Eugenio Derbez’s 3Pas Studios Renews First-Look Deal with Lionsgate

Posted on February 9, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Eugenio Derbez isn’t leaving the (Lions)gate…

The 60-year-old Mexican actor, comedian and filmmaker and his producing partner Ben Odell’s 3Pas Studios has renewed its first-look deal with Lionsgate.

The deal continues the longstanding relationship between the companies, which resulted in the breakout box office success of 2018’s Overboard ($91.2 million at the global box office).

The last three Derbez movies — including the blockbuster Instructions Not Included, released by Lionsgate’s Pantelion Films — made more than $250M off a $35M production cost before P&A.

Their latest collaboration is this summer’s Hulu Original The Valet, a remake of the eponymous French film. It stars Derbez, Samara Weaving and Max Greenfield. The studios are currently working together on several upcoming films, including the development project Unsafe House.

“Eugenio and Ben are productive and prolific producers who have delivered a wide range of hits to Lionsgate over the years and we are thrilled to be extending our relationship and excited about the projects we have in development together,” said Lionsgate Motion Picture Group president Nathan Kahane. “Our previous collaborations have been tremendously successful, including Overboard, How to Be a Latin Lover, and Instructions Not Included, the highest-grossing Spanish-language film ever released in the U.S. We adore their humor and the way they develop stories and believe the best is yet to come.”

“Lionsgate has always understood the power of my core audience since I made Instructions Not Included, and supported me when I wanted to reach audiences around the world and started making movies in English, like Latin Lover and The Valet. Ben and I are grateful to Joe Drake, Nathan Kahane, Erin Westerman, and the whole Lionsgate team for their tremendous freedom and support,” said Derbez.

“As we continue to position 3Pas as the market leader in producing content for one of the fastest-growing audiences in the United States and the world, renewing our deal with Lionsgate helps us to reach the broadest possible audience in a variety of ways,” added Odell.

Eugenio Derbez Partners with Encantos to Develop Purpose-Driven Entertainment to Kids

Posted on November 16, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Eugenio Derbez is ready to create content for the young ones…

The 60-year-old Mexican actor, comedian and filmmaker and his 3Pas Studios partner Ben Odell are teaming up with Encantos, the global creator platform bringing purpose-driven entertainment to kids, founded by Susie Jaramillo and Steven Wolfe Pereira to develop new children’s entertainment properties.

The first project on deck under the partnership features a confident, street-smart, brilliant boy who unwittingly gets into trouble and uses his humor, wit, and ingenuity to get himself out of sticky situations.

It will feature an ensemble cast of “odd-ball multi-generational characters” that will be brought to life across digital and physical products including an animated series, consumer products, publishing, and interactive experiences in the Encantos app.

“Making a child laugh is the best feeling in the world,” Derbez said in a statement. “Now just imagine if they can also learn while they are being entertained! We want it to be universal but through a specific Latino lens. I have a seven-year-old daughter and I just never feel like there is enough content that speaks to her and reflects who she is. We want 3pas to be part of the solution and Encantos is the perfect partner to help us achieve this.”

Encantos CEO Steven Wolfe Pereira added, “While over 50% of kids in the United States are multicultural, children’s entertainment and education does not reflect today’s diverse world. Families expect and deserve greater representation in what their kids are seeing and learning. Encantos is bringing culturally authentic voices together on a platform that provides the broader range of perspectives that has been missing.”

Derbez and Odell will serve as executive producers on the property on behalf of 3Pas Studios, along with Jaramillo and Pereira on behalf of Encantos.

“Eugenio has a special gift for connecting with children and it shines through his work,” said Encantos Chief Story Officer and President of Encantos Studios Susie Jaramillo. “He is a natural Storyteacher who understands the power of humor to help kids learn. We can’t wait to channel his bigheartedness and comedic genius into a property that entertains and engages kids while teaching them valuable new fundamental skills like critical thinking, problem solving, and perseverance.”

Odell added, “One of our priorities at 3pas is bringing more diverse-focused content to the kids and family space and we love Steven and Susie’s vision for Encantos. We want to swing big and build out a lasting property that can teach kids using all of the multimedia platforms available to them. And as always, we want to do it with humor and heart and we love to work with and support talented LatinX partners to get there.”

Eugenio Derbez & His 3Pas Studios Sign First-Look Deal with Univision for Original Spanish Projects

Posted on October 10, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Eugenio Derbez is excited to bring new Spanish projects to Univision…

The 60-year-old Mexican actor, comedian and filmmaker and 3Pas Studios, run by Derbez and his producing partner Ben Odell, have inked a first-look deal with Univision to create original scripted and unscripted Spanish-language projects for Univision’s global streaming SVOD content slate set to launch in 2022.

Univision will have the first look at all Spanish-language television and theatrical motion picture projects controlled by 3Pas Studios and Derbez, including movies and series for SVOD or theatrical releases.

The multi-year agreement also includes the curation of the new “Derbez Channel” featuring family and comedy content available via the network’s free AVOD tier, and the release of titles starring Derbez that put him on the map.

A sampling of titles includes Al Derecho y al Derbez, La Familia P. Luche, and the hit film Instructions Not Included.

“I’m really glad to get back to producing in Spanish,” Derbez tells Deadline exclusively. “Although, I am proud to say my projects like [the Apple TV+ series] Acapulco and [the film] Overboard, and How to Be A Latin Lover always included some Spanish. I’m going to still do English projects but I’m very excited to connect again with my Spanish-language fans who have always supported me.”

Derbez teases the 3Pas team is “working on a lot of ideas” that could bring series similar to Acapulco to Univision. Odell shed some insight into what that could look like.

“We know our audience likes to sit with their families and watch content together,” Odell shares. “We teamed up with Univision because we share that sensibility—we want to reach a multigenerational audience. That takes wanting to be in dialogue with that audience—which Univision is—but now we want to make the premium version. What’s our Stranger Things look like?”

Derbez adds, “What Univision is doing with their streaming platform is the future. They’re giving us the freedom and the budget to try new things and take risks to make interesting and different programming. The idea of developing and producing world-class, Spanish-language content across different genres and catering to different age groups for Univision is very exciting.”

Eugenio Derbez’s English-Language Film “The Valet” Acquired by Disney/Hulu

Posted on July 6, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Eugenio Derbez’s latest project is headed to Hulu…

Lionsgate’s English-language remake of Francis Veber’s French feature hit The Valet, starring the 59-year-old Mexican actor/comedian, has been acquired by Disney’s direct-to-consumer platforms for a summer 2022 release as a Hulu Original in the U.S. and a Disney+ Star Original abroad.

Directed by Richard Wong and starring Derbez and Samara Weaving, The Valet follows Olivia (Weaving), a movie star who enlists Antonio (Derbez) – a parking valet – to pose as her lover to cover for a relationship with a married man (Max Greenfield). As a valet, the hard-working Antonio usually flies under the radar but his ruse with Olivia thrusts him into the spotlight and brings him to see himself more clearly than ever before.

Betsy Brandt, Marisol Nichols, Noemi Gonzalez, Carmen Salinas, Ravi Patel, Tiana Okoye, Diany Rodriguez, Armando Hernández, Carlos Santos, Amaury Nolasco, John Pirruccello and Alex Fernandez also star.

Additionally, reggaeton superstar Lunay is set to make his film acting debut in The Valet.

“What struck me most about The Valet is how closely my family resembled Antonio’s family and telling their story was like telling mine. It’s message of unity, seeing each other and human connection, is something the world could use right now and no one does that better than Hulu and Disney+,“ said Wong.

Rob Greenberg and Bob Fisher, who wrote Derbez’s $95M WW-grossing feature Overboard, also penned the remake of The Valet. Derbez and his producing partner Ben Odell produce through their 3Pas Studios banner.

“The Valet is a multi-generational, multi-cultural comedy in which people from two different worlds discover the humanity in each other. At 3pas studios we tell stories that try to unite us all and we love partnering with Hulu and Disney+ to bring this to the largest global audience possible,” said Derbez and Odell in a joint statement.

Lunay to Make Film Acting Debut in Eugenio Derbez’s “The Valet”

Posted on July 6, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Lunay is ready for his first feature film…

The 20-year-old Puerto Rican singer and rapper, born as Jefnier Osorio Moreno, is set to make his film acting debut in Lionsgate’s English-language remake of Francis Veber’s French feature hit The Valet.

Directed by Richard Wong and starring Eugenio Derbez and Samara Weaving, The Valet follows Olivia (Weaving), a movie star who enlists Antonio (Derbez) – a parking valet – to pose as her lover to cover for a relationship with a married man (Max Greenfield). As a valet, the hard-working Antonio usually flies under the radar but his ruse with Olivia thrusts him into the spotlight and brings him to see himself more clearly than ever before.

Lunay rose to acclaim in the Latin and reggaeton scene with the songs “A Solas“, “Luz Apaga“, “Soltera“, and “Soltera (Remix)“. In October 2019, he released his debut album Épico.

He won the award for artist “on the rise” at the 2019 Premios Juventud.

Marisol Nichols to Star Opposite Eugenio Derbez in the Lionsgate English-Remake of the French Hit “The Valet”

Posted on May 8, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Marisol Nichols is about to valet…

The 47-year-old half-Mexican American actress has joined the cast of the Lionsgate English-language remake of the French hit The Valet, joining stars Eugenio Derbez and Samara Weaving.

Nichols, who most recently starred on The CW’s Riverdale, joins a roster of cast newcomers that includes Max Greenfield, Betsy Brandt, and legendary Mexican screen and television icon Carmen Salinas.

Richard Wong is directing the film, which is currently in production. The original version was written and directed by Francis Veber.

Weaving stars as Olivia, a movie star who enlists Antonio (Derbez) – a parking valet – to pose as her lover to cover for a relationship with a married man. As a valet, the hard-working Antonio usually flies under the radar, but his ruse with Olivia thrusts him into the spotlight and brings him to see himself more clearly than ever before.

Nichols, who appears in Lionsgate’s upcoming film Spiral, will play Isabel, Antonio’s ex who he still carries a torch for.

Salinas, a screen legend with more than 110 movies and 30 television series to her credit, will play Cecilia, Antonio’s live-in mother.

Rob Greenberg and Bob Fisher penned the screenplay, which is being produced by Derbez and his producing partner Ben Odell through their 3Pas Studios banner.

“Production has begun and we couldn’t be more excited about the way this cast came together or this story,” said Derbez. “This is a romantic comedy with heart and soul starring some of today’s most talented young actors sharing the screen with a living legend of Mexican cinema.”

Omar Chaparro & Son Emiliano to Star in Pantaya’s Motorcycle Docuseries “Chaparreando”

Posted on September 30, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Omar Chaparro is hittin’ the road…

The 45-year-old Mexican actor, comedian and television host is set to star in a motorcycle docuseries for the Lionsgate-backed streaming service Pantaya.

Pantaya, a joint venture between the U.S. studio and Hemisphere Media Group, has ordered the six-part series titled Chaparreando.

The series will follow Chaparro, who starred in Detective Pikachu and Overboard, and his teenage son Emiliano on a motorbike journey through Mexico. Chaparro shares the countryside and colorful characters of his native state of Chihuahua to teach his son about his own roots.

The series, which will launch on Pantaya on October 15, is produced by 3Pas Studios with Eugenio Derbez and Ben Odell executive producing alongside Chaparro.

“Omar is a friend and constant collaborator with us at 3Pas. He’s a comedic force of nature but this show is not just funny as hell, it’s an immigrant’s love letter to his country,” said Odell and Derbez.

“Omar has been a great partner on No Manches Frida, Overboard and other Pantelion hits, and the Pantaya team has been searching for the right vehicle for him. We were happy to find it in his own motorcycle. Collaborating on Chaparreando with 3Pas, Omar and his son Emiliano, and the production team was a joy and we know audiences will share that excitement when they watch with their own families,” said Mario Almeida, Pantaya Vice President of Programming, Development, and Acquisitions.

Chaparro co-hosted the Mexican version of Netflix’s Nailed It!,

Eugenio Derbez & His Clan to Star in the Reality TV Series “De Viaje Con Los Derbez”

Posted on September 18, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Eugenio Derbez is taking the familia on vacation…

The 58-year-old Mexican actor, comedian and filmmakerand his thespian family are the subjects of the under-the-radar reality television series De Viaje Con Los Derbez.

The unscripted docu-comedy series, about a Derbez family vacation to Morocco, will launch in the U.S. and Puerto Rico on October 18 via Pantaya, Lionsgate and Hemisphere Media Group’s Spanish-language SVOD service, and will stream internationally on Amazon Prime Video.

The half-hour Spanish-language episodes will see a camera crew follow the Derbez family on the surprise vacation, offering a behind-the-scenes look at their adventures and escapades.

It will mark the first time the entire family of performers, who reach nearly 70M followers on social media, will be seen together on television.

The star-studded family consists of Derbez’s wife/actress Alessandra Rosaldo, their daughter Aitana, Derbez’s older actor sons Vadhir and José Eduardo and actress daughter Aislinn Derbez (La Casa de Las Flores) with her husband Mauricio Ochmann (Ya Veremos) and their daughter Kailani.

The series is produced in association withLionsgate by Derbez and Ben Odell’s 3Pas Studios as well as Katy Wallin and Stephanie Bloch Chambers’ Wallin Chambers Entertainment, who both have TV deals with Lionsgate. 3Pas Studios also has a first look deal with Lionsgate’s Pantelion Films.

Derbez, Odell, Wallin and Bloch Chambers will serve as executive producers.

“I’m thrilled to be working with our Lionsgate friends in bringing my reality series to Pantaya and Amazon Prime Video,” said Derbez, who is best known for box office hits Instructions Not Included, How To Be A Latin Lover and the remake of Overboard, as well as a string of popular Spanish-language TV series.

He continued, “When they learned that I was planning to take my entire family on a surprise trip to Morocco, they had the crazy idea of documenting our adventures. We have always tried to keep our personal lives private so we were all really nervous about doing this but I think our audience will love it. They will finally know that we are just as crazy and dysfunctional as any family!”

“Eugenio has delivered a string of box office hits for Pantelion Films, and we couldn’t be more excited to have the creative mastermind behind them helming our first original unscripted television series,” said Pantaya and Pantelion Films CEO Paul Presburger.

“De Viaje Con Los Derbez is the perfect example of the synergies we aim to create across the company and our focus on empowering talent to tell their stories through different mediums,” added Lionsgate SVP and Head of Unscripted Programming Alice Dickens-Koblin.

Mauricio Ochmann to Star in Pantelion Films’ Spanish-Language Comedy “Backseat Driver”

Posted on August 31, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Mauricio Ochmann is driving into a new role…

Fresh off the huge Mexican box office opening of his comedy Ya Veremos, the 40-year-old Mexican American actor is joining Mexican comedian Omar Chaparro in the Spanish-language comedy Backseat Driver.

Pantelion Films, 3Pas Studios and Alcon Entertainment are producing the film, which starts production in Mexico next month.

The film also stars Zuria Vega (Mi Marido Tiene Más Familia), Consuelo Duval (Netas Divinas), and Mauricio Barrientos (Qué Culpa Tiene El Niño).

It tells the story of mild mannered Tomás (Ochmann) who flies to Puerto Vallarta to seek revenge against the cabdriver (Chaparro) who has been having an affair with his wife (Vega). The film is a remake of the Filmline-produced Korean-language original Driving With My Wife’s Lover, which was written and directed by Kim Tai-Sik.

The feature is the latest project from Lionsgate label Pantelion and 3Pas Studios’ Eugenio Derbez and Ben Odellfollowing their collaboration on the Overboard redo and How To Be A Latin Lover.

Argentinian filmmaker Ariel Winograd (Sin Hijos) is directing from a screenplay by Paul Fruchbom (The Cool Kids). Derbez and Odell are producing under their 3Pas banner.

“3Pas is committed to supporting amazing creative voices across the U.S. Latinx community and Latin America,” said Odell. “We’re huge fans of Omar and Mauricio. Together, they form an unforgettable comic team under the direction of Ariel Winograd, who has helmed some of the best Spanish-language comedies of the decade.”

Ochmann’s credits include Telemundo’s hit telenovelas El Clon and El Chema.

Eugenio Derbez Renews First-Look Deal with Pantelion Films

Posted on May 3, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a special re-up for Eugenio Derbez…

Following the impressive U.S. box office returns of the 54-year-old Mexican comedian’s English-language debut How to be a Latin Lover, Lionsgate-Televisa joint venture Pantelion Films has renewed its first-look deal with Derbez and producing partner Benjamin Odell’s production company, 3Pas Studios. The companies originally inked a first-look pact in August 2014.

The comedy about a gold-digging Lothario getting his comeuppance stars Derbez, Salma Hayek and a clutch of American actors led by Raquel Welch, Rob Lowe, Rob Corddry, Kristen Bell and Rob Riggle.

Ken Marino’s directorial feature debut grabbed the number two slot at the box office the weekend of April 28, grossing $12 million on just 1,118 screens. Its opening weekend audience was 89% Hispanic.

“It has always been our goal to reach deep into the acculturated Hispanic market,” said Pantelion CEO, Paul Presburger, adding: “I think we also accomplished what we have always wanted to do, which is to start bridging across acculturated Latinos to the general market.”

The deal renewal reflects Lionsgate’s commitment to underserved Hispanic audiences in the U.S. Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer has long been a strong advocate for Pantelion and its initiatives.

“We are really happy to continue our relationship with Pantelion, Lionsgate and Televisa,” said Odell, adding: “They provide us very strong support but allow us a lot of creative freedom as we continue to strengthen the 3pas Brand and expand both into the mainstream and internationally. We couldn’t think of better partners.”

How to be a Latin Lover is Pantelion’s second breakout hit with Derbez after his directorial debut Instructions Not Included, which became the highest-grossing Spanish-language film ever released in the U.S. ($44 million) and the highest-grossing Mexican film in Mexico ($48 million). Televisa’s distribution arm Videocine releases the comedy in Mexico May 5 on more than 3,000 screens. Hayek will be at the premiere Wednesday in Mexico City.

Founded some two years ago by Derbez and former Pantelion executive Ben Odell, 3Pas Studios has a packed slate of comedies in development.

Next out of the gate is Overboard, a remake of Garry Marshall’s ‘80s comedy starring Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell. Comedy is slated to start principal photography May 23 in Vancouver with Anna Faris starring opposite Derbez.

Aside from remakes of French comedy The Valet and Korean comedy Miss Granny and live action comedy Ponce, 3Pas is also producing animated feature La Familia Peluche, based on Derbez’s popular live action TV show that aired on Univision and Televisa.

Pantelion is also collaborating with Televisa and Starz on the series Teresa, based on the popular telenovela, and gearing up for the July launch of the still-unnamed streaming movie service with partners Univision and Hemisphere Media.

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