Tag Archives: Electus

Sofia Vergara Teams Up with Robert Rodriguez & Rebecca Rodriguez to Develop Modern Take on “Zorro” with Female Lead

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Sofia Vergara isn’t masking her excitement for her latest project…

The 48-year-old Colombian actress has teamed up with filmmaker Robert Rodriguez and his writer-director sister Rebecca Rodriguez to develop Zorro, a contemporary take on the classic masked vigilante character with a gender swap, for NBC. 

Sofia Vergara

The project’s creative team includes Vergara’s LatinWe production company, as well as Ben Siverman and Howard T. Owens’ Propagate. CBS Studios, where Propagate has a deal, will co-produce with Universal Television.

Co-written by the Rodriguezes and to be directed by Rebecca, Zorro centers on Sola Dominguez, an underground artist who fights for social injustice as contemporary version of the mythical Zorro. Her life is threatened by several criminal organizations after she exposes them.

Propagate set out to develop a television series re-imagining of Zorro with a female protagonist last season as one of the company’s first projects under its first-look deal with CBS Studios. The idea’s first incarnation, written by Alfredo Barrios Jr., also was set up at NBC.

Vergara and Silverman are frequent collaborators; they have teamed to produce together several projects over the past decade while Silverman was at Electus and after he joined Propagate, including the ABC drama series Killer Women.

Vergara received Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG Award nominations for her starring role on ABC’s Modern Family. Her feature credits include the Warner Bros. buddy comedy Hot Pursuit, which she also produced. Additionally, she executive produced the Spanish version of Desperate Housewives.

Robert Rodriguez was attached to direct The Mask of Zorro and cast Antonio Banderas as the title role before leaving the feature project. In television, he developed and executive produced the series adaptation of his movie From Dusk Till Dawn for his television network El Rey and also executive produced the Spy Kids animated series offshoot for Netflix. He recently directed an episode of Disney+’s The Mandalorian. 

Rebecca Rodriguez’s recent directing credits include episodes of TNT’s Snowpiercer and Showtime’s The Chi.

Luna to Star in Amazon’s Casanova-Themed Drama Pilot

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Diego Luna is ready to romance Amazon…

The 35-year-old Mexican actor will star in Amazon and Electus’ Giacomo Casanova drama pilot, which is being directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Amelie).

Diego Luna

Luna, who rose to acclaim in Y tu mamá también, has been tapped for the title role, with Bojana Novakovic, Miranda Richardson, Ben Daniels and Amelia Clarkson co-starring.

The untitled project, which is currently filming in Europe, chronicles a little-known period in the life of the famous 18th century renaissance man. Known primarily as a womanizer, Casanova actually served as a spy for the Parisian government.

The show begins after he breaks free from Venice’s most impenetrable prison and moves to Paris with nothing—determined to start his life over after his wild ways left him behind bars. Following a journey full of passionate romance and incredible danger, the series will reveal the other side of the infamous Venetian, whose talents ranged from diplomacy to music to linguistics.

Novakovic plays the famous French royal mistress Madame de Pompadour, Richardson is Marquise d’Urfé, Daniels portrays Francois-Joachim de Bernis, and Clarkson plays Manon Balletti.

Stu Zicherman wrote the script.

The finished pilot will be made available on Amazon later this year.

Luna’s previous credits include the films Elysium and Casa de Mi Padre, an appearance in Katy Perry’s music video “The One That Got Away,” and the television movie Fidel.

Rodriguez’s “Jane the Virgin” Named to the American Film Institute’s List of Best TV Shows of 2014

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The kudos keep coming in for Gina Rodriguez’s latest project…

The 30-year-old Puerto Rican actress’ critically acclaimed CW series Jane the Virgin has been named to the American Film Institute’s list of the best television shows of the year, which it calls “culturally and artistically representative of the year’s most significant achievements in the art of the moving image.”

Gina Rodriguez in Jane the Virgin

Rodriguez’s Jane the Virgin is among five freshman series named to the AFI’s 10 choices, along with ABC’s How To Get Away With Murder, Cinemax’s The Knick, HBO’s Silicon Valley and Amazon’s Transparent.

Also making the list are FX’s The Americans and Fargo, HBO’s Game Of Thrones, Netflix’s Orange Is The New Black and AMC’s Mad Men.

“We celebrate these… television programs as more than just milestones in a year of excellence.” AFI President and CEO Bob Gazzale said. “They are a part of our American cultural heritage – collectively, a new chapter in the story of the art form and of our nation.”

In October, Jane the Virgin received a full-season order after garnering overwhelming support from critics and viewers alike. Additionally, it turned Rodriguez into one of these season’s breakout stars.

Jane The Virgin, based on a Venezuelan telenovela, is produced by CBS Television Studios and Warner Bros. Television, in association with Electus.

The CW Gives Rodriguez’s “Jane the Virgin” a Full-Season Order

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Get ready for more of Gina Rodriguez’s virgin tales…

Following its strong ratings start, the CW has given the 29-year-old Puerto Rican actress’ new series Jane The Virgin a full-season order.

Gina Rodriguez in Jane the Virgin

Jane the Virgin, which earned some of the strongest reviews for new shows this fall, is holding its own on Mondays, helping post big year-to-year gains for the night. Jane held very well in its second airing this week, currently running a tenth ahead of last Monday’s premiere.

“We have had a fantastic start to our season this year [with] Jane The Virgin recognized as the best new show this season by critics across the country,” said the CW president Mark Pedowitz. “Over the past three seasons, we have made it our mission to grow and to broaden out our audience, and to keep raising the bar with the quality and impact of our new shows,” adding that Jane the Virgin has exceeded the network’s expectations on all counts.

Jane The Virgin, based on the Venezuelan telenovela, is produced by CBS Television Studios and Warner Bros. Television, in association with Electus.

The series was recently picked up by the U.K. broadcaster Channel 4, to air on it’s E4 entertainment channel, which targets 15- to 35-year-olds, in 2015.

U.K. Broadcaster Channel 4 to Air Rodriguez’s New Series “Jane the Virgin”

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Gina Rodriguez’s virgin tale is going global…

CBS Corp.‘s CBS Studios International unit and U.K. broadcaster Channel 4 have sealed the deal on a licensing agreement for the exclusive first window, free-to-air broadcast rights to new critically acclaimed comedy Jane the Virgin, starring the 29-year-old Puerto Rican actress.

Gina Rodriguez in Jane the Virgin

Financial terms of the deal weren’t released. But the show will premiere on Channel 4’s E4, an entertainment channel targeting 15- to 35-year-olds, in 2015.

Other U.S. hit shows that have aired on the network include Smallville, The O.C. and The Cleveland Show.

Jane the Virgin premiered in the U.S. on Monday on The CW network. It focuses on a young woman who has been saving herself until she and her fiance are married. Her life plans are turned upside-down when her doctor accidentally artificially inseminates her.

Jane the Virgin is produced by CBS Television Studios and Warner Bros. Television, in association with Electus.

“Jane the Virgin was one of the most talked-about comedies at LA Screenings this year, and we are delighted to be working with Channel 4 to bring this fresh, new series to E4’s young audience,” said Stephen Tague, senior VP Europe for CBS Studios International.

Said Channel 4 chief creative officer Jay Hunt: “Jane the Virgin feels genuinely innovative and fresh, and I’m thrilled it will be joining the stellar lineup of acquired shows on E4.”