Colman Domingo to Make Film Directorial Debut with Miramax’s “Scandalous”

Colman Domingo is preparing to make his scandalous film directorial debut.

The 54-year-old Emmy-winning Belizean-Guatemalan American actor and activist will make his film directorial debut in Scandalous, a fast-tracked Miramax drama about the clandestine love affair between film star Kim Novak and singer/dancer and film star Sammy Davis Jr. in 1957.

Colman DomingoSydney Sweeney will play Novak, and David Jonsson will play Davis.

The plan is to shoot the film — imagine a film about classic Hollywood being shot in Los Angeles — when Domingo and Sweeney complete Season 3 of the HBO series Euphoria.

Much the way she did with the sleeper hit Anyone But You, Sweeney was active in putting this one together and she’ll be a producer along with Tani Cohen and Bobby Rock, with Jon Levin executive producing.

Matthew Fantaci wrote the script.

Before he became Miramax CEO, Jon Glickman originated the project at Panoramic, and remained high on it.

Novak, star of Vertigo, and Rat Pack member Davis were at the peak of star power when they met while guests on The Steve Allen Show. They fell hard for each other, but as rumors spread, the rampant racism in America threatened to derail their careers. Novak experienced the ire of Harry Cohn, the Columbia Pictures chief who had the actress under contract. Their covert affair became big news when a Chicago gossip columnist in early 1958 wrote a detailed account of their relationship, including their plans to marry. This despite their denials. Davis nine days later married a Black chorus girl named Loray White.

Domingo is coming off acclaimed turns in Rustin and Sing Sing, and he’s also working on a film about Nat King Cole that he would star in and direct.

He has directed television in the past and he’s currently in production on Netflix and Tina Fey’s The Four Seasons and he has the Netflix limited series The Madness. He also plays Joe Jackson in the Michael Jackson biopic Michael.

Lights Out: Nat King Cole, which Domingo wrote with director Patricia McGregor, will premiere at New York Theater Workshop in the spring, after it premiered at the Geffen Theater in 2019.

Dandelooo Closes Sales on Fictional Animated Film About Frida Kahlo, “Hola Frida!,” in Mexico, Spain & Greece

The animated homage to the late Frida Kahlo is going global…

Emmy-winning French animation producer-distributor Dandelooo has closed sales for the animated feature Hola Frida! in Mexico, Spain and Greece.

Frida KahloDandelooo gave audiences at Annecy an early look at footage and music from Hola Frida! back in June, but a full premiere is just around the corner, with the film set to join Coco among the ranks of animated features to world premiere at Mexico’s prestigious Morelia International Film Festival.

Hola Frida! will screen on October 25 at Morelia’s Cineteca Nacional and at Kahlo’s Casa Azul museum.

After its Morelia debut, the film will be released in France on February 12, where it will be distributed by Haut et Court Distribution.

In March, Pack Màgic will release the film in Spain.

In spring, Maison 4:3 will release the film in Canada and Rosebud21 in Greece, although specific dates have not yet been revealed.

Hola Frida!Hola Frida! tells a fictionalized story of the childhood adventures of real-life artist Frida Kahlo, growing up in Coyoacán, Mexico City. Fascinated by the world around her, the girl overcomes adversity by using her vibrant imagination.

Directed by Karine Vézina and André Kadi,“Hola Frida! is aimed at kids ages six and up and their families. The film was written by Sophie Faucher, Anne Bryan and André Kadi and produced by Haut et Court in France and Tobo Media and Du Coup Studio Production in Canada.

“It’s a great honor to be selected by Morelia International Film Festival and to present Hola Frida! at Cineteca Nacional and la Casa Azul,” said Dandelooo’s International Sales & Acquisitions Manager Luna Sirvin. “The launch of Hola Frida! could only have happened in Frida’s homeland, Mexico. These screenings are a fitting tribute to an amazing artist, as well as a starting point for the film’s global journey.”

Zoe Saldana to Receive Critics Choice Association‘s Groundbreaker Award

Zoe Saldana is a special Critics Choice honoree 

The 46-year-old 44-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican American actress is among the honorees from the Critics Choice Association‘s 4th Annual Celebration of Latino Cinema & Television taking place on October 22, 2024 at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood.

Zoë SaldañaSaldaña will receive the Groundbreaker Award for her starring role in Netflix’s Emilia Pérez, which won the Best Actress prize for the ensemble cast at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. 

The Director Award – Film will be awarded to Pablo Larraín for his directorial work on Netflix’s Maria.

The film competed in the Venice Film Festival and was one of the official selections for both the Telluride Film Festival and the New York Film Festival this year.

The Vanguard Award will be given to filmmaker Fede Alvarez for his writing and directorial work in creating 20th Century Studios’ Alien: Romulus.

The film notably earned $45.1 million in its domestic opening weekend at the box office and became the highest grossing horror film in IMAX history.

Emmy-nominated director, writer and producer Issa López will receive The Director Award – Series for her directorial work on the HBO Original Series True Detective: Night Country.

The series received 19 Emmy nominations, the most for any limited or anthology series this year and won star Jodie Foster the award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for a Limited Series, Anthology, or Television Movie.

The Showrunner Award will recognize Emmy-nominated television writer and producer Francesca Sloane for her work on Prime Video’s series Mr. & Mrs. Smith. The series was nominated 16 times at this year’s Emmys and was awarded two wins.

Oscar and Emmy-nominated actress Adriana Barraza will be honored with the Actress Award – Film for her role in Roadside Attractionsfilm My Penguin Friend.

Barraza previously earned an Academy Award nomination in 2007 for Best Supporting Actress for her work in Alejandro González Iñárritu’s film Babel and just received a 2024 International Emmy nomination for Best Actress for her work in the award-winning Netflix film El último vagón.

Actress and writer Fernanda Torres will receive the Actress Award – International Film for her role in Sony Pictures Classics’ film I’m Still Here, which notably garnered the Best Screenplay award at this year’s Venice Film Festival and has been selected as Brazil’s 2024 submission for Best International Feature Film at the Oscars.

Emayatzy Corinealdi will accept the Actress Award – Series for her performance on Hulu/Onyx Collective’s Reasonable Doubt.

Corinealdi also recently appeared in the HBO series Ballers and in the Miles Davis biopic Miles Ahead. STARZ will bestow Emayatzy Corinealdi’s award with a special STARZ #TakeTheLead designation as part of its ongoing commitment to amplifying narratives by, about, and for women and underrepresented audiences.

Ramón Rodríguez will be awarded with the Breakthrough Actor Award – Series for his starring role in the ABC series Will Trent.

Rodríguez was also nominated in the Best Actor in a Drama Series category for season one at last year’s Critics Choice Awards.

The Comedy Series Award will be bestowed upon the acclaimed Apple TV+ series Acapulco, starring Emmy-winner Eugenio Derbez, Enrique Arrizon, Fernando Carsa, and Camila Perez.

The International Series Award will recognize the Apple TV+ Spanish-language drama series Familia de Medianoche, which features an entirely Latino cast and crew led by performers Renata Vaca, Joaquín Cosío, and Diego Calva.

The Celebration honors standout performances and work, both onscreen and offscreen from the Latino entertainment community.

Ariana DeBose to Star Opposite Nicole Kidman in “Scarpetta”

Ariana DeBose has a new license to thrill…

The 33-year-old half-Puerto Rican Oscar-winning actress, singer and dancer has been cast as a series regular on Scarpetta, starring and executive produced by Nicole Kidman.

Ariana DeBose,Prime Video has officially ordered two seasons of the series, which is based on Patricia Cornwell’s best-selling Kay Scarpetta book series.

In addition DeBose, the mystery thriller has also added Emmy winner Bobby Cannavale (Ezra), Emmy nominee Simon Baker (Breath), Rosy McEwen and Jake Cannavale (The Offer).

Scarpetta follows Kay Scarpetta (Kidman), Chief Medical Examiner, as she returns to Virginia and resumes her former position with complex relationships, both personal and professional – including her sister Dorothy (Curtis), with plenty of grudges and secrets to uncover.

DeBose will play Lucy Farinelli-Watson, Dorothy’s daughter; Bobby Cannavale will play former detective Pete Marino; Baker joins as FBI profiler Benton Wesley; McEwen joins as Past Kay Scarpetta and Jake Cannavale will play Past Pete Marino.

“I’m beyond excited that this is finally happening. This will be great fun for all, and I’m grateful for the immense talent that the show is drawing. I’ve always been a huge fan of Jamie Lee Curtis and Nicole Kidman. Their wanting to do this is humbling and simply awesome. Working with the brilliant Liz Sarnoff is amazing. Blumhouse and Prime Video are a dream. This has been worth waiting for, and I’m so looking forward to the show,” Cornwell shared.

Liz Sarnoff will write, executive produce, and showrun. David Gordon Green (Halloween, Stronger) is set to direct the first two episodes.

Kidman will executive produce for Blossom Films, and Curtis will executive produce for Comet Pictures.

Selena Gomez Among Talent Named as Presenters for Upcoming Primetime Emmy Awards

Selena Gomez has a date with Emmy

The Television Academy and ABC have announced the talent lineup slated to appear on the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards hosted by Eugene Levy and Dan Levy, with the 32-year-old Mexican American signer/songwriter and actress making the list.

Selena GomezOthers on the lengthy roster include Gael Garcia Bernal, John Leguizamo, Diego Luna, Taylor Zakhar Perez, Martin Sheen, Jimmy Smits and George Lopez..

The 76th Emmy Awards, produced by Jesse Collins Entertainment, will broadcast live on ABC Sunday, September 15, 8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm PT from the Peacock Theater at L.A.

Here’s the talent list so far:

Christine Baranski — Nominee, Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series
Kathy Bates
Meredith Baxter
Candice Bergen
Gael Garcia Bernal
Matt Bomer — Nominee, Outstanding Actor In A Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Zach Braff
Connie Britton
Nicola Coughlan
Billy Crystal
Viola Davis
Giancarlo Esposito
Colin Farrell
Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Lily Gladstone — Nominee, Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie
Selena Gomez — Nominee, Outstanding Actress In A Comedy Series
Dulé Hill
Ron Howard
Brendan Hunt
Joshua Jackson
Allison Janney
Don Johnson
Mindy Kaling
Jimmy Kimmel — Nominee, Outstanding Talk Series, Outstanding Writing For a Variety Special, Outstanding Variety Special Live (Winner)
Padma Lakshmi
Greta Lee — Nominee, Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series
John Leguizamo
George Lopez
Diego Luna
Jane Lynch — Nominee, Outstanding Host for a Game Show
Steve Martin — Nominee, Outstanding Actor In A Comedy Series
Nava Mau — Nominee, Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Limited Or Anthology Series or Movie
Reba McEntire
Janel Moloney
Ebon Moss-Bachrach — Nominee, Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series
Niecy Nash-Betts
Taylor Zakhar Perez
Mekhi Phifer
Melissa Peterman
Da’Vine Joy Randolph — Nominee, Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series
Sam Richardson
Maya Rudolph
Richard Schiff
Martin Sheen
Martin Short — Nominee, Outstanding Actor In A Comedy Series
Jean Smart — Nominee, Outstanding Actress In A Comedy Series
Jimmy Smits
Antony Starr
Gina Torres
Dick Van Dyke
Susan Kelechi Watson
Damon Wayans
Kristen Wiig — Nominee, Outstanding Actress In A Comedy Series
Henry Winkler
Bowen Yang
Steven Yeun

In addition, there will be special appearances from Olympic gold medalist swimmer Caeleb Dressel and Olympic bronze medal-winning rugby player Ilona Maher.

Netflix Renews Guy Ritchie’s “The Gentlemen,” Starring Kaya Scodelario, for Second Season

There’s more gentlemen in Kaya Scodelario’s future.

Netflix has renewed Guy Ritchie’s series The Gentlemen, starring the 32-year-old half Brazilian actress, for a second season.

Kaya Scodelario,Scodelario and her co-stars Theo James and Daniel Ings will reprise their roles for the eight-episode second installment of the hit series, which was created by Ritchie and based on his film of the same name.

Produced by Miramax Television, the series earned Ritchie an Emmy nomination for his directing work in Season 1. He’ll return to direct and is co-writing season two alongside Matthew Read.

Commissioned by Netflix UKThe Gentlemen was an instant breakout when it was released on March 7, spending 10 weeks in the Top 10 for English-language series, the first three at No. 1.

Talks about another season kicked off right away, with James closing a deal to return in June.

Back in April, he explained why a renewal for the series was not straight-forward.

“It wasn’t genuinely discussed,” he said about a potential second season. “I think it would be a wrangling process with all of us and Guy. But also, I think with a show like this, if you’re going to do more, you need to come up with a really interesting concept for Season 2. Because as much as we enjoyed it and as fun as it was, it needs narrative drive.”

Set in the world of Ritchie’s 2019 Miramax film, the series’ first season centered on Eddie Horniman (James) who unexpectedly inherits his father’s sizeable country estate – only to discover it’s part of a cannabis empire. Moreover, a host of unsavory characters from Britain’s criminal underworld want a piece of the operation. Determined to extricate his family from their clutches, Eddie tries to play the gangsters at their own game. However, as he gets sucked into the world of criminality, he begins to find a taste for it, with an unexpected ally found in the sophisticated yet ruthless Susie Glass (Scodelario).

Eiza González In Talks to Star in “Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice”

Eiza González is thisclose to locking in her next project.

The 34-year-old Mexican actress and singer is in negotiations to co-star opposite Vince Vaughn and James Marsden in the 20th Century film Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice. 

Eiza GonzálezBenDavid Grabinski will write and direct, with Andrew Lazar producing.

While plot details are vague, the spec is described as a buddy action comedy set in the criminal underworld.

González currently stars in Netflix’s Emmy-nominated drama series 3 Body Problem from Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss and True Blood producer Alexander Woo. Since its premiere, the show has been renewed for two more seasons.

Up next, González will be seen in the boxing limited series La Maquina opposite Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna. The show will debut as Hulu’s first Spanish-language series.

In 2025, she will reteam with Guy Ritchie in Lionsgate’s In the Grey opposite Jake Gyllenhaal and Henry Cavill, in theaters in January. She’ll also star in Ritchie and Apple’s Fountain of Youth opposite John Krasinski and Natalie Portman.

Also upcoming, González will star in the mystery sci-fi movie Ash directed by the musician Flying Lotus (aka Steven Ellison) opposite Aaron Paul. The film was snapped up by Prime Video for international rights at the Berlin Film Festival, which marked one of the biggest acquisitions out of EFM in February.

Arturo Sandoval Among This Year’s Kennedy Center Honors Recipients

Arturo Sandoval has earned a special national honor…

The 74-year-old Cuban jazz trumpeter, pianist, timbalero and composer will be among this year’s Kennedy Center Honors recipients.

Arturo SandovalSandoval will be recognized alongside director Francis Ford Coppola, rock band Grateful Dead, blues and rock singer-songwriter Bonnie Raitt and the venue The Apollo.

While living in his native Cuba, Sandoval was influenced by jazz musicians Charlie Parker, Clifford Brown and Dizzy Gillespie. In 1977 he met Gillespie, who became his friend and mentor and helped him defect from Cuba while on tour with the United Nations Orchestra. Sandoval became an American naturalized citizen in 1998.

His life was the subject of the film For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story starring Andy García.

Sandoval has won 10 Grammy AwardsBillboard Awards and one Emmy Award. He performed at the White House and at the 1995 Super Bowl.

Mickey Hart, Billy Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh and Bobby Weir will be recognized for The Grateful Dead. Jerry Garcia, lead guitarist, songwriter and vocalist, died in 1995.

The ceremony will take place on December 8, for broadcast on December 23 on CBS.

This will be the 47th year of the honors, which started in 1978. It’s one of the premiere cultural events of the year in D.C., typically attended by the president and first lady, as well as the chief justice of the Supreme Court and congressional leaders. President Joe Biden has hosted the recipients at a White House ceremony and reception just before the Kennedy Center event. The night before, the State Department also hosts a ceremony for the honorees.

Done+Dusted will produce the ceremony for the third year, in association with ROK Productions.

The first Kennedy Center honorees were Marian Anderson, Fred Astaire, George Balanchine, Richard Rodgers and Arthur Rubinstein.

Benjamin Bratt Starring in Amazon MGM Studios’ Action Comedy “Balls Up”

Benjamin Bratt is having a ball

The 60-year-old half-Peruvian American Emmy-nominated actor has joined the cast of Balls Up, Amazon MGM Studios’ upcoming action comedy from director Peter Farrelly and Skydance.

Benjamin Bratt,He joins previously announced cast members Mark Wahlberg, Paul Walter Hauser, Molly Shannon and Eva De Dominici.

Balls Up follows two American marketing executives who are fired for blowing a client sponsorship opportunity and decide to use their free tickets to a major soccer match. Their drunken debauchery leads them to be hunted by every person across the country.

Details surrounding Bratt’s role are under wraps.

Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese wrote the script.

Previously seen in films like Piñero, Steven Soderbergh’s TrafficMiss Congeniality and Curtis Hanson’s The River Wild opposite Meryl Streep, Bratt has most recently appeared in Netflix’s Mother of the Bride, as well as the hit Peacock series Poker Face and Apple TV+’s Loot on and respectively.

He’ll next appear alongside Julianna Margulies, Minnie Driver, Brian d’Arcy James and Patrick Wilson in Edward Burns’ film Millers in Marriage.

Draco Rosa to Receive The Latin Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award

Draco Rosa will receive a special honor for his storied career…

The 55-year-old Puerto Rican singer, musician, songwriter and entrepreneur will be one of the recipients of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award from The Latin Recording Academy, as part of its annual Special Awards presentation.

Draco RosaDraco is among a roster of honorees that include Albita, Lolita Flores, Alejandro Lerner, Los Angeles Azules and Lulu Santos.

Additionally, Puerto Rican composer Ángel “Cucco” Peña and Mexican guitarist Chucho Rincón will receive the Trustees Award.

“It is with great pride that we honor these musical legends who continue redefining our Latin music and heritage, said Manuel Abud, CEO of The Latin Recording Academy, in a statement. “We look forward to celebrating them as part of our Latin GRAMMY 25th anniversary festivities in November.”

According to the Latin Academy, the Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to performers who have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to Latin music and its communities.

Meanwhile, the Trustees Award is given to artists who’ve made “significant contributions to Latin music during their careers in ways other than performance.”

Both are voted on by the Latin Recording Academy’s Board of Trustees.

Draco has evolved from boy band stardom to becoming a rock en español icon and global hitmaker.

He originally garnered fame as a member of boy band Menudo in the 1980s, singing lead on the band’s biggest stateside hit, “Hold Me” and featuring prominently in the accompanying music video.

After leaving the band he moved to Brazil where he released two albums, achieving mainstream success.

Following a brief subsequent stint in California, he returned to New York and joined the band Maggie’s Dream, which split after only one album, allowing him to resume his solo career.

The singer and composer has released numerous albums and has composed multiple songs for Ednita NazarioJulio Iglesias and former Menudo band-mate, Ricky Martin.

He has also been featured on VH1‘s Behind the Music.

Renowned for her fiery vocal delivery, Albita has been championing Cuban music and tradition since the late ’80s.

Her career in the U.S. has produced success, including multiple Grammy and Emmy nominations and wins.

In 2005, Albita was cast for a major role in the Broadway-produced musical play The Mambo Kings, where she worked for six months to rave reviews.

Daughter of Spanish legends Lola Flores and Antonio “El Pescaílla” González, Lolita Flores has made significant contributions to modern flamenco with her stunning voice and diverse repertoire.

Flores started her career in the early 1970s and with the release of the album Amor, amor and a single of the same name in 1975 she achieved success in her native Spain, as well as in countries in Latin America.

Her songs “Sarandonga,” “Lo voy a divider” and “Si la vida son dos días,” among others, have become staples in Spanish radio.

In 2002, she won a Goya Award for Best New Actress for her performance in the movie Rencor. Flores has also appeared in several television programs such as Directísimo and Hostal Royal Manzanares. In February 2019, she received the Medalla de Oro al Mérito en las Bellas Artes.

Hailing from Buenos Aires, Alejandro Federico Lerner was a trailblazer in Argentine rock during the ’70s and is celebrated as a seminal figure in the genre.

From Iztapalapa to the world, Los Ángeles Azules have been instrumental in propelling Mexican cumbia to international acclaim since the ’70s, continually infusing the genre with a Latin alternative twist that keeps it vibrant and relevant.

Lastly, Lulu Santos, a gifted Brazilian guitarist, singer and composer, has enchanted audiences for over five decades with his distinctive contributions to Brazilian music.

The honorees will be celebrated at a private event on Sunday, November 10, in Miami during Latin Grammy Week. As in previous years, Latin Grammy Week will include the Latin Grammy Person of the Year gala, which this year honors Colombian sensation Carlos Vives, the Special Awards ceremony and a Leading Ladies of Entertainment luncheon, among other events.

Nominations for the 2024 Latin Grammys will be announced on September 17, and the awards ceremony will take place on November 14 at the Kaseya Center in Miami.