Catalina Sandino Moreno to Star in Epix’s Contemporary Sci-Fi Horror Series “From”

Posted on May 25, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Catalina Sandino Moreno has landed an Epix role…

The 40-year-old Colombian Oscar-nominated actress has been cast as a lead opposite Eion Bailey and Harold Perrineau in From, Epix’s contemporary sci-fi horror series created by John Griffin.

The series is produced by Midnight Radio — the producing team of Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec, Jeff Pinkner and Scott Rosenberg — as well as Joe & Anthony Russo’s AGBO.

From unravels the mystery of a nightmarish town in Middle America that traps all those who enter. As the unwilling residents fight to keep a sense of normalcy and search for a way out, they also must survive the threats of the surrounding forest – including the terrifying creatures that come out when the sun goes down.

Moreno plays Tabitha Matthews, who, along with husband Jim (Bailey), is struggling in the aftermath of a personal tragedy and suddenly finds herself and her family trapped in the town. Together they must find a way to keep their children safe, struggling to come to terms with this new reality even as they desperately search for a way back home.

From commences production this month in Halifax, NS, with an eye toward a 2022 premiere on Epix.

Moreno received a leading actor Oscar nomination for her performance as the title character in HBO Films’ 2004 drama Maria Full of Grace. She won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Actress as well as the Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival for the role.

She recently starred in indie feature The Quarry opposite Michael Shannon and Shea Wigham and soon will be seen in the independent feature Barbarians, opposite Iwan Rheon and Tom Cullen.

She was a series regular in Showtime’s The Affair and was recently seen as the lead in an episode of the Duplass brothers’ HBO Anthology series Room 104.

HBO Releases Trailer for Santiago-Hudson’s Telepic “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks”

Posted on March 16, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a first look at Ruben Santiago-Hudson’s Immortal project…

HBO has released a first look at its upcoming telepic The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, starring the 60-year-old half-Puerto Rican actor and featuring Oprah Winfrey in a rare starring turn.

It’s the true story of the African-American woman whose cells were used to create the first immortal human cell line after many other such efforts failed — and without her permission or knowledge.

Told through the eyes of Henrietta Lacks’ daughter, Deborah (Winfrey), the HBO Films project chronicles her search, with the help of journalist Rebecca Skloot (Rose Byrne), to learn about the mother she never knew and understand how the unauthorized harvesting of Lacks’ cancerous cells in 1951 led to unprecedented breakthroughs that changed the face of medicine forever. When the sheepishly smiling writer tells Deborah that she wants to pen a book about her mom’s experience, Deborah looks her up and down, then says, “Hope I don’t regret this.”

In addition to Winfrey, Byrne and Santiago-Hudson, the telepic also stars Renée Elise Goldsberry, Rocky Carroll, Kyanna Simone Simpson, Courtney B. Vance, Leslie Uggams, Reg E. Cathey, Reed Birney and Melvin Van Peebles.

The film hails from writer-director George C. Wolfe, based on Skloot’s 2010 book.

It premieres at 8:00 pm ET on April 22 on HBO.

Santiago-Hudson to Star in HBO Films’ “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks”

Posted on August 15, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Ruben Santiago-Hudson is preparing for a new Life…

The 59-year-old half-Puerto Rican actor has joined the cast of HBO Films’ The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, starring Oprah Winfrey.

The telepic tells the true story of Henrietta Lacks (Renée Elise Goldsberry), an African-American woman whose cells were used to create the first immortal human cell line. Told through the eyes of her daughter, Deborah Lacks (Winfrey), the film chronicles her search to learn about the mother she never knew and to understand how the unauthorized harvesting of Lacks’ cancerous cells in 1951 led to unprecedented medical breakthroughs, changing countless lives and the face of medicine forever.

It’s a story of medical arrogance and triumph, race, poverty and deep friendship between the unlikeliest of people.

Santiago-Hudson will portray Dr. Pattillo, a doctor and professor of gynecology who facilitated Rebecca’s (Rose Byrne) communication with the Lacks family.

George C. Wolfe is writer-director of Harpo Films’ The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, which is exec produced by Winfrey.

Longoria to Produce Interracial Comedy Project for ABC

Posted on October 8, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Eva Longoria is proving to be the hardest working Latina television producer…

The 40-year-old Mexican American actress/producer’s production company UnbeliEVAble Entertainment has set a half-hour project at ABC with veteran comedy writer Bobby Bowman.

The untitled interracial family comedy centers on an ambitious and meticulous Latino chef who runs a cafe with his unpredictable white father-in-law.

Bowman will executive produce the project alongside UnbeliEVAble’s Longoria and Ben Spector.

Universal Television Studios, where the company is based, is the studio.

This marks the return to ABC for the former Desperate Housewives star Longoria and Family Tools creator Bowman.

Last year, ABC and ABC Studios developed a half-hour comedy as a starring vehicle for Longoria before she committed to NBC’s Hot & Bothered, formerly called Telenovela. That series, which UnbeliEVAble produces with Universal Television, debuts in midseason.

In addition to Hot & Bothered, UnbeliEVAble has Bonita & Mechelle in development at NBC, as well as projects at HBO Films and NBC International.

Longoria Producing Comedy Project “Bonita & Mechelle” for NBC

Posted on September 25, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Eva Longoria is expanding her presence at the Peacock Network…

The 40-year-old Mexican American actress, producer, director, activist and businesswoman has partnered with Will Packer – known for producing movies featuring African American characters –for Bonita & Mechelle, a multi-camera comedy for NBC.

The project centers on two women, one Hispanic and one African American. The women find themselves living together while conquering the ups and downs of single life and parenting.

Written by Kriss Turner Towner, Bonita & Mechelle hails from Will Packer Prods. and Longoria’s UnbeliEVAble Entertainment.

Universal Television, where both companies are under deals, is the studio. Towner executive produces with Packer and UnbeliEVAble’s Longoria and Ben Spector.

Longoria is producing two series with Latino protagonists, Devious Maids, which was just renewed for a fourth season, and NBC’s upcoming Hot & Bothered, in which she stars.

In addition to Bonita & Mechelle, UnbeliEVAble Entertainment has a comedy penned by Hot and Bothered writer-producer Rob Sudduth set at NBC, as well as projects in development at HBO Films and NBC International.

Ariza Cast in HBO Films’ “Confirmation,” Starring Kerry Washington

Posted on June 18, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Kristen Ariza is getting confirmed…

The part-Hispanic actress has been added to the cast of HBO Films’ Confirmation, starring Kerry Washington.

Ariza joins Kimberly Elise and Malcolm Gets in the film, which details the Supreme Court hearings for Clarence Thomas (Wendell Pierce) that were rocked by testimony by Oklahoma law professor Anita Hill (Washington).

The hearings brought the country to a standstill and forever changed the way we think about sexual harassment, victims’ rights and modern race relations.

Ariza will play Judy Smith, the White House press liaison.

Interestingly, it’s a reunion of sorts for Washington and the Smith character. Smith is the founder, CEO and president of the crisis-management firm Smith & Co., the inspiration behind Washington’s ABC drama series Scandal. Smith was Special Assistant and Deputy Press Secretary to President George H.W. Bush and reportedly was instrumental in guiding his administration through the controversies surrounding the Thomas nomination.

Ariza’s credits include appearances on Parks and Recreation, Scorpion and Castle.

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