Alfred Molina to Star in the Apple Original Films’ “The Instigators”

Posted on March 30, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Alfred Molina is an instigator…

The 69-year-old half-Spanish English actor has joined the cast of Apple Original Films’ The Instigators, starring Matt Damon and Casey Affleck.

Molina is among a roster of new cast additions that includes Ving Rhames and Ron Perlman.

The A-list ensemble also includes Hong Chau, Paul Walter Hauser and Michael Stuhlbarg. Doug Liman is directing.

The film follows two thieves who go on the run with the help of one of their therapists after a robbery goes awry. The script was penned by Chuck MacLean and Casey Affleck and was developed by Robinov, Graham and Casey Affleck.

Damon and Ben Affleck are producing through their banner Artists Equity, along with Jeff Robinov and John Graham through Studio 8 and Kevin Walsh through his The Walsh Company.

Molina is coming off reprising role as Doc Ock in Spider-Man: No Way Home and also was seen in the most recent season of FX’s Feud.

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

Posted on February 15, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

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

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.

Alfonso Cuarón Reportedly Working on Horror Television Series

Posted on October 19, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Alfonso Cuarón is ready to bring the drama to television…

The 55-year-old Mexican filmmaker is reportedly working with Anonymous Content on a drama series, which is being pitched to pay cable and streaming outlets, garnering interest from multiple networks, according to Deadline.com.

Cuarón would work with actor Casey Affleck on the project.

Details about the project are being kept under wraps, but it is rumored to be a horror genre series that tracks the origins of a cult.

Cuarón is writing, directing and executive producing; Affleck is starring and executive producing. Anonymous Content, which signed Cuarón earlier this year, is producing.

Cuarón, who won the Best Director Oscar for directing Gravity, has a diverse feature resume that also includes Children of Men, Y Tu Mama Tambien and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

His next movie, Roma, is slated for release next year.

On the television side, Cuarón previously co-created and executive produced the NBC drama series Believe.

Ortiz Lands Roles in “Going In Style” and “A Dog’s Purpose”

Posted on September 10, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

John Ortiz is ending the year with a bang, landing back-to-back film roles…

The 47-year-old Puerto Rican actor, director and producer will first star in New Line Cinema’s upcoming comedy Going In Style, directed by Zach Braff from a script by Theodore Melfi.

Ortiz will portray “Jesus,” a Mensa smart criminal who is socially responsible and deplores society’s treatment of the elderly.

He joins Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine and Alan Arkin, along with Ann-Margret, Peter Serafinowicz, Joey King and Christopher Lloyd, in the remake of the 1979 classic.

Ortiz will then follow up that film with the live action DreamWorks feature A Dog’s Purpose, based on the novel by W. Bruce Cameron.

The film is a series of vignettes directed by Lasse Hallstrom and starring Bradley Cooper (as the voice of the dog), along with Dennis Quaid, Britt Robertson, KJ Apa, Juliet Rylance and Peggy Lipton.

Ortiz stars in his segment as “Carlos”, a stern, all business cop who trains his dog to assist him in solving crime.

Ortiz can next be seen in Disney’s The Finest Hours, starring Chris Pine and Casey Affleck, and directed by Craig Gillespie, as well as Danny Boyle’s Steve Jobs.

He recently wrapped the indie A Woman, A Part starring opposite Maggie Siff and directed by Elisabeth Subrin.

Ortiz Cast in Disney’s “The Finest Hours”

Posted on September 27, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

John Ortiz’s finest hour has arrived…

The 46-year-old Puerto Rican actor, director and producer has joined the cast of Disney’s The Finest Hours, which chronicles the massive rescue mission that’s launched when a pair of oil tankers split in two off the coast of Cape Cod in 1952.

Directed by Craig Gillespie, the film stars Chris Pine and Casey Affleck, as well as Keiynan Lonsdale, Michael Raymond James and Rachel Brosnahan

Seen recently in Fox Searchlight’s The Drop, Ortiz will play A.B. Seaman Wallace Quirey.

His recent credits also include Michael Mann’s upcoming feature Blackhat as well as a recurring role on HBO’s Togetherness.

His other film credits include Carlito’s Way, Miami Vice and American Gangster.

Open Road Films to Release Collins Jr.’s “Triple Nine” in September 2015

Posted on August 28, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

All heist will be on Clifton Collins Jr. next September…

Open Road Films has announced plans to release Triple Nine, starring the 44-year-old Mexican and Spanish American actor, on September 11, 2015.

In addition to Collins Jr., the John Hillcoat-directed heist thriller also stars Casey Affleck, Woody Harrelson, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Kate Winslet, Anthony Mackie, Aaron Paul, Teresa Palmer, Gal Gadot and Norman Reedus.

Triple Nine centers on a crew of dirty cops who are blackmailed by the Russian mob to execute a virtually impossible heist. The only way to pull it off is to manufacture a 999, police code for “officer down.” Their plan is turned upside down when the unsuspecting rookie they set up to die foils the attack, triggering a breakneck, action-packed finale filled with double-crosses, greed and revenge.

Collins, Jr. to Star in John Hillcoat’s Cop Drama “Triple Nine”

Posted on June 12, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Clifton Collins, Jr. is on Cloud Nine, Nine, Nine…

The 43-year-old Mexican and Spanish American actor has joined the cast of John Hillcoat’s cop drama Triple Nine.

Collins, Jr., last seen on the big screen in Guillermo del Toro’s Pacific Rim, joins Woody Harrelson, Casey Affleck, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Kate Winslet in the Matt Cook-scripted drama about a crew of dirty cops who are blackmailed by the Russian mob to execute a virtually impossible heist. The only way to pull it off is to manufacture a 999, police code for “officer down”. Their plan is turned upside down when the unsuspecting rookie they set up to die foils the attack. That triggers double-crosses, greed and revenge.

Triple Nine will begin shooting next month.

Peña to Star in the Heist Thriller “Triple Nine”

Posted on February 6, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Michael Peña is heading back to the force…

The 36-year-old Mexican American actor, who earned a Spirit Award nomination for his performance in the police drama End of Watch, will star in the heist thriller Triple Nine.

Directed by John Hillcoat, the drama centers on a crew of dirty cops that is blackmailed by the Russian mob to execute a virtually impossible heist. The only way to pull it off is to manufacture a 999, police code for “officer down.” Their plan is turned upside down when the unsuspecting rookie officer they set up to die foils the attack, triggering a breakneck, action-packed finale filled with double-crosses, greed and revenge.

In addition to Peña, the film’s all-star cast includes Fruitvale Station’s Michael B. Jordan, Breaking Bad’s Aaron Paul, Warm Bodies’ Teresa Palmer and Gal Gadot, 12 Years A Slave‘s Chiwetel Ejiofor, Casey Affleck and Kate Winslet.

Open Road Films, which just completed a deal to pre-buy domestic distribution rights on Triple Nine, plans to release the film in 2015.

Saldaña to Portray Nina Simone on the Big Screen

Posted on August 15, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Zoë Saldaña will be singing the blues this October…

The 34-year-old half-Dominican/half-Puerto Rican American actress has signed on to star as Nina Simone in a biopic about the legendary singer.

Simone rose to acclaim as a singer-songwriter in the 1950s and became involved in the civil rights movement in the 1960s, even advocating violence. Tax issues forced her to relocate to other countries, including France, where she passed away in 2003.

Entitled Nina, the film’s script was written by Cynthia Mort, who has been attached to direct the film. It’s been in the works for several years, but hadn’t come to fruition due to funding issues. It seems those issues have been resolved, with the movie set t begin production in Los Angeles on October 16.

Mark Burton, Barnaby Thompson, Stuart Parr and Ben Latham Jones are producing.

Saldaña recently wrapped Out of the Furnace, a thriller that also stars Christian Bale and Casey Affleck, as well as the sequel to Star Trek.

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