Valderrama to Star Opposite Meagan Good in Fox’s Drama Pilot “Minority Report”

Posted on March 3, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Wilmer Valderrama is (minority) reporting for duty…

The 35-year-old Colombian and Venezuelan American actor has been cast opposite Stark Sands and Meagan Good in Fox’s drama pilot Minority Report.

The project is a sequel to the Steven Spielberg-directed movie set 10 years after the end of Precrime in D.C.

One of the three Precogs, Dash (Sands), struggles to lead a “normal” human life but remains haunted by visions of the future when he meets a detective, Lara Vega (Good), who’s haunted by her past and just might help him find a purpose to his gift.

Valderrama, best nown for the role of Fez in the sitcom That ’70s Show, will play Will Blake, a new police detective at the precinct who fills in for Vega when she’s out on leave, and when Vega sizes him up, she decides she doesn’t like him.

The pilot, written/exec produced by Max Borenstein and directed by Mark Mylod, comes from 20th Century Fox Television, Paramount Television and Amblin Television.

This marks the latest drama turn for Valderrama. He’s also returning for Season 2 of El Rey Network’s From Dusk Til Dawn.

Rodriguez to Be Feted by Non-Profit Educational Organization L.A.’s Promise

Posted on September 17, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Robert Rodriguez has promise…

L.A.’s Promise will honor the 46-year-old Mexican American at its annual gala.

The nonprofit organization aims to improve public schooling in south Los Angeles, with a coverage area that includes two high schools (Manual Arts and West Adams Prep) and one middle school (John Muir). Its initiatives to increase the schools’ performance and involvement in the community are funded in part by the annual gala.

Rodriguez and Universal Filmed Entertainment Group chairman Jeff Shell will be feted at the event, which will be held on September 30 at Universal Studios Hollywood‘s Globe Theatre.

“Our 2014 honorees have a long history of advancing the educational opportunities for underserved communities like the students that L.A.’s Promise serves,” the organization’s president and CEO Veronica Melvin said in a statement. “Jeff and Robert have lent their names and their time to our initiatives in order to help lead the charge in preparing every child in our LA’s Promise Neighborhood to be college and career-ready, healthy and successful in life.”

Rodriguez launched his own cable network, the El Rey Network, in 2013. Its programming includes Matador and From Dusk Till Dawn, an adaptation of his Quentin Tarantino-scripted vampire film. Rodriguez’s film directorial credits include Sin City, Spy Kids and the Machete franchise.

Shell will be present at the event, but Rodriguez is unable to attend.

This year’s event chairs include Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, J.J. Abrams and NBCUniversal vice chairman Ron Meyer; previous honorees include Ryan Seacrest, Tom Cruise and Fox chairman and CEO Jim Gianopulos.

In conjunction with the gala, the Universal Studios Hollywood theme park will be opened for 1,200 L.A.’s Promise students for the evening. The gala attendees will have the opportunity to join them after a cocktail reception and awards ceremony.

“I can’t think of a better way to celebrate students’ success than to reward them with a night of fun and adventure through the theme park,” L.A.’s Promise board co-chair Frank Marshall said in the statement.

Monreal to Appear in Recurring Role on MTV’s “Faking It”

Posted on September 3, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Yvette Monreal is about to fake it to make it…

The Latina actress has signed on to appear in a recurring role on Faking It, MTV’s faux-lesbian comedy series from showrunner Carter Covington.

In season two, everyone is faced with a dilemma that forces them to tell the truth or keep a secret. Best friends Amy (Rita Volk) and Karma (Katie Stevens) struggle with figuring out their relationship after Amy revealed her true feelings for Karma.

Monreal, who has appeared on El Rey Network‘s action drama series Matador, will portray Regan, a hip, edgy lesbian with a rebellious streak. She’s a cater-waiter by day and DJ by night who is fiercely out and proud and independent with a husky voice and sexy confidence who supports herself and her music career with odd jobs.

The casting keeps Monreal in the MTV family after a small role on Awkward.

Monreal’s casting comes after MTV renewed the series for a second season of 10 episodes following its divisive season finale.

Faking It season two debuts Tuesday, September 23 at 10:30 p.m. on MTV.

Garcia Bernal & Luna to Co-Produce Fantastic Fest’s Fantastic Market with Robert Rodriguez’s El Rey Network

Posted on August 8, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna are preparing for a fantastic September.

The actors’ production company with Pablo Cruz will be co-producing the Fantastic Fest’s second edition of its international co-production market: Fantastic Market | Mercado Fantastico.

Garcia Bernal, Luna and their company will co-produce the market alongside Robert Rodriguez’s El Rey Network.

The international co-production market focuses on genre films and highlights new narrative projects from across the globe, with a particular emphasis on filmmakers from Latin America, Spain, Portugal and Latino filmmakers in the U.S. The goal is to connect international film projects with potential production partners, sales agents and distributors.

In all, Fantastic Fest has selected 15 projects for this second edition.

Among the projects selected this year are Ventana director Rodrigo Susarte’s Invunche and Fright Night 2 helmer Eduardo Rodriguez’s The Darkness of the Road.

Click here for the full list of projects.

El Rey Network Orders Second Season of Luna’s Spy Thriller “The Matador”

Posted on July 11, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

It’s nothin’ but net for Gabriel Luna…

El Rey Network has ordered a 13-episode second season of the soccer-themed spy thriller Matador, starring the 31-year-old Latino actor.

From writer-producer Roberto Orci, the series centers on Antonio “Matador” Bravo, a soccer star who in reality uses his sports career as a cover for his work as a skilled covert operative executing missions for a little-known branch of the CIA.

Alfred Molina, Nicky Whelan, Neil Hopkins, Tanc Sade, Yvette Monreal, Elizabeth Peña, Julio Oscar Mechoso, Louis Ozawa Changchien, Sammi Rotibi, Jonny Cruz, Isabella Gomez and Peter Gadiot co-star.

“It just fit in with what we wanted to do … this is why I created [El Rey],” said filmmaker and the network’s founder Robert Rodriguez, who trumpeted the network’s commitment to diversity by saying that at least 50% of the network’s talent both in front of and behind the camera is diverse. “We are so happy with the season already, we are on episode 11. It fits right in with our network. It’s kickass, the characters are really engaging, it’s your dream kind of show to do.”

The announcement comes in advance of the The Matador’s premiere on July 15.

A sneak peek of the pilot episode becomes available this week on iTunes, Vudu, Xbox 360 and other platforms.

Rodriguez to Host Democratic National Committee Fundraiser with President Barack Obama

Posted on June 20, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Robert Rodriguez is preparing for a presidential experience…

The award-winning Mexican-American filmmaker will host President Barack Obama at his home in Austin, Texas, on July 17 to raise money for the Democratic National Committee‘s midterm election efforts, according to The Hollywood Reporter .

Rodriguez, whose cult classic El Mariachi was selected in 2011 for preservation in the National Film Registry, is the latest in a growing number of Hollywood Latinos throwing their money and influence behind the Democratic Party.

Jessica Alba, Rosario Dawson, Demi Lovato and Danny Trejo are among those who’ve signed on to support the event. Tickets for the Austin fundraiser range from $5,000 to $32,400.

Obama and Rodriguez – the founder of the El Rey Network – first met in 2012, when the filmmaker traveled to Washington to speak with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute about the importance of diversifying the distribution networks.

While there, Obama invited Rodriguez to participate in a roundtable discussion about the importance of Hispanics in the U.S.

Since then, Rodriguez has emerged as a strong advocate of Latino issues in the country

Following his film debut with El Mariachi, Rodriguez has helped launch the film careers of several prominent Latino actors and actresses, including Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek andAlba. His insistence on casting a Latino family for the popular Spy Kids series built the first major theatrical family franchise featuring Latinos in heroic roles.

Higareda to Appear on USA Nettwork’s “Royal Pains”

Posted on June 5, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Martha Higareda has landed a royal role…

The 30-year-old Mexican actress has landed a role on the USA Network’s concierge medicine practice-themed series Royal Pains.

Higareda, who appeared on El Rey Network’s El Mariachi series, will portray Viviana, the lively bartender at a quiet local bar that becomes a sanctuary for Jeremiah (portrayed by Ben Shenkman).

Higareda’s other television credits include Hawaii Five-0, CSI: Miami and the mini-series Carlos the Jackal.

The sixth season Royal Pains will premiere on June 10.

El Rey Network Releases Trailer for Luna’s New Drama Series “Matador”

Posted on May 21, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Gabriel Luna’s ready to take the soccer field…

El Rey Network has released the trailer for its upcoming action drama series Matador, which stars the 31-year-old Latino American actor.

From Dan Dworkin, Jay Beattie, Roberto Orci and Andrew Orci, the series stars Luna as Antonio “Matador” Bravo, a popular soccer star who in reality uses his sports career as a cover for his skilled covert operative executing missions for a little-known branch of the CIA.

The international cast also includes Alfred Molina, Nicky Whelan, Neil Hopkins, Tanc Sade, Yvette Monreal, Elizabeth Peña, Julio Oscar Mechoso, Louis Ozawa Changchien, Sammi Rotibi, Jonny Cruz, Isabella Gomez and Peter Gadiot.

Matador premieres on July 15, two days after the World Cup final, on Robert Rodriguez’s network.

Orci Reportedly In Talks to Helm the Next “Star Trek” Film

Posted on May 11, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Roberto Orci may boldly go where J.J. Abrams has gone before…

The 40-year-old Mexican American film and television writer and producer is reportedly the clear frontrunner to replace J.J. Abrams as the director of the third installment of Paramount’s Star Trek series.

Following what it calls “an aggressive lobbying campaign,” Deadline.com reports that Orci and Paramount Pictures are in talks.

Orci was a co-writer and producer on 2009’s Star Trek and it’s 2013 sequel Star Trek Into Darkness.

The news comes after Orci parted company with longtime partner Alex Kurtzman on film projects; they still continue to work on television projects together, including Sleepy Hollow and El Rey Network’s upcoming series El Matador.

It would Orci’s first time in the director’s chair, although he has plenty of experience on massive projects beyond Star Trek, including The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Ender’s Game and Cowboys & Aliens.

Abrams had helmed the first two Star Trek films, but surprised Paramount officlas by agreeing to relaunch the Star Wars franchise and direct the first film at Disney.

Trailer Released for “Intramural,” Co-Starring Gabriel Luna

Posted on April 9, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Gabriel Luna is ready to play ball…

The 31-year-old Latino American actor, who will star as a soccer star/CIA Agent in El Rey Network’s new series Matador, stars in Andrew Disney’s comedy Intramural, which just saw the release of its trailer.

Starring Nikki Reed and Jake Lacy, the Bradley Jackson-scripted film centers on an intramural football crew that reunites later in life to play a game for the ages.

Luna portrays Vinnie in the film.

The film also stars Kate McKinnon, Jay Pharoah, Beck Bennett, Brian McElhaney and Nick Kocher.

Intramural is set for an April 19 world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival.

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