Eva Longoria to Appear on Season Four of Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building”

Eva Longoria is entering the building…

The 48-year-old Mexican American actress, who recently made her feature film directorial debut with Flamin’ Hot, has been cast in Hulu‘s Only Murders in the Building Season 4 in a recurring role.

Eva LongoriaDetails regarding the new season’s plot and character descriptions remain under wraps. However, new episodes will reportedly focus on unraveling the murder of Sazz Pataki (Jane Lynch), Charles-Haden Savage’s (Steve Martin) mind-bogglingly identical stunt double from his years on the series Brazzos and its 2020 revival.

Disney Television Group President Craig Erwich revealed in a recent Deadline interview that the Only Murders In the Building trio: Charles, Oliver (Martin Short) and Mabel (Selena Gomez), will kick off the new season with a trip to Los Angeles before returning to The Arconia in their search of Sazz’s killer.

Longoria’s character becomes integral to the twists and turns of this season’s investigation, sources close to production reveal.

She joins Molly Shannon, the first new cast member announced for Season 4, in the role of a high-powered LA businesswoman who finds herself drawn into the world of the investigation in New York.

Meryl Streep recently set her Season 4 return reprising the role of Loretta Durkin.

In the Season 3 finale—following her highly praised performance in Oliver’s Broadway hit Death Rattle Dazzle— Loretta received two offers in productions that would require her to relocate to Los Angeles. Her new beau Oliver is into this idea as it would allow him to visit the City of Angels. Mabel’s new love interest Tobert (Jesse Williams) is also headed west, and surprisingly, she’s also keen on taking a little break from New York.

The Emmy-nominated comedy, produced by 20th Television, is co-created and co-written by Steve Martin and John Hoffman who also executive produce alongside Short, Gomez, Dan Fogelman and Jess Rosenthal.

Longoria recently kicked off promotions for her new Apple TV+ series Land of Women in which she executive produces and stars opposite Carmen Maura. The six-episode dramedy series is inspired by Sandra Barneda’s best-selling novel of the same name and will be presented in both Spanish and English.

In addition to her work directing, acting and producing through her production company UnbeliEVAble Entertainment, Longoria partnered last fall with Cris Abrego to form the new media holding company and premium content studio, Hyphenate Media Group. Land of Women is the company’s first project.

Up next, she is set to star in Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Longoria will also produce and star in the TV adaptation of Isabel Allende’s bestselling novel The House of the Spirits for FilmNation Entertainment. The series is a family saga following the extraordinary lives of three generations of women in the Trueba Family, Longoria will portray Blanca Trueba, one of the passionate and courageous women leaders.

Other upcoming projects include the Disney+ original series, from 20th Television, Paola Santiago and the River of Tears, currently in development. The series is inspired by the legend of La Llorona (the weeping woman) and follows teenage Paola on a quest to save her best friend from a different world steeped in Latin folklore that defies logic and legend; and the HBO film A Class Apart, which tells the incredible true story of a group of Mexican Americans fighting for their civil rights during a landmark case that leads to the Supreme Court.

Santiago Cabrera to Star Opposite Eva Longoria in Apple TV+’s Upcoming Series “Land of Women”

Santiago Cabrera is headed to a land of women

The 44-year-old Chilean-British actor will star opposite Eva Longoria in Apple TV+’s upcoming series Land of Women.

Santiago CabreraCabrera, who has been cast as a series regular, is part of a list of cast newcomers that includes Amaury Nolasco as a recurring guest and Gloria Muñoz and newcomer Victoria Bazua as series regulars.

Production is currently underway in Spain.

Nolasco will play Kevin, the trainee hitman after Gala (Longoria) and her family. Excessively worried about his physique and his number of followers on social media, he holds just enough malice for the job.

Cabrera will play Amat, who has lived in La Muga for only a couple of years. While he likes to keep to himself, he has a heart of gold and has quickly earned the affection of the townsfolk… and perhaps even Gala’s. He spends most of his time among the vines and in the little winery that he shares with the village co-op.

Muñoz will play Mariona, Julia’s (Carmen Maura) estranged sister. Though childhood best friends, Mariona never understood why Julia left town and never forgave her for not even writing a word. Mariona is full of hurt and resentment until Julia walks back into her life like a wake-up call.

Bazua will play Kate, Gala’s teenage daughter enjoying her freedom at boarding school far from her overbearing mom. That is until she is bamboozled into joining a “girls’ trip” only to discover her family is now on the run. Sardonic and bold, she has inherited her grandmother’s rather dark sense of humor. Though sometimes this is just a facade to hide her insecurities.

Land of Women, a new dramedy inspired by Sandra Barneda’s best-selling novel of the same name, tells the story of Gala, a New York empty nester forced to flee her home after her husband implicates the family in financial improprieties. Joining her on the journey are her aging mother Julia (Maura) and her teen daughter.

The three women escape the criminals her now-vanished husband is indebted to by moving to the same charming wine town in Northern Spain that Gala’s mother fled 50 years ago, vowing never to return. Starting over with new identities proves complicated while living in a small town where secrets tend to unravel quite easily.

Land of Women is written and created by Ramón Campos and Gema R. Neira.

Longoria serves as executive producer via her UnbeliEVAble Entertainment banner alongside showrunner Campos; Teresa Fernández-Valdés, and Ben Spector.

Carlos Sedes will direct the series, which will be shot in both English and Spanish. Bambu Studios produces.

Gina Rodriguez to Star In & Executive Produce TV Adaptation of Pedro Almodovar’s Classic Film “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown”

Gina Rodriguez is on the verge of a breakdown

Apple has put in development a television series adaptation of Pedro Almodovar’s classic 1988 black comedy Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, with the 37-year-old Puerto Rican Golden Globe winning actress and former Jane The Virgin star set to star in and executive produce the series.

Gina RodriguezThe project hails from Almodovar’s El Deseo banner, Rodiguez’s I Can and I Will Productions, 3Pas Studios and Lionsgate Television. Noelle Valdivia will pen the series adaptation.

Rodriguez will play Pepa in the potential series, the role played by Carmen Maura in the film, which would feature a mix of English and Spanish, sources tell Deadline.

Almodovar will executive produce for El Deseo, along with Rodriguez and Molly Breeskin for Rodriguez’s I Can and I Will Productions. 3Pas Studios’ Eugenio Derbez and Ben Odell will also executive produce, Sonia Gambaro will co-produce.

The series is produced by Lionsgate Television, where Derbez is under an overall deal.

The 1988 film, starring Maura and Antonio Banderas, brought Almodóvar widespread international attention following its debut at the 45th International Venice Film Festival. It received a Best Foreign Language Film Oscar nomination and won five Goya Awards including Best Film and Best Actress in a Leading Role for Maura.

Gravitas Ventures Acquires Rights to Paz Vega’s Coming of Age Film “Chasing Wonders”

The wonders of Paz Vega will be heading to U.S. theaters…

Arclight Films’ Chasing Wonders, starring the 45-year-old Spanish actress, has locked North American distribution with Gravitas.

Paz Vega

Directed by Paul Meins, the coming of age film will have a theatrical and on-demand release on June 4. Arclight is handling global sales for the film.

Set in the lush wine country landscapes of Australia and Spain, the heart-warming tale follows 12-year-old Savino, who, encouraged by his maternal grandfather to live a life of hope and possibility, takes off on the adventure of a lifetime to find the magical Emu Plains. His journey leads him to the heart of the human condition – learning to understand our parents’ past but not to be defined by it.

In addition to Vega, the film also stars Oscar nominee Edward James Olmos, Quim Gutierrez, Carmen Maura, Goya Award-winner Antonio de la Torre, Australia’s Jessica Marais, and making his feature film debut, Michael Crisafulli as Savino.

Australian award-winning screenwriter Judy Morris wrote the screenplay, which was shot over a five-year period.

Chasing Wonders made its World Premiere at the Adelaide Film Festival last year and has been selected for the Gold Coast Film Festival, where it will screen on April 18 and 22.

Chasing Wonders is an uplifting story of familial love and loss and a powerful exploration of the path to understanding and acceptance. This heartwarming film with top international stars and spectacular landscapes is exactly what audiences yearn for. We are thrilled to have our longtime trusted partners at Gravitas Ventures bringing the film to North American audiences and are certain that their team will make this beautiful film shine bright,” said Arclight Films Chairman Gary Hamilton.

“With an ensemble that includes veteran screen icons alongside exciting new talent, the filmmakers craft an inspiring coming of age story on a canvas of breathtaking vistas across multiple continents. We look forward to North American audiences taking the journey,” said Tony Piantedosi, VP of Acquisitions at Gravitas Ventures.

Hianlo Films presents Chasing Wonders in association with the South Australian Film Corporation, a Met Film and SLA Films production.

Almodóvar to Serve as Jury President at This Year’s Cannes Film Festival

Pedro Almodóvar is taking a special role at this year’s Cannes Film Festival

The 67-year-old Spanish film director, screenwriter, producer has been named the next President of the Jury for the 70th edition of the festival in May.

Pedro Almodovar

“I am very happy to be able to celebrate Cannes Film Festival[‘s] 70th anniversary from such a privileged position,” said Almodóvar in a statement. “I am grateful, honoured and bit overwhelmed. I am aware of the responsibility that entails being the president of the jury and I hope to be up to the job. I can only tell that I’ll devote myself, body and soul to this task, that it is both a privilege and a pleasure.”

Almodóvar has a film career that spans across 35 years and his 20 films range from From Pepi, Luci, Born to La Mancha to last year’s Julieta

He’s worked with a range of actors including Penélope Cruz, Marisa Paredes, Antonio Banderas, Rossy de Palma, Javier Bardem, Javier Cámara, Carmen Maura and Victoria Abril.

Five of his films – All About My Mother, Volver, Broken EmbracesThe Skin I Live In and Julieta – have been selected In Competition in Cannes. Bad Education opened the fest in 2004 while the director himself featured on the poster of the 60th festival.

“For its 70th edition, the Festival de Cannes is delighted to welcome a unique and hugely popular artist,” said the President of the Festival, Pierre Lescure and Delegate-General Thierry Frémaux. “A long and loyal friendship binds Pedor Almodóvar to the festival, where he was member of the jury under the presidency of Gérard Depardieu.”

The Cannes Film Festival runs May 17-28.