Disney & Pixar Release Trailer for Animated Film “Elio,” Featuring America Ferrera

Posted on June 13, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

America Ferrera is getting animated…

Disney and Pixar have released the first teaser for Elio, featuring the 39-year-old Honduran American award-winning actress as part of the voice cast.

In addition to Ferrera, the voice cast of Pixar Animation’s 28th animated feature will also include up-and-comer Yonas Kibreab, Jameela Jamil and Brad Garrett.

Directed by Adrian Molina, the co-director and writer of Pixar’s Coco, Elio introduces viewers to Kibreab’s character of the same name. An underdog with an active imagination, Elio finds himself inadvertently beamed up to the Communiverse, an interplanetary organization with representatives from galaxies far and wide.

Mistakenly identified as Earth’s ambassador to the rest of the universe, and completely unprepared for that kind of pressure, Elio must form new bonds with eccentric alien life forms, survive a series of formidable trials and somehow discover who he is truly meant to be.

Ferrera voices Elio’s mom, Olga, with Jamil as Ambassador Questa and Garrett as Ambassador Grigon.

Produced by Mary Alice Drumm, who associate produced Coco, the film is set for release in theaters on March 1, 2024.

Gael García Bernal Starring in the Hitchcockian Thriller “Holland, Michigan”

Posted on February 6, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Gael García Bernal is headed to the Midwest…

The 44-year-old Mexican Golden Globe-winning actor/director will star opposite Nicole Kidman and Matthew Macfadyen in the Hitchcockian thriller Holland, Michigan.

From Prime Video, the film will be directed by Mimi Cave.

While Holland, Michigan is said to concern secrets that lurk beneath a Midwestern town, specifics as to the plot of the film scripted by Andrew Sodroski are under wraps.

Blossom Films’ Kidman and Per Saari are producing alongside Pacific View Management & Productions’ Peter Dealbert, and Churchill Films’ Kate Churchill.

The film will stream in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

Garcia Bernal is known for his performances in the films Bad Education, The Motorcycle Diaries, Amores perros, Y tu mamá también, Babel, Coco and Old.

He won a Golden Globe for his role as Rodrigo de Souza in the series Mozart in the Jungle.

America Ferrera to Star in Disney/Pixar’s Intergalactic Animated Film “Elio”

Posted on September 11, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

America Ferrera is getting animated…

The 38-year-old Honduran American actress will star in Disney & Pixar’s new animated film, Elio.

Elio centers on an 11-year-old boy who finds himself transported across the galaxy and is mistaken for the intergalactic Ambassador for our Planet Earth.

Yonas Kibreab stars as Elio, with Ferrera as his mom, Olga Solis.

“Olga is super-confident, smart and can hold her own in any situation,” the Superstore and Ugly Betty alum says. “She’s a character who speaks to me in so many ways as a mother. And of course, with my advanced mathematical degree, I can finally put it to use. Don’t Google it.”

The film is directed by Annie Award-winning Coco co-helmer and screenwriter Adrian Molina and produced by Mary Alice Drumm.

Elio is set to hit theaters in Spring 2024.

https://twitter.com/Pixar/status/1568391606654627840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1568391606654627840%7Ctwgr%5E1faca911a59bbdcf322882f312ef9d8f548ec078%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fdeadline.com%2F2022%2F09%2Felio-pixar-movie-america-ferrera-yonas-kibreab-adrian-molina-1235113672%2F

Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias to Produce & Lead the Cast of Netflix’s Animated Feature “I, Chihuahua”

Posted on March 23, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias is luchando…

The 45-year-old Mexican American stand-up comedian and actor will produce and lead the voice cast of Netflix’s animated feature I, Chihuahua.

The project will be Maya and the Three creator Jorge Gutiérrez’s first animated feature for Netflix.

Written by Gutiérrez, Doug Landale and Candie Kelty Langdale, I, Chihuahua is billed as the ultimate underdog tale of Chacho, a scrappy masked Luchador Chihuahua, who embarks on a hilarious and action-packed journey around the world to fight for his family. After learning his beloved home is in danger, Chacho dons a Lucha Libre mask to become Luchacho. Our masked underdog then enters an international fight tournament, competing against a hilarious and eclectic mix of animal fighters from all over the world, in the lead-up to a final, epic fight against the nefarious beast known as Chamuco, The Widow Maker. Iglesias will produce alongside Tim Yoon.

“I cannot wait for everyone to see this wonderful film that celebrates underdogs in and out of the ring! It has action, drama, laughs and twists & turns, like any great Lucha storyline movie should have,” said Iglesias. “When I first had the idea of a Lucha Libre cartoon, there was no one else I wanted to partner with other than Jorge Gutierrez. He has a brilliant mind that can expand this story in unimaginable ways.”

“After The Book of Life and the amazing experience on Maya and the Three, I’m now thrilled to collaborate with [VP Animated Films] Melissa [Cobb], [VP Animated Films] Gregg [Taylor], [Director of Animated Films] Tito [Ortiz] and all my friends at Netflix Animation on my follow up animated feature: I, Chihuahua! And to finally tag team a movie with my good friend and creative partner Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias is a dream come true!” added Gutiérrez. “Our internationally epic and heartfelt film will be a hilarious love letter to Lucha Libre (Mexican wrestling) movies, fighting video games and underdog sports films. I don’t want to overpromise, but this will be the greatest masked Chihuahua film ever made! What a time to be alive!”

Iglesias is one of America’s most successful stand-up comedians, performing to sold-out concerts around the world, and is also one of the most watched comedians on YouTube, with almost a billion views and more than 25 million fans across social media.

He is currently on his Gabriel “Fluffy” Back On Tour and will make history from May 6-7, as he’s the first comedian to perform at Dodger Stadium.

Iglesias previously collaborated with Gutiérrez as part of the cast of both The Book of Life and Maya and the Three and has also featured in such series as Disney+’s Monsters at Work and ABC’s Cristela, while leading his own Netflix sitcom, Mr. Iglesias.

He has also lent his voice to animated (or partially animated) films including Space Jam: A New Legacy, UglyDolls, Ferdinand, The Star, Coco, The Nut Job and The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature, Smurfs: The Lost Village and Norm of the North. Additional film credits include Magic Mike, Magic Mike XXL and A Haunted House 2.

Gutiérrez is an Emmy– and Annie Award-winning animator, painter, voice actor, writer and director whose Mesoamerican fantasy series Maya and the Three debuted on Netflix last year. That series won two Annie Awards upon its premiere, including the prize for Best Children’s TV/Media, with Gutiérrez moving to expand his relationship with the streamer, in writing, directing and producing new animated films, series and interactive projects across preschool, kids & family and adult animation.

Born in Mexico City and raised in Tijuana, the CalArts graduate has completed various films, cartoons, and paintings exploring his love affair with Mexican pop and folk culture. He was the director and co-writer of the Guillermo del Toro-produced animated feature The Book of Life for Fox, which earned him a 2014 Golden Globe nomination, and was also the writer-director behind the Emmy-nominated VR short Son of Jaguar for Google. Gutiérrez also created the multiple Emmy Award–winning animated series El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera for Nickelodeon, alongside his wife, Sandra Equihua.

Jaime Camil Signs First Look Deal with Paramount’s VIS for Paramount+ TV & Film Projects

Posted on March 10, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Jaime Camil is getting a first look…

The 48-year-old Mexican actor/singer and Jane the Virgin scene-stealer has signed a first look deal with VIS, a division of Paramount, to develop a variety of television and film projects for Paramount+.

Under the terms of the agreement, he’ll create, develop and produce exclusive Spanish language and majority-Spanish language scripted and non-scripted content for the streaming service.

“We are excited to welcome Jaime Camil to our roster of global talent working to bring the best premium content to Paramount+,” said JC Acosta, President of International Studios & Networks Southern Europe, Latin America, Middle East & Africa, in an exclusive statement to Deadline. “With Jaime’s experience and creative focus, we are confident that he’ll bring the best Spanish-language content to Paramount+ that resonates with our audiences around the world.”

Added Camil, “Paramount is home to some of the most beloved and iconic films and television shows of all time. I am thrilled and humbled to join their family. Throughout history, stories have been one of the most potent drivers of society and culture. Storytelling generates empathy and it imparts wisdom through characters in place of lived experience.

“Additionally, through the prism of art, story allows us to contextualize and also see a deeper beauty within our own lives,” he continued. “I look forward to developing and producing meaningful stories with the amazing team at Paramount. I can’t wait to show the world what we have in store.”

Before making a splash in the English-language market as Rogelio de la Vega on the CW’s Jane the Virgin, Camil was already a bona fide star in Latin America.

While working on Jane the Virgin and after the show concluded in 2019, he worked as a voice actor in multiple films including Coco, Hotel Transylvania 3, and The Secret Life of Pets and The Secret Life of Pets 2; and on the small screen: Elena of Avalor, DuckTales, BoJack Horseman, and Green Eggs and Ham.

Camil most recently starred as Doc Jorge Lopez in the Apple TV+ comedy Schmigadoon! and the Steven Soderbergh feature Kimi released in February via HBO Max.

He is currently shooting the Vicente Fernandez biopic The Idol of the People in the titular role. The Caracol TV production will be released exclusively on Netflix domestically.

Alanna Ubach to Appear on Season 2 of HBO Max’s “The Flight Attendant”

Posted on November 12, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Alanna Ubach is taking Flight…

The 46-year-old Puerto Rican and Mexican American actress will appear on Season 2 of HBO Max’s critically acclaimed series The Flight Attendant as a recurring guest star.

Ubach will appear in the new season—which is currently in production—alongside returning series regulars Kaley Cuoco, Zosia Mamet, Griffin Matthews, Deniz Akdeniz and Rosie Perez; new series regulars Mo McRae, Callie Hernandez and JJ Soria; returning recurring guest stars T.R. Knight, Yasha Jackson and Audrey Grace Marshall; and new recurring guest stars Cheryl Hines, Jessie Ennis, Mae Martin, Margaret Cho, Santiago Cabrera and Shohreh Aghdashloo.

The Max Original, based on Chris Bohjalian’s 2018 novel of the same name, centers on Cassie Bowden (Cuoco), a reckless flight attendant with an alcohol problem who in Season 1, wakes up in the wrong hotel, in the wrong bed, with a dead man—and no idea what happened.

Season 2 finds Cassie living her best sober life in Los Angeles while moonlighting as a CIA asset in her spare time. But when an overseas assignment leads her to inadvertently witness a murder, she becomes entangled in another international brouhaha.

Ubach will play Carol Atkinson, also known as Black Market Carol, a perfectly groomed, icy flight attendant who is not a fan of Cassie.

Ubach is best known for her work in the Legally Blonde films, along with her turn as Mamá Imelda in Disney/Pixar’s Coco, and as Jo Hernandez-Frumpkis in the Bravo series Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce.

She recurs opposite Kate Beckinsale on the Paramount+ series Guilty Party, and will return for the sophomore seasons of Disney+’s Monsters at Work, HBO’s Euphoria, and Hulu’s Crossing Swords.

The actress has also appeared in Netflix’s Maya and the Three, Fox’s Filthy Rich, FX’s Snowfall, AMC’s Dietland, Amazon’s Hand of God, Showtime’s Californication and HBO’s Hung, among others.

Additional film credits include Bombshell, Gloria Bell, To the Bone, Bad Teacher, Rango, Waiting… and its sequel Still Waiting… and Clockwatchers.

Renée Victor to Appear on Gloria Calderón Kellett’s Amazon Series “With Love”

Posted on August 22, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Renée Victor is embracing the love…

The 68-year-old Latina actress will appear in a recurring role alongside veteran character actor Pepe Serna in With Love, Amazon’s one-hour romantic comedy series from Gloria Calderón Kellett, her GloNation Studios and Amazon Studios.

Victor and Serna will appear opposite Emeraude Toubia and Mark Indelicato on the series.

Created and written by Calderón Kellett, With Love follows the Diaz siblings, Lily (Toubia) and Jorge (Indelicato), who are on a mission to find love and purpose. The Diaz siblings cross paths with seemingly unrelated residents during some of the most heightened days of the year — the holidays.

Victor will play Marta Delgado, grandmother to Lily, Jorge and Sol and married to Luis (Serna). She wants to know everything about everybody in the family and while she’s very accepting she is uncompromising about church attendance.

Serna’s Luis Delgado, is Marta’s husband and grandfather to Lily, Jorge and Sol. He’s the founder of the family’s Mexican restaurant, Casa based on his mother’s recipes. Still very attracted to his beautiful wife, Marta.

The series, which falls under One Day at a Time creator Calderón Kellett’s overall deal with Amazon, had been fast-tracked since the pitch stage with the goal to launch it during the 2021 holiday season.

All episodes will be written and executive produced by Calderón Kellet. The pilot will be directed and executive produced by Meera Menon. With Love is produced by Kellett’s production company, GloNation and Amazon Studios.

Known for her role as the wisecracking Lupita in Weeds, Victor also recurs Flo Gutierrez on Netflix’s Dead To Me. She’s also known as the voice of Abuelita in the Oscar-winning animated feature Coco.

Over a nearly 50-year career, Serna’s film credits include Scarface, American Me, Car Wash, The Black Dahlia, Downsizing and The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez, among many others. His recent television work includes guest/recurring roles on Criminal Minds and Kingpin.

Alanna Ubach to Star in Paramount+’s Dark Comedy Series “Guilty Party”

Posted on March 1, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Alanna Ubach is joining the party…

The 45-year-old Puerto Rican and Mexican-American actress has been cast as a series regular opposite Kate Beckinsale in Guilty Party, Paramount+’s half-hour dark comedy from Funny or Die.

In addition to Ubach and Beckinsale, the series also stars Geoff Stults, newcomer Jules Latimer, Tiya Sircar, Laurie Davidson and Andre Hyland.

Written by Rebecca Addelman and to be directed by Trent O’Donnell, Guilty Party stars Beckinsale as Beth Baker, a discredited journalist desperate to salvage her career by latching on to the story of a young mother sentenced to life in prison for maiming and murdering her husband — crimes she claims she didn’t commit. In trying to uncover the truth, Beth finds herself in over her head as she contends with Colorado gun smugglers, clickbait culture, the doldrums of marriage and her own tarnished past.

Ubach will portray Tessa. This news anchor was lapped by Beth when they started out as young reporters. Now, Tessa’s a “chief crime correspondent” who is quickly moving upwards with Beth fading in her rearview.

Ubach can currently be heard on Hulu’s Crossing Swords opposite Nicholas Hoult and received rave reviews for her turn as Jeanine Pirro in Bombshell.

Her other credits include Coco, Legally Blonde, Meet the Fockers and Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce.

CIC Media Teams Up with Frida Kahlo Corporation & Carlos Baute to Develop Drama Series About Iconic Mexican Artist

Posted on January 21, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Frida Kahlo’s life story is headed to the small screen…

CIC Media is partnering with the Frida Kahlo Corporation and Venezuelan composer/singer Carlos Baute to create a drama series following the life of the iconic Mexican artist who has influenced, inspired and had a significant impact on the Latinx diaspora, the art world, feminism and culture as a whole.

The writing team of Joel Novoa and Marilu Godinez are set to create the series. Novoa is attached to direct.

The partnership will create a slate of content to celebrate the life of Frida Kahlo in different genres.

Novoa and Godinez said that they are developing a “high concept series” that’ll blend the new wave of international content with their experience in the American studio system.

“The idea is to talk about what the books don’t,” said the writing duo in a joint statement. “The subtext behind each painting, the richness of Mexico’s 20th century and the revolution. Themes that are incredibly relevant at this unprecedented time.”

“We are currently developing and writing the basis of the series and expect to be ready to present the project in the upcoming weeks. Joel and Marilu are doing a superb job,” said Marlon Quintero, CIC Media’s Managing Director and project leader. “Working with the Frida Kahlo Corporation has been phenomenal, it has given us the ultimate blessing to work on what we can call the one and only official series about the iconic artist”.

Carlos Dorado of the Frida Kahlo Corporation added, “Frida Kahlo Corporation is always looking for talented people who know how to exalt the life of an icon like Frida Kahlo. In this case the professional team that has been formed is distinguished by its great professionalism, experience and most importantly the sensitivity to be able to approach a project as important and transcendental as Frida Kahlo. This high professional team will always have the support of Frida Kahlo Corporation”.

The team expects to start production of the series during the second half of 2021. A studio has already shown interest and the presentation of the project to the market is expected to occur in February.

This collaboration also marks the first fiction venture for Baute, who said, “Since Carlos Dorado told me about his newly acquired brand, I was mesmerized by all the possibilities in terms of music, theatre and content. It then took a few seconds to push this possibility through when I spoke to Marlon a couple of years ago and from there, we started working together on this incredible project.”

He continued, “Today we are about to turn the dream of three into a reality for millions of people through this historic project. I am very excited to create music to dress and accompany the story of the great Frida Kahlo, a character that I am sure millions of people want to know more about”

This will mark the first drama series focusing on Kahlo in recent history. In 2002, Julie Taymor directed Frida starring Salma Hayek, who also co-produced the film. Frida was based on the biography written by Hayden Herrera. It went on to earn six Oscar nominations, winning for Best Makeup and Best Original Score. More recently, Kahlo was voiced by Natalia Cordova-Buckley in the Oscar-winning Pixar pic Coco.

In May, Deadline exclusively reported that Kartemquin Films selected Reveca Torres’ Tres Fridas as one of two projects for the inaugural Hulu/Kartemquin Accelerator Program for filmmakers of color. The film follows two artists paralyzed by spinal injuries. The two discover a shared connection to Mexican painter Frida Kahlo and decide to recreate her painting, “Dos Fridas,” using themselves as models.

Christina Aguilera to Perform on ABC’s “The Disney Family Singalong: Volume II” Special

Posted on May 7, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Christina Aguilerais returning for more Disney family fun…

The 39-year-old half-Ecuadorian American singer has been added to the roster of performers for this weekend’s The Disney Family Singalong: Volume II, the ABC special airing on Mother’s Day.

Aguilera, who was a member of The Mickey Mouse Club, appeared on the first edition of the Disney family singalong last month. She performed “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from The Lion King.

This time around, Xtinawill perform “Remember Me” alongside Miguel, who originally performed the track from Coco.

In addition to Aguilera, other new additions include

Katy Perry, John Legend, Jennifer Hudson, the Muppets, Tituss Burgess, Sabrina Carpenter, Lang Langand pros from Dancing with the Stars.

The special will air on Sunday, May 10, at 7:00 pm EDT.

Here’s the lineup for The Disney Family Singalong: Volume II,for which the Muppets will do a curtain-raiser and Burgess will provide a vocal warmup:

“A Whole New World” – Idina Menzel and Ben Platt
“Almost There” – Chloe x Halle and Anika Noni Rose
“Baby Mine” – Katy Perry
“Beauty and the Beast” – John Legend and Jennifer Hudson
“Hakuna Matata” – Seth Rogen and Billy Eichner feat. Donald Glover and Walter Russell III
“Part of Your World” – Halsey
“Poor Unfortunate Souls” – Rebel Wilson
“Remember Me” – Miguel feat. Christina Aguilera
“Step in Time” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” – Derek Hough, Julianne Hough and Hayley Erbert
“Try Everything” – Shakira
“When I Am Older” – Josh Gad
“You’ll Be in My Heart” – Disney on Broadway stars Merle Dandridge, Heather Headley, Adam Jacobs, Caissie Levy, Kara Lindsay, Kevin Massey and Josh Strickland
“Your Mother and Mine” – Sabrina Carpenter feat. Lang Lang
“Zero to Hero” – Keke Palmer feat. “Dancing with the Stars” Pros Lindsay Arnold, Alan Bersten, Witney Carson, Val Chmerkovskiy, Jenna Johnson, Sasha Farber and Emma Slater

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