Anjelah Johnson-Reyes to Star in Prime Video’s Holiday Comedy “Candy Cane Lane”

Anjelah Johnson-Reyes is getting into the Christmas holiday season way early…

The 40-year-old half-Mexican American actress and comedian has joined the cast of Prime Video’s holiday comedy Candy Cane Lane.

Anjelah JohnsonJohnson-Reyes is among a list of new cast additions that includes Ken Marino and D.C. Young Fly.

They join previously announced cast members Eddie Murphy, Tracee Ellis Ross, Jillian Bell, Genneya Walton, Madison Thomas, Thaddeus J. Mixson, Robin Thede, Chris Redd and Danielle Pinnock.

Reginald Hudlin directs off a script by Kelly Younger, inspired by his own childhood holiday experiences.

Story details are being kept under wraps.

The movie is shooting in Los Angeles and a part of the California Film & Television Tax Credit Program. The film will stream on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide and marks the first film falling under Murphy’s three-picture and first-look film deal with Amazon Studios.

Johnson-Reyes has six comedy specials streaming on various platforms. Additionally, she has guest starred on shows like Life & BethSuperstoreThe ShieldUgly Betty and Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Her film credits include Enough Said, Our Family Wedding, and Alvin And The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel.

Edward James Olmos Starring in Mario Van Peebles’ New Western “Outlaws”

Edward James Olmos is heading west…

The 75-year-old Mexican American Oscar-nominated actor is starring in Outlaws, a new Western that Mario Van Peebles wrote, directed and stars in for Quiver.

Edward James OlmosIn addition to Olmos and Van Peebles, the film also stars Whoopi Goldberg, Cedric the EntertainerJohn Carroll Lynch, William Mapother and M. Emmet Walsh.

Outlaws follows Chief (Van Peebles), a renegade cowboy putting together a multicultural team of new and old friends in order to ride into dangerous unsettled territory to retrieve gold from an abandoned mine. Hot on Chief’s tail is Angel (Mapother), a spurned lawman and Civil War veteran with a thirst for vengeance. So begins a cross-country journey, with Chief and his band of Outlaws crossing paths with a number of interesting historical characters along the way, including a true-to-life Stagecoach Mary played by Goldberg.

The film’s ensemble cast also includes Cam Gigandet, Allen Payne, Neal McDonough, Mandela Van Peebles, D.C. Young Fly, Amber Reign Smith, Jake Manley, Joseph Culp, Brian Presley and Sean Bridgers.

“I wanted to make a fresh kickass Western like we’ve never seen, a savvy action adventure with pluck served up in a dirty glass!” Van Peebles told Deadline. “I knew I’d need a gregarious band of producers to go on this rough and tumble journey with me, and the team at Quiver was ready for the ride!”

“We’re thrilled to partner with Mario and this epic ensemble cast for a one-of-a-kind action adventure set in the west, at the dawn of America’s Age of Invention,” added Quiver Distribution co-presidents. “We can’t wait for audiences to saddle up for this action-packed, wild adventure. With Mario at the helm as director, writer, and star, this film certainly doesn’t hold back.”

Olmos earned an Oscar nomination in 1989 for his lead role in the drama Stand and Deliver and has also been recognized over the course of his career with three Emmy noms — winning in 1985 for his role as Martin Castillo on Miami Vice.

His other notable credits include films like Blade Runner and Selena, and the series Battlestar Galactica and Mayans M.C. 

Also coming up for the actor is the motorcycle racing film One Fast Move for Gulfstream Pictures and Luber Roklin Entertainment.