Netflix Options Emily Henry’s Novel “Happy Place” for Jennifer Lopez’s Nuyorican Productions

Posted on June 25, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Jennifer Lopez’s production company has set its sights on a happy project…

Netflix has reportedly optioned Emily Henry’s novel Happy Place for the 54-year-old Puerto Rican superstar’s Nuyorican Productions.

Plans to adapt the novel as a series are underway, and producers and streaming executives are reportedly currently meeting with writers.

The news arrives as Lopez’s Netflix film Atlas clears 72.7M global views, another high for the actress and producer after her 2023 movie with the streamer, The Mother, which is the ninth-most-watched movie on Netflix with 136.4M.

The multi-hyphenate’s Nuyorican Productions inked a multi-year first-look deal with Netflix spanning feature films, television series and unscripted content back in 2021, with an emphasis on projects that support diverse female actors, writers and filmmakers.

Henry is a No. 1 New York Times and No. 1 Sunday Times bestselling author whose novels include Book Lovers, People We Meet on Vacation, and Beach Read.

The Berkley published Happy Place follows Harriet and Wyn, who’ve been a perfect couple since they met in college — they go together like salt and pepper, honey and tea, lobster and rolls. Except now, for reasons they’re still not discussing, they don’t. They broke up five months ago, and they still haven’t told their best friends. They find themselves sharing a bedroom at the Maine cottage that has been their friend group’s yearly getaway for the past decade, and continue to lie through their teeth to their friends about their relationship status.

Natalie Haack Flores, VP Development at Nuyorican, reportedly brought the projects to the producers. Series producers will be Nuyorican’s Lopez, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas and Benny Medina.

Priscilla Quintana Upped to Series Regular for Season Four of Freeform’s “Good Trouble”

Posted on February 7, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

There’s more (good) trouble in Priscilla Quintana’s future…

The 29-year-old half-Mexican American actress has been promoted to series regular for the fourth season of Freeform’s Good Trouble.

Quintana, who portrays Isabella, was a recurring cast member in the second and third seasons.

Freeform will premiere the first half of season four beginning on Wednesday, March 9 at 10:00 pm, and the next day on Hulu.

Created by Joanna Johnson, Peter Paige and Bradley Bredeweg, Good Trouble follows the residents of Downtown Los Angeles’ The Coterie as they juggle career, love and the 20-something growing pains at a time in your life where your friends are your family.

Quintan’s Isabella is a resident of the Coterie and mother to Gael’s unborn baby.

The series also stars Maia Mitchell, Cierra Ramirez, Tommy Martinez, Emma Hunton, Sherry Cola, Zuri Adele, Beau Mirchoff and Josh Pence.

Johnson serves as showrunner and executive producer. Christine Sacani, Greg Gugliotta, Jennifer Lopez, Benny Medina, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, Mitchell and Ramirez also executive produce.

Freeform Renews Cierra Ramirez’s “Good Trouble” for Fourth Season

Posted on September 10, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Cierra Ramirez’s troubles continue…

Freeform has renewed Good Touble, starring the 26-year-old Colombian and Mexican American actress/singer, for a fourth season.

The announcement arrived on the heels of the 90-minute Season 3 finale airing on the East Coast on Wednesday.

The network released a new poster celebrating the news featuring stars Maia Mitchell, Ramirez, Sherry Cola, Tommy Martinez, Zuri Adele, Emma Hunton, Josh Pence and Beau Mirchoff.

Good Trouble, a spinoff of The Fosters, follows the residents of Downtown Los Angeles’ The Coterie as they juggle career, love, and friendship and learn that standing up for what you believe in requires making a little noise and getting into trouble. The season 3 finale finds Callie (Maia Mitchell) questioning the career choices she’s made.

The series is enjoying its most-watched season ever on Hulu and currently ranks as one of the year’s Top 10 Primetime cable drama series among Women 18-34. All three seasons are currently available to stream via Hulu.

Good Trouble is co-created by Joanna Johnson, Peter Paige, and Bradley Bredeweg. Johnson serves as executive producer along with Gregory Gugliotta, Christine Sacani, Maia Mitchell, Cierra Ramirez, Jennifer Lopez, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, and Benny Medina.

Jennifer Lopez Looking to Develop Original Projects Based on Concord’s Catalog of Musicals, Including Works by Rodgers & Hammerstein

Posted on July 12, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Jennifer Lopez could be singing and dancing on the big screen in the near future…

The 51-year-old Puerto Rican superstar and her Nuyorican Productions are collaborating with Skydance and Concord to develop a slate of original projects based on Concord’s catalog of musicals, which includes the works of Broadway icons Rodgers & Hammerstein.

Lopez, along with partners Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas and Benny Medina, will executive produce for Nuyorican Productions with an option to star in at least one of the projects.

“Musicals were a part of the tapestry of my childhood. We’re so excited to begin our association with Skydance and Concord in reinterpreting some of the most classic musicals and bringing them to life in new ways for a new generation,” said J.Lo.

“Jennifer Lopez is an international icon in every sense of the word, and we are thrilled to expand our relationship with Concord to partner with such a creative powerhouse,” said Bill Bost, President, Skydance Television. “Skydance aims to create stories that appeal to audiences around the globe, and Jennifer is the perfect partner to reimagine these beloved, classic musicals for a twenty-first century audience.”

“It is an honor to join forces with Jennifer Lopez and Nuyorican, while broadening our partnership with Skydance,” said Sophia Dilley, SVP, Film & TV Development and Production, Concord. “We are excited to collaborate with this impressive team as we continue to champion creative opportunities for the authors and works we represent, together with the copyrights we own.”

This deal expands Skydance Television’s previously announced partnership with Concord, which includes co-developing the first-ever television series based on one of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s hit musicals, a modern-day adaptation of Oklahoma! from John Lee Hancock and Bekah Brunstetter.

Jennifer Lopez to Star in Netflix’s Sci-Fi Thriller “Atlas”

Posted on June 15, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Jennifer Lopez will be fighting to save the world…

The 51-year-old Puerto Rican superstar will star in and produce the Netflix sci-fi thriller Atlas.

The film will be directed by Brad Peyton, with Aron Eli Coleite is writing the most recent draft of the script based off Leo Sardarian’s original script.

Joby Harold and Tory Tunnell will produce for Safehouse Pictures along with Peyton and Jeff Fierson for ASAP Entertainment, as well as Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas and Benny Medina joining Lopez to produce through Nuyorican Productions.

The film follows Atlas, a woman fighting for humanity in a future where an AI soldier has determined the only way to end war is to end humanity. To outthink this rogue AI, Atlas must work with the one thing she fears most — another AI.

“I’m so honored to be working with Jennifer, Elaine and the rest of the team at Nuyorican Productions along with our partners Joby and Tory at Safehouse,” Peyton said. “Having the chance to direct Jennifer in the title role of this movie is a dream come true, as I know she’ll bring the incredible strength, depth and authenticity we’ve all come to admire from her work. Furthermore, Jeff and I are so excited to be back working with Scott, Ori and the entire team at Netflix. They have been nothing short of amazing to work with and we are blessed to have the opportunity to make another movie on the service.”

The film falls under the newly announced creative partnership between Lopez’s Nuyorican Productions and Netflix where Lopez, producing partner Goldsmith-Thomas and longtime manager Medina will produce a slate of films, television series, scripted and unscripted content, with an emphasis on projects that support diverse female actors, writers and filmmakers.

The first two announced projects both starring Lopez include The Mother, which is directed by Niki Carpo, and The Cipher, based on the novel by Isabella Maldonado.

Lopez can be seen next in the Universal rom com Marry Me opposite Owen Wilson and also has the Lionsgate action comedy Shotgun Wedding. Both films come out in 2022.

Jennifer Lopez’s Nuyorican Productions Signs Multi-Year First Look Deal with Netflix

Posted on June 8, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Jennifer Lopez’s got the (first) look…

The 51-year-old Puerto Rican superstar’s production company Nuyorican Productions has signed a multi-year first-look deal with Netflix spanning feature films, television series and unscripted content, with an emphasis on projects that support diverse female actors, writers and filmmakers.

Lopez co-runs Nuyorican Productions with her producing partner Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas.

Lopez already has two feature projects in the works at the streamer including the Niki Caro-directed The Mother, and The Cipher, based on the Isabella Maldonado novel.

The Mother follows a deadly female assassin who comes out of hiding to teach her daughter how to survive. The multi-hyphenate is currently training for the role, with filming schedule for this autumn and the film is set for release in Q4 2022.

“I am excited to announce my new partnership with Netflix. Elaine, Benny (Medina) and I believe there is no better home for us than a forward leaning content creation company that seeks to defy conventional wisdom and directly market to the millions across the globe who no longer view art and entertainment with the kind of boundaries and limitations of the past. We at Nuyorican Productions are thrilled to find like-minded partners in Ted Sarandos, Scott Stuber, Bela Bajaria and the whole team and look forward to getting to work right away,” said Lopez.

“Throughout every aspect of her career, Jennifer Lopez has been a force in entertainment. In partnering with her and Nuyorican we know she will continue to bring impactful stories, joy and inspiration to audiences around the world,” said Netflix Head of Global Films Stuber,

Bajaria, Netflix Head of Global TV, said: “Jennifer is a singular talent whose creativity and vision have captivated audiences and inspired the next generation around the world. For years she and the team at Nuyorican have brought a distinctive voice to entertainment, and I’m looking forward to working with her and the team to create new series for our members to love.”

Lopez scored her best opening for a live-action movie at the domestic box office with STX’s 2019 stripper caper Hustlers, which debuted to $33.1 million, and grossed $105M stateside, $157.6M worldwide.

As a recording artist, Lopez has sold over 70 million albums, with J.Lo became her bestselling album with 3.8M copies sold in the U.S. and 12M global.

Jason Smilovic & Todd Katzberg to Pen the Script for Jennifer Lopez’s Film Adaptation of Isabella Maldonado’s Novel “The Cipher”

Posted on March 28, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Jennifer Lopez’s latest project has found it’s screenwriter…

Jason Smilovic and Todd Katzberg are set to adapt Isabella Maldonado’s novel The Cipher, which will star the 51-year-old Puerto Rican superstar.

In The Cipher, FBI agent Nina Guerrero (Lopez) finds herself drawn into a serial killer’s case after he strategically posts complex codes and riddles online corresponding to recent murders in order to lure her into a cat and mouse chase.

Lopez is producing with her partners Elaine Goldsmith Thomas and Benny Medina.

Smilovic and Katzberg most recently adapted Robert Littell’s cold war era novel The Sisters for Pioneer Pictures and Thunder Road with Smilovic set to direct.

Previous feature credits for Smilovic include Lucky Number Slevin and the Todd Phillips summer feature War Dogs, which earned Jonah Hill a Golden Globe nomination in the Best Actor – Comedy/Musical category.

Jennifer Lopez Shares “Shotgun Wedding” Photo on Social Media

Posted on February 24, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a nice day for a white wedding (dress) for Jennifer Lopez…

The 51-year-old Puerto Rican superstar has taken to social media to share the first look at her Shotgun Wedding character Darcy.

J.Lo shared the photo of her in a flowing white gown while on the set for the upcoming film, with a caption that read “Day 1!”

La Lopez tagged Nuyorican Productions’ Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, who is co-producing the movie with Todd Lieberman, David Hoberman, Benny Medina, and Lopez.

Shotgun Wedding, helmed by Pitch Perfect director Jason Moore and written by New Girl creator Liz Meriwether and Mark Hammer, is a Lionsgate action-comedy that follows the story of Darcy (Lopez) and Tom (Josh Duhamel) as they gather their families for a destination wedding that sees the entire party taken hostage.

Duhamel joined the cast after actor Armie Hammer exited the project.

https://twitter.com/JLo/status/1364381539111370754?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1364381539111370754%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.billboard.com%2Farticles%2Fcolumns%2Flatin%2F9530869%2Fjennifer-lopez-shotgun-wedding-photo%2F

Cheech Marin to Star Opposite Jennifer Lopez in Action-Comedy “Shotgun Wedding”

Posted on February 16, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Cheech Marin is the father of the bride…

The 74-year-old Mexican-American actor and stand-up comedian will star in the Lionsgate action-comedy Shotgun Wedding, starring Jennifer Lopez and Josh Duhamel.

Mark Hammer and Liz Meriwether penned the screenplay, Jason Moore is directing the film.

In the film, Grace (Lopez) and Tom (Duhamel) gather their lovable but very opinionated families for the ultimate destination wedding just as the couple begins to get cold feet. And if that wasn’t enough of a threat to the celebration, suddenly everyone’s lives are in danger when the entire party is taken hostage. “Til Death Do Us Part” takes on a whole new meaning in this hilarious, adrenaline-fueled adventure as Grace and Tom must save their loved ones — if they don’t kill each other first.

Marin will play Robert, Grace’s father.

Other cast members include Lenny Kravitz, D’Arcy Carden, Selena Tan, Desmin Borges and Alex Mallari.

Borges’ character is Ricky, the permanently whisky-buzzed, embarrassing childhood best friend of Tom.

Lopez, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas and Benny Medina are producing for Nuyorican Productions.

Production is slated to commence this month.

Marin is best known as one-half of the comedy duo Cheech & Chong.

Borges’ credits include You’re the Worst on FX, Amazon’s Utopia, and the Netflix limited series Living with Yourself.

Jennifer Lopez to Star in & Produce Netflix’s Action Feature “The Mother”

Posted on February 1, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Jennifer Lopez has landed a mother of a role…

The 51-year-old Puerto Rican superstar is reteaming with Netflix to star in and produce the action feature The Mother.

Lopez will play a deadly female assassin who comes out of hiding to protect the daughter she gave up years before, while on the run from dangerous men. The project is reportedly in the spirit of the Luc Besson classic The Professional.

Misha Green penned the original screenplay with revisions Andrea Berloff.

Lopez is producing with Elaine Goldsmith Thomas for Nuyorican Productions; Benny Medina; Roy Lee and Miri Yoon for Vertigo Entertainment; as well as Green. Catherine Hagedorn will serve as EP with Courtney Baxter as Associate Producer.

Niki Caro is in talks to direct.

Lopez is starring in and producing the Netflix adaptation of the Isabella Maldonado novel The Cipher. In that movie, Lopez will play FBI agent Nina Guerrera, who is pulled into a serial killer’s case after he leaves complex codes and riddles online, which are linked to his recent murders.

Lopez recently performed at the U.S. Presidential Inauguration of Joe Biden. She is currently filming Lionsgate’s Shotgun Wedding, and will be seen in Universal’s musical-driven romantic comedy Marry Me with Owen Wilson, which is set for theatrical release on May 14.

In 2019, Lopez scored her biggest domestic opening for a live-action feature at the box office and stateside hit with STX’s Hustlers ($33.1M opening, $105M domestic B.O.), a role which earned her a second Golden Globe nomination, as well as a supporting actress SAG nomination.

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