Esai Morales to Star in DC’s “Titans” Series

Esai Morales has landed a Titan-ic role…

The 56-year-old Puerto Rican actor has been cast in the series Titans.

Esai Morales

He’ll portray Deathstroke, the fan-favorite assassin and archenemy of Teen Titans leader Dick Grayson.

The Titans, the first original programming franchise for the DC Universe subscription steaming site, launched in September and finished its first season in December. The weekly show follows the superhero squad that’s led by Batman’s former sidekick, Robin, aka Dick Grayson (Brenton Thwaites), and includes the hot-tempered alien princess Starfire (Anna Diop), the mysterious empath Raven (Teagan Croft), and the green-skinned shape-shifter Beast Boy (Ryan Potter).

That Titans line-up of characters was introduced with much fanfare in the pages of DC Comicsback in 1980. The team, created by Marv Wolfmanand George Perez, didn’t have to wait long to find their signature antagonist: Deathstroke the Terminatorwas introduced in issue No. 2 of The New Teen Titans in December 1980.

The character bio from the show’s producers: “Slade Wilson is known for being DC’s deadliest assassin. While serving his country, Slade became an elite soldier before government testing enhanced his physiology to near superhuman levels, putting him on a path of darkness and revenge. To his family, Slade is a father and husband, but to the rest of the world, he is feared by many as the infamous Deathstroke; selling his services to the highest bidder as the ruthless assassin that never gives up and never misses.”

The character is well known to fans of the popular Teen Titans animated series from Cartoon Network as well as the show’s 2018 tie-in feature film Teen Titans Go! to the MoviesDeathstrokehas also been portrayed by Manu Bennett in 36 episodes of The CWseries Arrow while Joe Manganiello (True Blood) appeared as the assassin in the 2017 feature film Justice League but only with an uncredited cameo.

The DC Comics character represents an interesting footnote in Marvel Comicshistory. The character Deadpool, portrayed by Ryan Reynoldsin the popular R-rated Foxfilm franchise, was created by Fabian Niciezaand Rob Liefeldin 1990 as a thinly disguised version of the DC villain. Not only do the characters share similar costumes, Deadpool’s alias is Wade Wilson, which in fact rhymes with Slade Wilson.

Adding a bit more confusion, both Deadpool and Deathstroke have similar attributes to Deadshot, a DC Comics villain introduced in the 1970s and portrayed by Will Smithon the big screen in Suicide Squad in 2016.

Morales, rose to acclaim in his feature film breakthrough role as Bob Morales in Taylor Hackford’s La Bamba, the landmark 1985 biopic about Ritchie Valens.

Morales’ feature film credits include Bad BoysMi FamiliaFast Food NationThe LineThe Disappearance of Garcia Lorcaand Gun Hill Road, a film he executive produced and starred in. Gun Hill Road was a grand Jury Nominee at the Sundance Film Festivalin 2011. Most recently he starred in Sony’s Superfly and the indie film The Wall of Mexico.

Morales’ recent television credits include Ozark (Netflix), Mozart In The Jungle (Amazon Prime), Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO), and Chicago PD (NBC). Morales also had notable credits over the years on shows such as NYPD Blue (ABC), Miami Vice (NBC), Fame (NBC) Law and Order: SVU (NBC), Caprica (Syfy), and Criminal Minds (CBS).

Penelope Cruz Earns First Primetime Emmy Awards Nomination

Penelope Cruz will be making a big appearance at this year’s Primetime Emmy Awards

The Spanish actress, the winner of anOscar for her performance in Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona, has earned her first Emmy nomination.

Penelope Cruz

Cruz earned the nod in the Supporting Actress, Limited Series or a Movie category for her performance as Italian fashion designer Donatella Versace in FX’s The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story.

Penelope Cruz as Donatella Versace

Meanwhile, Cruz’s onscreen brother Edgar Ramirez picked up his second career Emmy nomination.

The 41-year-old Venezuelan actor, a previous nominee in 2011 for his performance in the French-German biopic series Carlos, is up for Supporting Actor, Limited Series or Movie for portraying Italian fashion designer Gianni Versace in the The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story.

Ramirez will face-off against Ricky Martin, his on-screen partner in the FX anthology series.

The 46-year-old Puerto Rican actor/singer has earned his first Emmy nomination for portraying Italian fashion model and designer Antonio D’Amico.

Antonio Banderas has earned his second career Emmy nomination…

The 57-year-old Spanish actor, nominated in 2004 for his starring role in And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself, is up for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for his performance as Pablo Picasso in National Geographic’s anthology series Genius.

Alexis Bledel, who won her first Emmy earlier this year in the Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series category, is nominated in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series category for the same role.

The 36-year-old Latina actress earned the nod for portraying Emily / Ofglen / Ofsteveninthe Hulu drama series The Handmaid’s Tale. After guest starring in the first season of the show, Bledel was made a supporting cast member for season two.

John Leguizamo is back in the running for an Emmy nearly 20 years after winning his first Emmy in 1999 for Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Music Programfor his one-man stand-up special John Leguizamo: Freak.

The 53-year-old Colombian actor and stand-up comedian is nominated in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie category for his performance in Paramount Network’s Waco.

Lin-Manuel Miranda, an Emmy winner for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics, has earned his second career acting nomination.

The 38-year-old Puerto Rican multi-hyphenate is nominated for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for the second year in a row, this time for his appearance on Curb Your Enthusiasm.

The 70th Primetime Emmy Awards will honor television’s best shows and performances of the past year.

The awards will be presented in a ceremony on September 17.

Here’s the full list of nominees:

Best Comedy
Atlanta” (FX)
Barry” (HBO)
black-ish” (ABC)
Curb Your Enthusiasm” (HBO)
GLOW” (Netflix)
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Amazon)
Silicon Valley” (HBO)
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” (Netflix)

Best Drama
The Americans” (FX)
The Crown” (Netflix)
Game of Thrones” (HBO)
The Handmaid’s Tale” (Hulu)
Stranger Things” (Netflix)
This Is Us” (NBC)
Westworld” (HBO)

Best Limited Series
The Alienist” (TNT)
The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” (FX)
Genius: Picasso” (National Geographic)
Godless” (Netflix)
Patrick Melrose” (Showtime)

Best Actress, Comedy
Pamela Adlon, “Better Things”
Rachel Brosnahan, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”
Allison Janney, “Mom”
Issa Rae, “Insecure”
Tracee Ellis Ross, “black-ish”
Lily Tomlin, “Grace and Frankie”

Best Actor, Comedy
Anthony Anderson, “black-ish”
Ted Danson, “The Good Place”
Larry David, “Curb Your Enthusiasm”
Donald Glover, “Atlanta”
Bill Hader, “Barry”
William H. Macy, “Shameless”

Best Actress, Drama
Claire Foy, “The Crown”
Tatiana Maslany, “Orphan Black”
Elisabeth Moss, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Sandra Oh, “Killing Eve”
Keri Russell, “The Americans”
Evan Rachel Wood, “Westworld”

Best Actor, Drama
Jason Bateman, “Ozark
Sterling K. Brown, “This Is Us”
Ed Harris, “Westworld”
Matthew Rhys, “The Americans”
Milo Ventimiglia, “This Is Us”
Jeffrey Wright, “Westworld”

Supporting Actress, Drama
Alexis Bledel, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Millie Bobby Brown, “Stranger Things”
Ann Dowd, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Lena Headey, “Game of Thrones”
Vanessa Kirby, “The Crown”
Thandie Newton, “Westworld”
Yvonne Strahovski, “The Handmaid’s Tale”

Supporting Actor, Drama
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, “Game of Thrones”
Peter Dinklage, “Game of Thrones”
Joseph Fiennes, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
David Harbour, “Stranger Things”
Mandy Patinkin, “Homeland”
Matt Smith, “The Crown”

Supporting Actress, Comedy
Zazie Beetz, “Atlanta”
Aidy Bryant, “Saturday Night Live”
Alex Borstein, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”
Betty Gilpin, “GLOW”
Leslie Jones, “Saturday Night Live”
Kate McKinnon, “Saturday Night Live”
Laurie Metcalf, “Roseanne”
Megan Mullally, “Will & Grace”

Supporting Actor, Comedy
Louie Anderson, “Baskets”
Alec Baldwin, “Saturday Night Live”
Tituss Burgess, “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”
Brian Tyree Henry, “Atlanta”
Tony Shalhoub, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”
Kenan Thompson, “Saturday Night Live”
Henry Winkler, “Barry”

Best Actress, Limited Series or TV Movie
Jessica Biel, “The Sinner”
Laura Dern, “The Tale”
Michelle Dockery, “Godless”
Edie Falco, “Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders”
Regina King, “Seven Seconds
Sarah Paulson, “American Horror Story: Cult”

Best Actor, Limited Series or TV Movie
Antonio Banderas, “Genius: Picasso”
Darren Criss, “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story”
Benedict Cumberbatch, “Patrick Melrose”
Jeff Daniels, “The Looming Tower”
John Legend, “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert”
Jesse Plemons, “Black Mirror: USS Callister”

Supporting Actress, Limited Series or a Movie
Sara Bareilles, “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert
Penélope Cruz, “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story”
Judith Light, “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story”
Adina Porter, “American Horror Story: Cult”
Merritt Wever, “Godless”
Letitia Wright, “Black Mirror: Black Museum”

Supporting Actor, Limited Series or Movie
Jeff Daniels, “Godless”
Brandon Victor Dixon, “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert”
John Leguizamo, “Waco”
Ricky Martin, “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story”
Edgar Ramirez, “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story”
Michael Stuhlbarg, “The Looming Tower”
Finn Wittrock, “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story”

Television Movie
Black Mirror: USS Callister” (Netflix)
Fahrenheit 451” (HBO)
“Flint” (Lifetime)
Paterno” (HBO)
The Tale” (HBO)

Variety Sketch Series
At Home With Amy Sedaris” (truTV)
Drunk History” (Comedy Central)
I Love You America with Sarah Silverman” (Hulu)
“Portlandia” (IFC)
“Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
“Tracey Ullman’s Show” (HBO)

Variety Talk Series
“The Daily Show With Trevor Noah” (Comedy Central)
“Full Frontal With Samantha Bee” (TBS)
“Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC)
“Last Week Tonight With John Oliver”(HBO)
“The Late Late Show With James Corden” (CBS)
“The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” (CBS)

Reality Competition Program
“The Amazing Race” (CBS)
“American Ninja Warrior” (NBC)
“Project Runway” (Lifetime)
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” (VH1)
“Top Chef” (Bravo)
“The Voice” (NBC)

Reality Host
W. Kamau Bell, “United Shades Of America With W. Kamau Bell”
Ellen DeGeneres, “Ellen’s Game Of Games”
Heidi Klum & Tim Gunn, “Project Runway”
Jane Lynch, “Hollywood Game Night”
RuPaul, “RuPaul’s Drag Race”

Structured Reality Program
“Antiques Roadshow” (PBS)
“Fixer Upper” (HGTV)
“Lip Sync Battle” (Paramount Network)
“Queer Eye” (Netflix)
“Shark Tank” (ABC)
“Who Do You Think You Are?” (TLC)

Unstructured Reality Program
Born This Way (A&E)
Deadliest Catch (Discovery Channel)
Intervention (A&E)
Naked And Afraid (Discovery Channel)
RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked (VH1)
United Shades Of America With W. Kamau Bell (CNN)

Guest Actress, Drama
Diana Rigg, “Game of Thrones”
Viola Davis, “Scandal”
Kelly Jenrette, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Cherry Jones, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Cicely Tyson, “How To Get Away With Murder”
Samira Wiley, “The Handmaid’s Tale”

Guest Actor, Drama
F. Murray Abraham, “Homeland”
Cameron Britton, Mindhunter”
Ron Cephas Jones, “This Is Us”
Matthew Goode, “The Crown”
Gerald McRaney, “This Is Us”
Jimmi Simpson, “Westworld”

Guest Actress, Comedy
Tina Fey, “Saturday Night Live”
Tiffany Haddish, “Saturday Night Live”
Jane Lynch, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”
Maya Rudolph, “The Good Place”
Molly Shannon, “Will & Grace”
Wanda Sykes, “black-ish”

Guest Actor, Comedy
Sterling K. Brown, “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”
Bryan Cranston, “Curb Your Enthusiasm”
Donald Glover, “Saturday Night Live”
Bill Hader, “Saturday Night Live”
Lin-Manuel Miranda, “Curb Your Enthusiasm”
Katt Williams, “Atlanta”

Documentary or Nonfiction Series
“American Masters” (PBS)
“Blue Planet II” (BBC America)
“The Defiant Ones” (HBO)
“The Fourth Estate” (Showtime)
“Wild Wild Country” (Netflix)

Animated Program
“Baymax Returns: Big Hero 6: The Series” (Disney XD)
“Bob’s Burgers” (FOX)
“Rick And Morty” (Adult Swim)
“South Park” (Comedy Central)
“The Simpsons” (FOX)

Writing for a Comedy Series
Alec Berg, “Silicon Valley” (“Fifty-One Percent”)
Alec Berg and Bill Hader, “Barry” (“Chapter One: Make Your Mark”)
Donald Glover, “Atlanta” (“Alligator Man”)
Stefani Robinson, “Atlanta” (“Barbershop”)
Liz Sarnoff, “Barry” (“Chapter Seven: Loud, Fast And Keep Going”)
Amy Sherman-Palladino, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (“Pilot”)

Writing for a Drama Series
David Benioff & D.B. Weiss, “Game Of Thrones” (“The Dragon And The Wolf”)
The Duffer Brothers, “Stranger Things” (“Chapter Nine: The Gate”)
Joel Fields & Joe Weisberg, “The Americans” (“Start”)
Peter Morgan, “The Crown” (“Mystery Man”)
Bruce Miller, “The Handmaid’s Tale” (“June”)
Phoebe Waller-Bridge, “Killing Eve” (“Nice Face”)

Writing for a Limited Series, Movie or Drama
William Bridges & Charlie Brooker, “Black Mirror: USS Callister”
Scott Frank, “Godless”
David Lynch & Mark Frost, “Twin Peaks”
Kevin McManus & Matthew McManus, “American Vandal” (“Clean Up”)
David Nicholls, “Patrick Melrose”
Tom Rob Smith, “The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” (“House By The Lake”)

Directing for a Comedy Series
Donald Glover, “Atlanta” (“FUBU”)
Bill Hader, “Barry” (“Chapter One: Make Your Mark”)
Hiro Murai, “Atlanta” (“Teddy Perkins”)
Mike Judge, “Silicon Valley” (“Initial Coin Offering”)
Jesse Peretz, “GLOW” (“Pilot”)
Amy Sherman-Palladino, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (“Pilot”)

Directing for a Drama Series
Jason Bateman, “Ozark” (“The Toll”)
Stephen Daldry, “The Crown” (“Paterfamilias”)
The Duffer Brothers, “Stranger Things” (“Chapter Nine: The Gate”)
Jeremy Podeswa, “Game Of Thrones” (“The Dragon And The Wolf”)
Daniel Sackheim, “Ozark” (“Tonight We Improvise”)
Kari Skogland, “The Handmaid’s Tale” (“After”)
Alan Taylor, “Game Of Thrones” (“Beyond The Wall”)

Directing for a Limited Series
Edward Berger, “Patrick Melrose”
Scott Frank, “Godless”
David Leveaux & Alex Rudzinski, “Jesus Christ Superstar Live In Concert”
Barry Levinson, “Paterno”
David Lynch, “Twin Peaks”
Ryan Murphy, “The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” (“The Man Who Would Be Vogue”)
Craig Zisk, “The Looming Tower” (“9/11”)

Directing for a Variety Series
Andre Allen, “Full Frontal With Samantha Bee” (“Episode 2061”)
Carrie Brownstein, “Portlandia” (“Riot Spray”)
Jim Hoskinson, “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” (“Episode 438”)
Don Roy King, “Saturday Night Live” (“Host: Donald Glover”)
Tim Mancinelli, “The Late Late Show With James Corden” (“Episode 0416”)
Paul Pennolino, “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver” (“Episode 421”)

Garcia Promoted to Series Regular on CBS’ “Hawaii Five-O”

Jorge Garcia is heading back to Hawaii.

The 40-year-old Cuban/Chilean-American actor has been promoted to series regular on the recently announced fifth season of CBSHawaii Five-O, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Jorge Garcia

Garcia has guest-starred twice on the police procedural, portraying Jerry Ortega, a conspiracy theorist and former high school classmate of his former Lost co-star Daniel Dae Kim‘s Detective Lt. Chin Ho Kelly.

“Jorge very quickly made Jerry an unlikely and valuable part of the Five-O Ohana,” executive producer Peter Lenkov tells THR. “We have many opportunities planned to put Jerry’s unusual and infectious desire to put the bad guys to good use.”

The move brings Garcia back to Hawaii, where ABC‘s Lost filmed for six seasons.

In Hawaii Five-O‘s four-season run, the series has staged several Lost reunions, featuring guest turns from Henry Ian Cusick, Tania Raymonde, Cynthia Watros, Terry O’Quinn and Sam Anderson.

Garcia, who last year booked a role on CBS‘ drama pilot The Ordained, has guest-starred on ABC’s Once Upon a Time, CBS’ Becker, HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm and Showtime’s Californication.

The Hawaii Five-O promotion marks his latest series regular role following Fox’s Alcatraz.

Mendes Starring Opposite Larry David in the HBO Original Movie “Clear History”

The anticipation is building for Eva Mendes’ latest project…

The 39-year-old Cuban-American actress is starring opposite Larry David in the HBO original movie Clear History.

Eva Mendes

In the comedy, which just saw its first trailer released, David portrays a heavily bearded marketing executive at a carmaker.

An argument with his boss leaves him unemployes, so he sells his shares in the company, just before its worth soars into the billions. A decade later, with a new identity and minus numerous hair follicles, he gets the chance to get even.

David co-wrote the film, which also stars Bill Hader, Curb and Seinfeld veteran Philip Baker Hall, Jon Hamm, Kate Hudson, Michael Keaton, Danny McBride, Amy Ryan and David’s Curb foil J.B. Smoove.

Clear History is set to premiere on HBO on August 10.

Louis C.K.’s “Louie” Earns Producers Guild of America Award Nomination

Louis C.K. has received some love from the Producers Guild of America

Louis C.K.

The 45-year-old half-Mexican-American actor/comedian’s critically acclaimed Louie has picked up a nomination in the TV portion of the PGA Awards.

The FX series, which earned Louis C.K. a Primetime Emmy Award for his behind-the-scenes work, will compete against 30 Rock, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Big Bang Theory and Modern Family in the best comedy series field.

The 2013 Producers Guild Award winners will be announced on January 26, 2013 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Cannavale Receives Critics’ Choice Television Award Nomination

He clowned around with the cast of ABC’s Modern Family earlier this year to big laughs… And, now Bobby Cannavele could be reaping a big reward for his memorable appearance.

Bobby Cannavale

The 42-year-old half-Cuban American actor, who won a Primetime Emmy Award in 2005 for his guest-starring role on NBC’s Will and Grace, has received a Critics’ Choice Television Awards nomination for playing Cameron’s “estranged ex-clown partner” on ABC’s hit sitcom.

In the episode entitled “Send Out the Clowns,” which aired in mid-March, Cannavele’s character Lewis was part of a reunion that took place at the funeral for Cameron’s clown mentor.

Bobby Cannavale on Modern Family

Cannavele will now compete against GirlsBecky Ann Baker, Parks and Rectration’s Kathryn Hahn, The New Girl’s Justin Long, Parks and Recreation’ Paul Rudd and GirlsPeter Scolari in the Best Guest Performer in a Comedy Series category.

Meanwhile, Louis C.K. received a nod in the Best Actor in a Comedy Series category for his starring role in FX’s Louie. The 44-year-old half-Mexican American comedian/actor, who will form part of the ensemble in Woody Allen’s next film, will face off against House of LiesDon Cheadle, Curb Your Enthusiasm’s Larry David, Raising Hope’s Garret Dillahunt, Community’s 
Joel McHale and The Big Bang Theory’s 
Jim Parsons.

NBC led all the broadcast networks with 14 nods, followed by ABC with 13 nominations.  Fox and HBO had 12 nods.

The Critics’ Choice Television Award winners will be announced on June 18.