MGM+ Releases Teaser Trailer for Danny Pino’s New 1970s Crime Thriller Series “Hotel Cocaine”

Posted on April 3, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Danny Pino is bracing for a mutiny…

MGM+ has released a teaser trailer for the 1970s crime thriller Hotel Cocaine, starring the 49-year-old Cuban American actor.

The premiere of the eight-episode series will be available on June 16 on MGM+, with new episodes airing on Sundays until August 4.

In addition to Pino, the cast includes Michael Chiklis, Mark Feuerstein, Yul Vazquez, Tania Watson, Corina Bradley and Laura Gordon.

New cast additions include Don Mike, Pedro Giunti, Lola Claire, Matthew Del Negro, Victor Oliveira, Robert Beck, Sam Robards and Candy Santana.

From Chris Brancato and Guillermo Navarro, Hotel Cocaine tells the story of Roman Compte (Pino), a Cuban exile and general manager of the Mutiny Hotel, the glamorous epicenter of the Miami cocaine scene of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s.

The Mutiny Hotel was Casablanca on cocaine; a glitzy nightclub, restaurant, and hotel frequented by Florida businessmen and politicians, international narcos, CIA and FBI agents, models, sports stars and musicians. At the center of it all was Compte, who was doing his best to keep it all going and fulfill his American Dream.

Recurring cast: Don Mike plays “Omar,” the Mutiny Club maitre’d. Pedro Giunti plays “Guillermo,” Nestor’s henchman and driver. Claire plays “Trini,” a Mutiny Girl. Santana plays “Gale,” a Mutiny Girl and Janice’s right hand.

Guest cast: Del Negro plays “Phil Nolan,” Janice’s abusive ex-boyfriend. Oliveira plays “Alvaro Gomez,” an emissary of Henao and Yolanda’s cartel. Beck plays “Marty Owens,” a customs official on Henao’s payroll. Robards plays “Hal,” Nestor and Burton’s former CIA handler.

Prevously announced guest stars include Mayra Hermosillo, Juan Pablo Raba, Erniel Baez, Nick Barkla, Cale Ambrozic, Camila Valero and Maggie Lacey.

Brancato created the series and serves as executive producer and showrunner. Navarro directed the pilot and executive produces the series alongside Brancato, with Michael Panes and Alfredo Barrios Jr. also serving as executive producers.

Hotel Cocaine is produced by MGM+ Studios, in association with Stan in Australia and internationally distributed by Amazon MGM Studios Distribution.

Yul Vazquez to Star in MGM+’s Crime Thriller “Hotel Cocaine”

Posted on March 29, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Yul Vazquez is checking into his next project…

The 58-year-old Cuban-American actor and musician is set as a lead opposite Danny Pino and Michael Chiklis in Hotel Cocaine, MGM+’s upcoming crime thriller from creator Chris Brancato.

Hotel Cocaine is the story of Roman Compte (Pino), a Cuban expatriate who fought against Fidel Castro in the Bay of Pigs invasion and re-made his life in Miami. He is general manager of the Mutiny Hotel, the glamorous epicenter of the Miami cocaine scene of late ‘70s and early ‘80s. The Mutiny Hotel was Casablanca on cocaine, a glitzy nightclub, restaurant and hotel frequented by Florida businessmen and politicians, international narcos, CIA and FBI agents, models, sports stars and musicians.

Vazquez will play Nestor Cabal, Roman Compte’s (Pino) brother and one of the biggest suppliers of cocaine to a coke-hungry Miami population. He’s dangerous, funny, wily, and seeking reunion with his long-lost brother.

Chiklis plays Agent Zulio who will stop at nothing to shut down the drug trade, even if it means using innocent civilians to accomplish his ends.

The eight-episode series from MGM+ Studios, in partnership with MGM Television, will begin production in May in the Dominican Republic, and is slated to premiere in early 2024.

Vazquez will next be seen in the HBO Max limited series White House Plumbers, opposite Woody Harrelson and Justin Theroux. He was most recently seen on season 3 of the MGM+ series Godfather of Harlem opposite Forest Whitaker and in the Emmy-nominated Apple TV+ series, Severance, directed by Ben Stiller.

His other credits include Jason Bateman’s HBO series The Outsider, ABC’s Promised Land, Netflix’s Russian Doll, TNT miniseries I Am The Night and HBO’s Succession, among others.

His film work includes Books of Blood, Last Flag Flying, Gringo, Traffic and The Infiltrator.

Danny Pino Lands Leading Role in MGM+’s Crime Thriller “Hotel Cocaine”

Posted on March 15, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Danny Pino is checking in to a new project…

The 48-year-old Cuban American actor, who stars in Mayans M.C., will star as the lead in Hotel Cocaine, MGM+’s upcoming crime thriller from creator Chris Brancato.

Hotel Cocaine is the story of Roman Compte (Pino), a Cuban expatriate who fought against Fidel Castro in the Bay of Pigs invasion and re-made his life in Miami. He is general manager of the Mutiny Hotel, the glamorous epicenter of the Miami cocaine scene of late ‘70s and early ‘80s. The Mutiny Hotel was Casablanca on cocaine, a glitzy nightclub, restaurant and hotel frequented by Florida businessmen and politicians, international narcos, CIA and FBI agents, models, sports stars and musicians. At the center of it all was Compte, who was doing his best to keep it all going and fulfill his own American dream.

Brancato serves as executive producer and showrunner. Guillermo Navarro will direct the pilot episode and executive produce the series, with Michael Panes and Alfredo Barrios Jr. also serving as executive producers. The eight-episode series from MGM+ Studios, in partnership with MGM Television, will begin production in May in the Dominican Republic, and is slated to premiere in early 2024.

Pino, born and raised in Miami, stars as organized crime boss Miguel Galindo in Mayans M.C., which is heading into its fifth and final season on FX.

He made his episodic directorial debut in the drama’s fourth season. Pino, also known for his roles as police detective Nick Amaro on Law & Order: SVU and Detective Scotty Valens on Cold Case, recently completed the short film, Union de Reyes (Union of Kings), which he wrote, directed, produced and starred in.

Hotel Cocaine will be distributed internationally by MGM.

Netflix Releases Trailer for the Upcoming Anthology Series “Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities”

Posted on June 6, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Guillermo del Toro is sharing some scary stories.

Netflix has revealed the first trailer for “Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities,” an upcoming anthology series created by the 57-year-old Mexican Oscar-winning director of The Shape of Water and Pan’s Labyrinth.

Each episode will tell a different horror story “curated” by del Toro, who hosts the series and introduces each episode.

Two of the episodes feature stories developed by del Toro, with different writers and directors taking on each episode.

Notable directors and writers who will contribute to the series include Jennifer Kent, David Pryor, Guillermo Navarro, Keith Thomas, Panos Cosmatos, Catherine Hardwicke, Vincenzo Natali and Ana Lily Amirpour (“A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night”).

The teaser shows a series of unsettling images, and reveals the cast list for the episodes.

Alongside previously announced names like Ben Barnes, Essie Davis, Crispin Glover and Andrew Lincoln, the teaser confirms that Eric André, Sofia Boutella, Ismael Cruz Córdova, Rupert Grint, Kate Micucci and Charlyne Yi will star in episodes of the show’s first season.

Other actors who were previously announced include F. Murray Abraham, Luke Roberts, Tim Blake Nelson, Hannah Galway, Glynn Turman, Elpidia Carrillo, Demetrius Grosse, Sebastian Roché, Peter Weller and David Hewlett.

Del Toro serves as co-showrunner of “Cabinet of Curiosities” with J. Miles Dale. The two executive produce alongside Gary Ungar. Regina Corrado co-executive produces.

A release date for “Cabinet of Curiosities” has not yet been announced.

Elpidia Carrillo to Star on Netflix’s Upcoming Anthology Series “Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities”

Posted on September 2, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Elpidia Carrillo is embracing the curiosities…

The 60-year-old Mexican actress and director will appear in Netflix’s upcoming anthology series Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities, which is set to premiere next year.

Other cast members include Essie Davis, Luke Roberts, Andrew Lincoln, F. Murray Abraham, Glynn Turman, Ben Barnes, Hannah Galway, Crispin Glover, Demetrius Grosse, David Hewlett, Tim Blake Nelson, Sebastian Roché and Peter Weller.

Other cast members are to be announced later.

Meanwhile, Guillermo Navarro, Panos Cosmatos, Jennifer Kent and Vincenzo Natali will write and direct single episodes of the series, which has been retitled from Guillermo del Toro Presents 10 After Midnight.

Production has begun in Toronto on creator, EP and co-showrunner del Toro’s collection of live-action stories that Netflix says is meant to challenge our traditional notions of horror. From macabre to magical, gothic to grotesque or classically creepy, the eight sinister tales — including two original works by del Toro — will be brought to life by a team of writers and directors personally chosen by the Shape of Water Oscar-winning filmmaker.

Additional episode directors include Ana Lily Amirpour, Catherine Hardwicke, David Prior and Keith Thomas, and writers include Haley Z. Boston, Regina Corrado, David S. Goyer, Lee Patterson, Aaron Stewart-Ahn and Mika Watkins.

Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities is created and executive produced by del Toro and executive produced by Oscar winner J. Miles Dale, who also serves as co-showrunner, and Gary Ungar. Regina Corrado serves as co-EP.

Here’s the list of cast and creatives for Cabinet of Curiosities, along with the actors’ credits:

Essie Davis (The Babadook), Andrew Lincoln (The Walking Dead) and Hannah Galway (Sex/Life) star in an episode written (based on an original story by Guillermo del Toro) and directed by Jennifer Kent (The Babadook)
AmadeusOscar winner F. Murray Abraham (Mythic Quest), Glynn Turman (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom) and Luke Roberts (Ransom) will appear in an episode written by David S. Goyer (The Dark Knight) (based on a short story by Michael Shea), and directed by David Prior (The Empty Man).
Tim Blake Nelson (Watchmen), Elpidia Carrillo (Euphoria), Demetrius Grosse (Fear The Walking Dead) and Sebastian Roché (The Man in the High Castle) star in an episode written by Regina Corrado (Deadwood; The Strain) (based on an original story by Guillermo del Toro); and directed by Guillermo Navarro (Godfather of Harlem; Narcos)
Crispin Glover (River’s Edge) and Ben Barnes (Shadow and Bone) star in an episode written by Lee Patterson (Curve) (based on a short story by H.P. Lovecraft) and directed by Keith Thomas (Firestarter)
Peter Weller (Star Trek Into Darkness) stars in an episode directed by Panos Cosmatos (Mandy), who also writes along with Aaron Stewart-Ahn
Mika Watkins (Origin) writes an episode (based on a short story by H.P. Lovecraft) directed by Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight); with cast to be announced
David Hewlett (See) cast in an episode written (based on a short story by Henry Kuttner) and directed by Vincenzo Natali (Hannibal)
Haley Z. Boston (Brand New Cherry Flavor) serves as writer of an episode (based on a short story by comic book author Emily Carroll) directed by Ana Lily Amirpour (A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night) with cast to be confirmed.

Raul Mendez to Star in Lifetime’s Original Movie “Cocaine Godmother”

Posted on June 12, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Raul Mendez has landed a Godmother of a role…

The 42-year-old Mexican actor will star in Lifetime’s original movie Cocaine Godmother, starring Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Directed by Guillermo Navarro, Cocaine Godmother is based on the life of Miami drug lord Griselda Blanco (Zeta-Jones), one the original “Cocaine Cowboys” who pioneered the drug trade between Colombia and the U.S. in the 70s and 80s.

Mendez will star as Dario, an associate of Pablo Escobar and Griselda’s third husband.

In addition to Mendez, the list of recent cast additions includes Jenny Pellicer (The Bridge) as Carolina, one of Griselda’s female lovers; Jose Julian (A Better Life) as Uber, Griselda’s second-oldest son (she had 4 boys); Juan Pablo Espinosa (La Fan) as Alberto, one of Griselda’s criminal associates, and her second husband; and Warren Christie (The Catch) as Jimmy, the DEA agent who hunted her down.

Blanco was living in Queens, NY, when she became embroiled with local drug runners. After moving to Miami to expand her empire, the death of her second husband gave rise to her nickname The Black Widow. She later moved to California, was deported to Colombia and was gunned down in 2012. In her lifetime, Griselda’s drug distribution network spanned across the United States and she was suspected of ordering over 200 murders.

The film will go into production this year and premiere in 2018 on Lifetime.

Mendez’s credits include major recurring roles on Narcos and Sense8.

Cocaine Godmother is produced by Asylum Entertainment for Lifetime.

Navarro (Pan’s Labrynth, Narcos) will direct from a script written by David McKenna (American History X).

Navarro Officially Signs with Talent Agency William Morris Endeavor (WME)

Posted on June 2, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Jorge Dorado isn’t the only emerging Latino talent with a bright future in Hollywood…

Guillermo Navarro has officially signed with talent agency William Morris Endeavor (WME).

The 58-year-old Mexican cinematographer most recently shot the upcoming Pacific Rim, working with his long-time collaborator Guillermo del Toro.

Navarro’s credits include Pan’s Labyrinth, which earned him an Oscar for best cinematography; Hellboy and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn 1 and 2.

His directing debut is a 2012 music video for musician Mia Maestro titled “Blue Eyed Sailor,” co-directed with media artist Juan Azulay, also featuring his son Alvaro Navarro‘s cinematography.

He also recently directed three episodes of Hannibal for NBC.

Hispanically Yours

Celebrating the Latino Influence

Tag Archives: Guillermo Navarro