Ángel Gómez Hernández to Direct the Spider Thriller “Arachnid”

Ángel Gómez Hernández is set to spin a new web

The 35-year-old Spanish filmmaker will direct the spider thriller Arachnid marking the debut feature from new indie genre label Badlands.

Ángel Gómez HernándezMatilda Lutz, Gregg Sulkin, William Mille and Melina Matthews star in the film, shooting overseas.

Gómez Hernández is directing from a script by Jayson Rothwell.

In Arachnid, a man returns from a trip unwittingly harboring a new breed of arachnid. Subsequently, the people in an apartment block are quarantined and left to fend for themselves against a plague of venomous spiders.

Altitude Film Sales is handling international sales, having introduced the project to buyers at Cannes earlier this summer, with CAA Media Finance handling domestic rights.

Gomez Hernandez’s previous credits include The Boogeyman, Voces and The Last Victim.

Adria Arjona to Star Opposite Edgar Ramirez in Jayro Bustamante’s Dystopian Thriller “El Sombreron”

Adria Arjona has landed her next role…

The 32-year-old Guatemalan-Puerto Rican actress will co-star opposite Edgar Ramirez in in Jayro Bustamante’s dystopian thriller El Sombreron as The Match Factory launches worldwide sales on the project in Cannes, with CAA Media Finance representing North America.

Adria ArjonaBustamante, a Guatemalan director, previously made waves with Mayan drama Ixcanul, which premiered in competition in Berlin, winning the Alfred Bauer Prize (since renamed the Silver Bear Jury prize), and war criminal horror La Llorona, which won Best Director and Best Film in Venice’s Giornate degli Autori in 2019.

Arjona will play an ambitious woman trapped in a marriage as the trophy wife of a violent cartel boss. Desperate for liberation, she seizes the opportunity presented by a mysterious stranger (Ramirez), who promises to smuggle her north. However, once on route, she discovers the harrowing truth about her companion and finds herself thrust into a surreal odyssey.

Bustamante’s La Casa de Produccion, Alejandro De Leon and Brian Clark and Sergio Lira and Lynette Coll for Luz Films will serve as producers.

“In El Sombreron, Jayro fuses magical realism, folklore, and horror to vividly evoke the hell that borders create,” said producers. “We could not have asked for two better guides through the inferno than the immensely talented Adria Arjona and Edgar Ramirez.”

Arjona will next be seen starring in Richard Linklater’s Hit Man opposite Glen Powell, which releases in theaters on May 24 and on Netflix June 7. She’ll also be seen in Zoe Kravitz’s directorial debut film Blink Twicewhich hits cinemas on August 23.

Ramirez, who clinched Golden Globes nominations for American Crime Story and Carlos, is in Cannes this year for Jacques Audiard’s Competition title Emilia Perez opposite Zoe Saldana and Selena Gomez. Upcoming projects include Eli Roth’s Borderlands, co-starring Cate Blanchett, and Arenas directed by Camille Perton.

John Leguizamo to Star in the Action Film “Tin Soldier”

John Leguizamo is soldiering forward…

The 61-year-old Colombian actor will star in the action movie Tin Soldier, which begins filming next week in Greece.

John LeguizamoLeguizamo will star opposite Jamie Foxx, Robert De Niro and Scott Eastwood in the project.

Tin Soldier tells the story of The Bokushi (Foxx), who preaches to hundreds of veterans who have been drawn to the promise of protection and purpose under him. Surrounded by his devout military-trained followers, he has built an impenetrable fortress and amassed an arsenal of weapons. After several failed infiltration attempts, the government – in the form of military operative Emmanuel Ashburn (De Niro) – recruits Nash Cavanaugh (Eastwood), an ex-special forces asset, who was once a disciple of The Bokushi. Nash agrees to use his vulnerable past and insider knowledge of the enigmatic leader to finally get revenge on the man who took everything from him, including the love of his life.

WME Independent is handling international sales with CAA Media Finance and WME Independent co-repping North America.

Brad Furman is directing from his script with Jess Fuerst. Unified Pictures’ Keith Kjarval, Current Entertainment’s Steven Chasman and Romulus Entertainment’s Brad Feinstein will produce.

Furman and Fuerst will also produce under their Road Less Traveled Productions banner.

Producers Kjarval and Chasman said: “As longtime friends, working with Brad (Furman) to craft an inspired and clever action film is a dream come true as we have formed a family along the way. Brad and Jess (Fuerst) have written such a powerful screenplay that has allowed us to put together an amazing diverse group of actors. With such incredible talent, this is going to be a wild ride.”

“I am honored to be a part of the team behind such an ambitious, important and deeply personal work in Tin Soldier,” Furman said. “With awe-inspiring settings and set pieces built for the big screen, this is an original story about struggle, sacrifice and the power of love and acceptance. To collaborate with a cast of this caliber is beyond humbling. The individual inspiration they have brought to each role is like nothing I have seen before. This has been an exciting journey and my hope is the film is even more exciting for audiences around the world.”

Karla Sofia Gascón to Star in Jacques Audiard’s Comedy “Emilia Perez”

Karla Sofia Gascón has landed an aunt-tastic role…

The 50-year-old Spanish transgender actress will star in director Jacques Audiard comedy Emilia Perez, with talks underway with Selena Gomez and Zoe Saldana.

Karla Sofia GascónThe project, which is creating buzz in the Cannes market, is a musical comedy about an El Chapo-type fugitive who can’t get away from the law, so has a sex change.

Ten years later she misses her children immensely and returns as their aunt.

Library Pictures International is financing the film, and The Veterans will be selling international rights to the film along with CAA Media Finance, which is also selling North American territories.

Gascón is an up and coming Spanish trans actress who has emerged as one to watch and should stand out in this musical comedy along the lines of Mrs. Doubtfire.

AGC Studios to Fully Finance Andres Baiz’s Thriller Panopticon, Starring Shailene Woodley

Andres Baiz’s latest film is moving forward…

AGC Studios has announced plans to fully finance Panopticon, the 46-year-old Colombian film director’s thriller.

Andres Baiz

The film is set to star Shailene WoodleyAnthony Mackie and Jacob Latimore.

Scott Free and AGC are producing, with AGC International and CAA Media Finance launching worldwide sales.

Baiz’s film will shoot in New Mexico this summer.

In the Emily Jerome-scripted thriller, Woodley plays Chase, an ambitious young Wall Street trader who seizes upon a hot investment opportunity in PCC Correctional, a private prison group racking up huge profits. She soon uncovers an operation rife with violence and malfeasance. Forced to choose between profiting from a gold mine career opportunity and doing the right thing, Chase teams up with a local prison guard (Mackie) to take on a culture of corrupt boardrooms, white supremacists, prison gangs and crooked correctional officers, to break apart the system that’s made her a rising star.

Baiz has been directing episodes of Netflix’s Narcos and Narcos: Mexico.

Zoe Saldana to Star in the Olympic-Themed Drama “Fencer”

Zoe Saldana is en garde for her next project…

The 41-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican American actress is set to star in writer-director Jasmine McGlade’s drama Fencer, which

Zoe Saldaña

HanWay Films will sell at the European Film Market (EFM).

Set in the competitive world of fencing, Saldana is attached to play Mae, an ambitious female athlete facing personal demons and childhood rivals as she vies for a spot on the U.S. Olympicteam. 

The film is inspired by McGlade’s own experiences as a national champion fencer. McGlade capped her tenure at Harvardby leading her team to the school’s first-ever NCAA Championshiptitle.

Casey Affleck is producing with Whitaker Lader

Imagine Entertainmentwill executive produce. UTA Independent Film Group and CAA Media Financeare co-repping the U.S.

McGlade commented, “As a writer and filmmaker I seek to tell brazen, character-driven stories about people who are flawed, and thus real. Especially women. Characters who are their own worst enemies and yet incredibly resilient. Fencer is a celebration of perseverance and sacrifice, while also a cautionary tale about the dangers of getting one’s sense of worth and security solely through achievement and external validation. Fencer will provide one of the screen’s first realistic glimpses into the thrilling world of fencing, much more demanding and diverse than stereotypes may suggest, and an intimate and intense look into the minds and lives of female athletes. It is a dream come true to get to work with Zoe on Fencer, and to marry my two greatest passions: filmmaking and fencing.”

Saldana’s credits include the Star Trek franchise, the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, Avatar and its upcoming sequels, and Colombiana.