Both skilled metal workers and fierce warriors, they have their own culture and laws.

The cast of the drama also includes Anne-Marie Duff, Clarke Peters, Ariyon Bakare, Will Keen, Ian Gelder, Georgina Campbell, Lucian Msamati, James Cosmo, Mat Fraser, Geoff Bell, Simon Manyonda as well as young actors Lewin Lloyd, Daniel Frogsonand Tyler Howitt.

Santiago Cabrera to Star in CBS All Access’ Upcoming Jean-Luc Picard-Themed “Star Trek” Series

Posted on March 5, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Santiago Cabrerais making a special trek…

The 40-year-old Chilean-Venezuelan actor and Salvation star is reuniting with Alex Kurtzman’s Secret Hideout and CBS Studios for a co-starring role opposite Patrick Stewart in CBS All Access’ upcoming Star Trek series that will explore the next chapter of Jean-Luc Picard.

Michelle Hurd also will co-star in the series, produced by CBS Television Studiosin association with Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment.

The new untitled Star Trek series features Stewart reprising his iconic role as Picard, which he played for seven seasons on Star Trek: The Next Generation, as he takes on a new adventure.

No details are being revealed about the characters Cabrera and Hurd are playing, but Cabrera is rumored to be playing the pilot of Picard’s ship and a skillful thief. Hurd is said to be playing a former intelligence officer who is a brilliant analyst with a terrific memory that has not been affected by her drug and alcohol abuse.

Cabrera was one of the most sought actors for pilots this season who instead opted to do the Star Trek series. He starred for two seasons on the CBSsummer thriller drama series Salvation, from Secret Hideout and CBS Studios. He also recurred on HBO’s Big Little Lies and played Aramis in the BBCseries The Musketeers. In features, Cabrera recently was seen in Transformers: The Last Knight.

Hanelle Culpepperwill direct the first two episodes of the series, making her the first woman to direct a pilot or debut episode of a Starfleet series in the franchise’s 53-year history.

The show will air exclusively on CBS All Access in the United States and will be distributed concurrently internationally by CBS Studios International.

Plácido Domingo to Co-Produce Remake of the popular Hungarian Classical Music Format “Virtuosos”

Posted on May 13, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Plácido Domingo is looking for the world’s next best virtuosos…

The 77-year-old Opera singer is working with The Late Late Show with James Corden co-producer Fulwell 73 to remake the popular Hungarian classical music format Virtuosos in the United States and United Kingdom.

Domijngo, part of the Three Tenors with José Carreras and Luciano Pavarotti, has become a shareholder in Virtuosos Holding, the company that owns global rights to the eponymous format.

The show, which has aired on Hungary’s MTVA since 2014, sees children and young adults compete by playing classical pieces, as well as movie themes, while they’re judged by five professional judges.

The series is produced by Mariann Peller.

Fulwell 73, which is partly backed by Corden and also produces series including Comedy Central’s Roast Battle and BBC’s Sounds Like Friday Night, is to develop adaptations in the U.S. and UK following the format deal.

Domingo said, “The Virtuosos talent show and activities that surround it are a wonderful addition to the world of classical music, the encouragement of young musical talent and broadening the appeal of classical music.

“Since my very first involvement I have been incredibly impressed by the talent discovered in Hungary alone and am sure this will be repeated in other countries as the format finds new audiences and new lovers of classical music, presented in a contemporary way. I hope that by becoming an active shareholder in Virtuosos Holding I can lend further encouragement to both the talent we discover and the management of the company with my experience and connections around the world.”

Fulwell 73 partner Leo Pearlman added: “Virtuosos is a phenomenon in Hungary discovering and then showcasing the undiscovered stars of the classical music world, from all walks of life. Plácido Domingo is undoubtedly an integral part of the show and he alongside the talented young musicians, their incredible backstories and the confluence of a mainstream entertainment format and classical music are what we believe will make this a success in the UK and U.S. Classical music has long been hugely influential for artists in many different genres of popular music and now for the first time we’ll be highlighting this fact through a popular entertainment format in the way we know best.”

Cabrera to Star in CBS’ Summer Drama Series “Salvation”

Posted on February 18, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Santiago Cabrera has found his salvation…

The 38-year-old Venezuelan-born Chilean actor will star opposite Charlie Rowe and Jennifer Finnigan in CBS summer drama series Salvation, which hails from Alex Kurtzman’s Secret Hideout and CBS Television Studios.

The first episode will be directed and executive-produced by Oscar-nominated Spanish filmmaker Juan Carlos Fresnadillo.

Salvation follows whip-smart MIT grad student Liam (Rowe) and tech billionaire Darius Tanz (Cabrera) who bring to a low-level Pentagon official (Finnigan) a staggering discovery: An asteroid is just six months away from colliding with Earth. Liam and Darius team to launch a secret project to save the planet — a secret Liam must keep from the ones he loves.

In addition to Rowe and Finnigan, Cabrera joins previously announced series regulars Jacqueline Byers and Ian Anthony Dale.

Cabrera is known for his role as Aramis on BBC’s The Musketeers. His television credits also include The Mindy Project, Merlin, Heroes and the HBO movie Hemingway and Gelhorn.

He’ll next be seen in HBO’s Big Little Lies, opposite Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman, and the feature film Transformers: The Last Knight.

Molina to Star in BBC/Acorn TV’s WWII Drama “Close to the Enemy”

Posted on October 5, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Alfred Molina has found a new Enemy…

The 63-year-old half-Spanish actor will star in the period drama Close to the Enemy.

Co-produced by Acorn Media Enterprises, All3Media International and the BBC, the seven-part series from Stephen Poliakoff is set in a bomb-damaged London hotel in the aftermath of World War II and centers on intelligence officer Captain Callum Ferguson. His last task for the Army is to ensure that a captured German scientist, Dieter urgently starts working for the British RAF to develop the jet engine. Callum uses unorthodox methods in his attempt to convince Dieter and the two form a friendship. But tensions soon arise, as all is not as it seems.

In addition to Molina, Close To The Enemy will also star Jim Sturgess, Alfie Allen, Angela Bassett and Freddie Highmore.

Coinciding with the BBC broadcast, the drama will make its U.S. debut on streaming service Acorn TV in November/December.

Vega to Star in the Gothic Horror Story “The Lodgers”

Posted on September 29, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Charlotte Vega is lodge and in charge…

The 22-year-old Spanish actress is set to star in Epic Pictures Group’s gothic horror story The Lodgers.

Directed by Brian O’Malley from a script by David Turpin, the film stars Vega, David Bradley, Eugene Simon, Bill Milner and Moe Dunford.

The story follows a sister (Vega) and brother (Milner) haunted by a secret curse that forces them to remain in the large estate home left to them by their dead parents. But when a young man (Simon) who falls in love with the sister tries to free her, his attempt sets off a deadly chain reaction.

Adding a touch of realism to the production, The Lodgers will be filmed almost entirely at Loftus Hall, Ireland’s most famous purported haunted house, which is beset — so local legend holds — by the ghost of a young woman and the devil himself. (Coincidentally, Loftus Hall celebrates its 666th anniversary this year).

Vega recently appeared in the BBC-produced series The Refugees.

Filming has already begun on the film.

Trailer Released for Jon Stewart’s Directorial Debut “Rosewater,” Starring Garcia Bernal

Posted on August 30, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Gael Garcia Bernal is earning rave reviews for his latest project… And, now you can see his work for yourself.

Open Road Films has released the official trailer for Jon Stewart’s directorial debut Rosewater, starring the 35-year-old Mexican actor.

The film, an adaptation of Maziar Bahari’s book Then They Came For Me: A Family’s Story Of Love, Captivity And Survival,stars Garcia Bernal as Bahari, the BBC journalist who left London in June 2009 to cover Iran’s presidential elections.

He was kidnapped, spending the next 118 days in Iran’s most notorious prison being brutally interrogated by a man he knew only by one thing: he smelled of rosewater.

Stewart took a summer hiatus from his Comedy Central show to direct his own script.

Rosewater will open in U.S. theaters on November 7.

Open Road Films to Release Garcia Bernal’s “Rosewater” in November

Posted on August 2, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Gael Garcia Bernal’s latest film will hit U.S. theaters in November.

Open Road Films has announced plans to release Rosewater, starring the 35-year-old Mexican actor, on November 7.

The directorial debut from The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart, the film is an adaptation of BBC journalist Maziar Bahari’s book Then They Came For Me: A Family’s Story Of Love, Captivity And Survival.

The true story follows the Tehran-born journalist, a Canadian citizen living in London. In June 2009, he returned to Iran to interview Mir-Hossein Moussavi, who was the prime challenger to controversial incumbent president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. As Moussavi’s supporters rose up to protest Ahmadinejad’s victory declaration hours before the polls closed on election day, Bahari endured great personal risk by submitting camera footage of the unfolding street riots to the BBC. Bahari was soon arrested by Revolutionary Guard police, led by a man identifying himself only as “Rosewater,” who proceeded to torture and interrogate the journalist over the next 118 days. Iranian authorities released Bahari on $300,000 bail and the promise he would act as a spy for the government.

Garcia Bernal stars as Bahari in the film.

Stewart penned the script and took a summer break from his popular Comedy Central show to direct it.

Open Road acquired the U.S. distribution rights in May to Rosewaterafter a private showing to select buyers at the Cannes Film Festival.

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