Lin-Manuel Miranda to Serve as Co-Chair & Host of This Year’s Met Gala

Lin-Manuel Miranda is ready to Met a new challenge…

The 42-year-old Puerto Rican actor, singer-songwriter, rapper, playwright, producer and film director will as one of the hosts and co-chairs of this year’s Met Gala.

Lin-Manuel MirandaMiranda will host the event, which will reflect the strong Hollywood theme, alongside Ryan ReynoldsBlake Lively and Regina King.

The Met Gala, set for May 2, a primary source of income for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, follows last September’s scaled-back, pandemic-restricted “mini-gala” that launched the Met’s two-part exhibition “In America: An Anthology of Fashion.”

The exhibit will include “cinematic vignettes” exploring the roots of American fashion and designed by film directors King, Sofia Coppola, Martin Scorsese, Chloé Zhao, Tom Ford, Janicza Bravo, Julie Dash and Autumn de Wilde.

Ford, Adam Mosseri and Anna Wintour will continue their roles as honorary co-chairs for the May event.

The “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” exhibit will open to the public on May 7.

John Leguizamo to Serve as Presenter at 94th Annual Academy Awards Show

John Leguizamo has a date with Oscar

The 61-year-old Colombian actor will serve as a presenter for this year’s Academy Awards show.

John LeguizamoLeguizamo joins a roster of presenters that includes Daniel KaluuyaMila Kunis, Lupita Nyong’oNaomi ScottWesley Snipes, John Travolta, Ruth E. CarterKevin Costner, Anthony Hopkins, Zoë KravitzLady Gaga, Lily James, Simu LiuRami MalekRosie PerezChris RockUma Thurman and Yuh-Jung Youn.

The Oscars will air live on March 27 on ABC.

Oscarcast producers Will Packer and Shayla Cowan had previously discussed the presenters who’ll form part of the show.

“Movies inspire us, entertain us and unite us across the globe,” Packer said at the time. “That’s the precise goal of the show this year, and we’re thrilled to welcome the first of a stellar lineup joining the Oscars stage to help us celebrate the power of film and honor the year’s best in filmmaking.”

The Power of the Dog leads the field with 12 nominations coming into this month’s Oscar show, and Dune is next with 10.

ABC will air the 94th annual Academy Awards live from Dolby Theatre in Hollywood at 5:00 pm PT/8:00 pm ET and in 200-plus territories around the world.

Rosie Perez Among First Presenters Announced for This Year’s Academy Awards Show

Rosie Perez has a date with Oscar

The 57-year-old Puerto Rican Oscar-nominated actress will serve as a presenter at this year’s Academy Awards show.

Rosie PerezOscarcast producers Will Packer and Shayla Cowan announced the first batch of presenters for the 94th Academy Awards that also includes Kevin Costner, Zoë KravitzLady Gaga, Chris Rock and Yuh-Jung Youn.

“Movies inspire us, entertain us and unite us across the globe,” Packer said. “That’s the precise goal of the show this year, and we’re thrilled to welcome the first of a stellar lineup joining the Oscars stage to help us celebrate the power of film and honor the year’s best in filmmaking.”

Yellowstone’s Costner, The Batman’s Kravitz, House of Gucci’s Gaga, Birds of Prey‘s Perez, Fargos Rock and Minaris Youn make up the first group of announced presenters.

The producers will announce more talent joining the show in the coming weeks.

The show traditionally brings back the previous year’s winners to present Best Actress and Best Actor.

The Power of the Dog leads the field with 10 nominations coming into this month’s Oscar show, and Dune is next with 10.

ABC will air the 94th annual Academy Awards will air live from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on Sunday, March 27, 2022 at 5:00 pm PT/8:00 pm ET and in 200-plus territories around the world.

Charlie Sheen to Star in the New Hollywood Dramedy Series “Ramble On”

Charlie Sheen is ready to ramble

The 56-year-old part-Spanish American actor and former Two and a Half Men star will be heading back to television.

Charlie SheenHe has partnered with Entourage creator Doug Ellin for Ramble On, a new dramedy series set in Hollywood.

The series will star Sheen and Entourage’s Kevin Connolly and Kevin Dillon as themselves as Hollywood veterans looking to reinvent their voices alongside up and comers looking to establish their own.

It will also feature Sheen’s father Martin Sheen, Kimiko Glenn, Bre-Z, John C. McGinley, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Zulay Henao, Mark Cuban, James Hiroyuki Liao, Harvey Guillén, Ana Ortiz, Sara Sanderson, Mikaela Hoover and Adam Waheed with a guest appearance by Entourage alum Emmanuelle Chriqui.

Ramble On is produced by Angry Lunch, a new production company founded by Ellin and Ted Foxman, in association with Action Park Media. The pair will executive produce alongside Gary Goldman with Jeremy Alter producing.

A pilot episode, which is being financed by Foxman and Ellin, wrapped this week. The producers are in talks with buyers for the show but could also look at new ways of distribution.

“This idea has been spinning in my head for years and seeing it come to life is incredible,” said Ellin. “I feel beyond grateful that so many of my Entourage crew and cast members, along with some of the most talented, comedic forces in the industry, have joined us on this exciting new journey.  We cannot wait to share this with the world.”

Sony Pictures Releases Trailer for “Bullet Train,” Featuring Bad Bunny in His Big Screen Acting Debut

Bad Bunny is headed to the big screen with a bullet (train)

Sony Pictures has released the official trailer for Bullet Train, an action film starring the 27-year-old Puerto Rican Grammy-winning rapper, singer and songwriter in his big screen debut. He previously appeared on television in Netflix‘s Narcos: Mexico.

Bad Bunny

Bad Bunny stars opposite Hollywood heavyweights Brad Pitt, Sandra Bullock, Michael Shannon and more in the film.

In the film, the “Yo Perreo Sola” will play a hitman, part of an ensemble cast of assassins, all with connected, though conflicting objectives. And all of them riding a non-stop bullet train in Japan.

Expect the action to come hard and fast in this slick flick, directed by David Leitch.

Bullet Train is set for release in theaters from July 15, 2022.

Bad Bunny is certainly having his moment in the limelight right now…

Last week, he came out on top at the Premio Lo Nuestro awards show with six honors, and he’s just crashed a record with his YHLQMDLG album, which logged a 59th week atop Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart, passing a market that stood for over 27 years.

YHLQMDLG made history in several ways back in March 2020, when it landed at No. 2 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart, for the highest charting all-Spanish-language album of all time.

Mario Lopez to Star Opposite Jana Kramer in Lifetime Holiday Movie

Mario Lopez is hoping to get you into the holiday spirit this Christmas…

The 48-year-old Mexican American actor/television personality will star in a Lifetime film as part of the network’s annual It’s a Wonderful Lifetime holiday slate.

Mario LopezLopez will star opposite Jana Kramer in the dance-centric TV movie, Untitled Mario Lopez/Jana Kramer Holiday Movie (wt), which also stars comedian Cheri Oteri and Lopez’s wife, Courtney Lopez.

Here’s the film: Former Broadway star, Billy Holiday (Lopez), returns to his hometown for Christmas after being abruptly fired as the host-producer-judge of the hit TV series “Celebrity Dance Off.” While there, he encounters Rae (Kramer), the charismatic owner of the local dance studio, where Billy’s 12-year-old nephew is her standout student. This Christmas, Rae is planning a dance recital fundraiser with the goal of taking her students to see a Broadway show in New York City. Billy volunteers to help Rae with the recital by reviving the town’s traditional Christmas Eve show, which was once a showcase for local talent. With Billy’s knack for producing and Rae’s knowledge of all things local, their collaboration clicks, and romantic sparks start flying!

Cheri Oteri stars as Dallas, Billy’s high-powered, fast talking Hollywood agent and Mario’s real-life wife, Courtney stars as Joanna, the charismatic host of “Celebrity Dance Off” who has just replaced Billy as executive producer and head judge.

Untitled Mario Lopez/Jana Kramer Holiday Movie (wt) is produced by Via Mar and Roberts Media, LLC. with Jeff Stearns, Mark Roberts, Lopez and Kramer serving as executive producers.

David Kendall directs from a script by Aliza Murrieta and Peter Murrieta.

Amazon Releases Trailer for Desi Arnaz & Lucille Ball Documentary “Lucy and Desi”

Desi Arnaz’s life with Lucille Ball is getting the documentary treatment…

Amazon has unveiled the trailer for Lucy and Desi, a documentary film from director Amy Poehler.

Desi Arnaz & Lucille BallThe doc is set to debut exclusively on Prime Video on March 4, after its well-received January premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.

Lucy and Desi features interviews with Lucie Arnaz Luckinbill, Norman Lear, Desi Arnaz Jr, Carol Burnett and Bette Midler and explores the unlikely partnership and enduring legacy of one of the most prolific power couples in entertainment history, Ball and Arnaz.

The Hollywood power couple risked everything to be together—their love for each other, leading to I Love Lucy, the most influential show in the history of television.

Desi—an immigrant from Cuba who lost everything in exile—became a bandleader, and eventually a brilliant producer and technical pioneer. Lucille came from nothing and, with an unrivaled work ethic, built a career as a model, chorus girl and eventually as an actor in the studio system. She found her calling in comedy, first in radio.

When Lucille was finally granted the opportunity to have her own television show, she insisted that her real-life spouse, Desi, be cast as her husband. Defying the odds, they reinvented the medium, on the screen and behind the cameras. The foundation of I Love Lucy was the constant rupture and repair of unconditional love. What Lucy and Desi couldn’t make work with each other, they gave to the rest of the world.

Mark Monroe wrote the film.

It’s the second in recent memory to spotlight the story of Ball and Arnaz following Aaron Sorkin’s Being the Ricardos, starring Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem, which has been nominated for Oscars in the categories of Best Actress (Kidman), Actor (Bardem) and Supporting Actor (J.K. Simmons).

Producers Guild to Honor Rita Moreno with Stanley Kramer Award

Rita Moreno is earning yet another honor…

The Producers Guild will present the 90-year-old Puerto Rican actress, singer and dancer with the 2022 Stanley Kramer Award at the 33rd annual PGA Awards, set for March 19 at the Fairmont Century Plaza.

Rita MorenoThe honor goes to a production, producer or other individuals “whose achievement or contribution illuminates and raises public awareness of important social issues.”

Moreno, an EGOT winner, will join previous recipients including Jane Fonda as well as Get Out, Loving, Fruitvale Station, The Normal Heart, Bombshell, The Hunting Ground, An Inconvenient Truth and Hotel Rwanda.

Kramer’s work included such iconic films as Inherit the Wind, On the Beach, The Defiant Ones and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.

“With grace, intelligence, charisma, and kindness, Rita Moreno made her mark in history as a brilliant entertainer and leveraged that star power to shepherd stories that tap into the human experience and represent people and communities we rarely see celebrated in film and TV,” PGA presidents Gail Berman and Lucy Fisher said Wednesday. “Beyond her on-screen contributions, she has used her unmistakable voice to hold a mirror to the prejudices and inequities that she so often experienced throughout her career. Her activism, strength, and artistic contributions set the precedent for how to be a changemaker in Hollywood, and it is our great honor to present Rita with the Stanley Kramer Award this year.”

Moreno most recently appeared and executive produced Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story after winning an Oscar for the original film, the latest in a seven-decade career that began with her Broadway debut at 13. She has appeared in more than 40 feature films and countless TV series including most recently Norman Lear’s remake of One Day at a Time. Her documentary Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It had its world debut at Sundance Film Festival last year.

Moreno previously received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush, the National Medal of Arts by President Barack Obama, the SAG Life Achievement Award, the Peabody Career Achievement Award and a Kennedy Center Honor.

“The last thing I ever dreamed of in my young life was being honored in any circumstance,” Moreno said. “That the Producers Guild of America has chosen to honor me not only for my work but for the principles I have tried to uphold and live by throughout my life is so gratifying. I am thrilled.”

Edward James Olmos to Appear in The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ New Latin Interview Series “Seen”

Edward James Olmos is making a seen

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has launched a new Latin interview video series titled Seen, that will feature interviews with Latino/a stars including the 74-year-old Mexican American Oscar-nominated actor.

Edward James Olmos

Hosted by journalist Nick Barili, Season 1 will feature interviews with Olmos, John Leguizamo and Eva Longoria.

“What a dream to host a series celebrating our community leaders like John Leguizamo, Eva Longoria and Edward James Olmos by giving them the recognition they deserve. Not only for trailblazing with their careers, but also for using their platforms to be a voice for our community. I look forward to sharing their journeys, their passions, and their legacy with the world,” Barili tells Deadline.

“This is a step in the right direction to address the lack of representation in Hollywood, but we still have a lot of work to do,” he added.

In the series premiere above, Barili has a one-on-one conversation with Leguizamo about how he navigated the industry over his decades-long career and how he’s confronted stereotypical casting. They also dive into the underrepresentation of the Latino community both in front of and behind the camera, tokenism, colorism, and what’s left for Leguizamo to accomplish.

“The conversation with John resonated with me at my core,” Barili said. “Not only is his show Freak the first time I truly felt seen, but also, he’s broken down walls for our community every step of his career. When Hollywood would only typecast him in stereotypical, one-dimensional roles, he took it upon himself to create, write and perform his own one-man shows that gave Latinos like me a chance to see themselves as three-dimensional characters that we didn’t get to see when we turned on the TV. They were complex, funny, courageous, vulnerable, and made me feel proud to be Latino.”

The second episode will feature an interview with Olmos, airing on January 31. Barili and Olmos pay a visit to the students from the Youth Cinema Project program at Los Angeles County’s Bell Gardens Intermediate School.

On February 7, Barili and Longoria tour her alma mater, California State University, Northridge, where she received a master’s degree in Chicano Studies in 2013 while filming Desperate Housewives.

Barili co-founded the Latinx in Media & Arts Coalition, which focuses on promoting Latinx creatives, increasing access to traditional and new-media platforms, providing resources and opportunities to youth, and cultivating the next generation of Latinx entertainment and creative professionals.

Javier Bardem to Receive Maltin Modern Master Award at This Year’s Santa Barbara Film Festival

Javier Bardem is officially a master

The 52-year-old Spanish Oscar-winning actor will be honored with the prestigious Maltin Modern Master Award at the 37th annual edition of the Santa Barbara Film Festival.

Javier BardemBardem will be feted alongside his Being the Ricardos co-star Nicole Kidman on Thursday, March 10 when they’ll engage with veteran film historian and critic Leonard Maltin for an in-person conversation about their careers leading up to this year’s performances as Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball in Aaron Sorkin’s acclaimed film from Amazon Studios.

Bardem and Kidman recently received individual SAG Award nominations in the lead actor and actress categories.

Bardem and Kidman, who have never before worked together, previously won Oscars for No Country for Old Men (2007) and The Hours (2002), respectively. Each has a long career of acclaimed performances.

“Nicole Kidman continues to challenge and reinvent herself year after year. Javier Bardem’s talent is a gift to the world. Only in Hollywood could these actors find themselves playing America’s all time favorite TV couple. It’s cause for celebration,” Maltin said.

Santa Barbara International Film Festival

The Modern Master Award was established in 1995 and is the highest accolade presented by SBIFF. Created to honor an individual who has enriched our culture through accomplishments in the motion picture industry, it was re-named the Maltin Modern Master Award in 2015 in honor of longtime SBIFF moderator and renowned film critic Leonard Maltin.

Past recipients include Bill Murray, Brad Pitt, Glenn Close, Denzel Washington, Michael Keaton, Bruce Dern, Ben Affleck, Christopher Plummer, Christopher Nolan, James Cameron, Clint Eastwood, Cate Blanchett, Will Smith, George Clooney and Peter Jackson.

This is the first time a pair of actors will be honored together.

Other Santa Barbara tributes previously announced include Benedict Cumberbatch with the Vanguard AwardKing Richard stars Will Smith and Aunjanue Ellis for Outstanding Performers of the Year, Kristen Stewart for the American Riviera Award, and collectively named for Virtuoso Awards are West Side Story’s Ariana DeBoseCODA actors Emilia Jones and Troy KotsurRed Rocket’s  Simon RexLicorice Pizza’s Alana Haim, and Saniyya Sidney from King Richard.

The 37th Santa Barbara Film Festival is set to take place in-person March 2-12. Official events including screenings, filmmaker Q&As, industry panels and celebrity tributes will be held throughout the city including at the historic Arlington Theatre.