Valentina Herrera to Star in the Disney Original Movie “The Slumber Party”

Posted on September 27, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Valentina Herrera is ready to slumber…

The Latina actress will star in Disney Branded Television’s The Slumber Party, a Disney Original Movie based on Jen Malone’s popular teen novel The Sleepover.

The project hails from Imagine Kids+Family, a division of Brian Grazer and Ron Howard’s Imagine Entertainment.

Production is officially underway in Atlanta.

In addition to Herrera, the cast also includes Darby Camp, Emmy Liu-Wang, Dallas Liu and newcomers Alex Cooper Cohen and Ramon Rodriguez.

The coming-of-age comedy, written by Eydie Faye, will be directed by Veronica Rodriguez.

The Slumber Party depicts the hilarious aftermath of a sleepover birthday party hypnotism gone wrong as best friends Megan (Camp) and Paige (Liu-Wang), along with soon-to-be step-sister Veronica (Cooper Cohen), wake up with absolutely no memory of the night before. Now they must retrace their steps to find missing birthday girl Anna Maria (Herrera) … and explain why there’s a flock of baby ducks in the bathtub, what happened to Megan’s left eyebrow, and why she’s wearing unattainable hottie Jake Ramirez’s (Rodriguez) signature black hoodie.

“The Slumber Party is a hilarious ride that looks at female friendship and self-discovery through a sophisticated, cinematic lens,” said Lauren Kisilevsky, senior vice president of Original Movies, Disney Branded Television. “We aim to deliver humor, surprise and delight to our viewers with a movie that will be relatable to audiences of all ages.”

Stephanie Sperber, President of Imagine Kids+Family, said “We are so excited to partner with Lauren Kisilevsky, Jen Dubin and the team at Disney Branded Television on The Slumber Party. Eydie Faye captured the voice and coming-of-age comedy so beautifully in her script, and Veronica Rodriquez is bringing a fresh vision and creative style to the screen. With this film marking IKF’s first feature production, we couldn’t have found a better home than with Disney Branded Television and their proven ability to reach YA and family audiences with timeless and entertaining content.”

Herrera previously starred in Black Widow and Odd Squad.

Zoe Saldana to Star in the Olympic-Themed Drama “Fencer”

Posted on February 15, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Zoe Saldana is en garde for her next project…

The 41-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican American actress is set to star in writer-director Jasmine McGlade’s drama Fencer, which

HanWay Films will sell at the European Film Market (EFM).

Set in the competitive world of fencing, Saldana is attached to play Mae, an ambitious female athlete facing personal demons and childhood rivals as she vies for a spot on the U.S. Olympicteam.

The film is inspired by McGlade’s own experiences as a national champion fencer. McGlade capped her tenure at Harvardby leading her team to the school’s first-ever NCAA Championshiptitle.

Casey Affleck is producing with Whitaker Lader.

Imagine Entertainmentwill executive produce. UTA Independent Film Group and CAA Media Financeare co-repping the U.S.

McGlade commented, “As a writer and filmmaker I seek to tell brazen, character-driven stories about people who are flawed, and thus real. Especially women. Characters who are their own worst enemies and yet incredibly resilient. Fencer is a celebration of perseverance and sacrifice, while also a cautionary tale about the dangers of getting one’s sense of worth and security solely through achievement and external validation. Fencer will provide one of the screen’s first realistic glimpses into the thrilling world of fencing, much more demanding and diverse than stereotypes may suggest, and an intimate and intense look into the minds and lives of female athletes. It is a dream come true to get to work with Zoe on Fencer, and to marry my two greatest passions: filmmaking and fencing.”

Saldana’s credits include the Star Trek franchise, the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, Avatar and its upcoming sequels, and Colombiana.

Antonio Banderas to Star as Pablo Picasso in National Geographic’s Anthology Series “Genius”

Posted on November 3, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Antonio Banderas has landed a genius role…

The 57-year-old Spanish actor will portray Pablo Picasso in the second season of National Geographic’s anthology series Genius.

Banderas will share the role of Picasso with Alex Rich.

Genius will chronicle the life and work of the acclaimed Spanish painter, one of the 20th century’s most influential and celebrated artists.

In addition, Clémence Poésy, Robert Sheehan, Poppy Delevingne, Aisling Franciosi and Sebastian Roché .

The new season, set for a 2018 premiere, is from Fox 21 Television Studios, and will again be executive produced by Brian Grazer and Ron Howard’s Imagine Entertainment, OddLot Entertainment and EUE/Sokolow.

Showrunner, executive producer and writer Ken Biller returns for the new season.

Production begins this month and will shoot in cities throughout Europe for the 10-episode anthology series.

Esai Morales to Star in National Geographic’s Sci-Fi Series “Mars”

Posted on July 24, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Esai Morales has landed an out-of-this-world role…

The 54-year-old Puerto Rican actor has joined the cast for season two of National Geographic global sci-fi series Mars, from Ron Howard and Brian Grazer’s Imagine Entertainment and Radical Media.

Shooting began this week in Budapest on the six-episode series, which is slated to premiere in spring 2018.

The second season’s six-part arc jumps ahead several years into the future after the Daedalus astronauts have built a full-fledged colony called Olympus Town. Having established humankind as an interplanetary species, Mars examines the impact that humans have on the Red Planet and the consequences the planet has on us.

Morales will play Roland St. John, CEO of private enterprise Lukrum Corporation.

Reprising their roles from Season 1 are JiHAE (Mortal Engines) as Hanna Seung, a mission pilot and twin sister of Joon Seung, capsule communicator of mission control; Sammi Rotibi (The Darkest Minds) as Robert Foucault, a Nigerian mechanical engineer and roboticist; Alberto Ammann (Narcos) as Javier Delgado, a hydrologist and geochemist; Clémentine Poidatz (Marie Antoinette) as Amelie Durand, French mission physician and biochemist; Anamaria Marinca (4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days) as Marta Kamen, a Russian exobiologist and geologist; and Cosima Shaw (The Danish Girl) as Leslie Richardson, a British nuclear physicist.

“This season takes us literally into new territory,” said showrunner Dee Johnson. “With no laws, no government and no safety nets of any kind, what is it like to be among the first settlers of Mars? Not only do we explore dangers and mysteries of this brand-new world, but we also explore what it means to be human in a place where so few exist.”

Morales, a presidential candidate for SAG-AFTRA, most recently starred on Ozark. His other credits include How To Get Away With Murder, Chicago P.D. and Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders.

Longoria Signs First-Look Deal with Universal Pictures

Posted on August 16, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Eva Longoria is going universal…

The 41-year-old Mexican American actress, producer and activist and her production company UnbeliEVAble Entertainment have agreed to a two-year, first-look deal with Universal Pictures.

Universal president of production Peter Cramer made the pact.

First up is Universal’s acquisition of rights to My Daughter’s Quinceañera, a pitch from Lauren Iungerich, creator of the MTV series Awkward.

Longoria and producing partner Ben Spector will produce.

It’s the first crack at features for Iungerich, who’s attached to write, direct and co-produce the film that centers on an overwhelmed single father who is faced with the prospect of planning the quinceañera of his daughter’s dreams.

On the Universal deal, Cramer said: “While audiences have identified with Eva through her iconic television roles, she is also an extremely savvy producer with a keen eye for projects that appeal to a broad range of diverse audiences. We are fortunate that Eva has a found a home with Universal, sharing with us her creative instincts and passion for storytelling.”

Longoria, whose deal was made by CAA and Brillstein Entertainment Partners, is filming BBC Two’s high-end comedy miniseries Decline and Fall, an adaptation of Evelyn Waugh’s classic social satire. She’ll next be seen in Ricardo de Montreuil’s Lowriders, which premiered at this year’s LA Film Festival. The film is produced by Imagine Entertainment’s Brian Grazer and Blumhouse Production’s Jason Blum.

“Building upon our continued success as producers in television, we were seeking a home to expand the UnbeliEVAble brand into features,” said Longoria. “There’s simply no better place I could think of than Universal Pictures, whose diverse portfolio of releases is inspirational. Jeff, Donna and Peter’s passion was instrumental in keeping us in the Comcast family, and, beginning with My Daughter’s Quinceañera, we look forward to a long relationship with all our partners at the studio. Lauren’s pitch was so brilliant and funny, and to bring this experience to life is like reliving my 15th birthday.”

Chavarria to Star in 20th Century Fox’s “War of the Planet of the Apes”

Posted on August 25, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Gabriel Chavarria has plenty of reason to go bananas…

The Honduran American actor, who recently signed with Paradigm Talent Agency, is finalizing a deal to be one of two human leads in 20th Century Fox’s War of the Planet of the Apes, the latest installment of the franchise.

Matt Reeves returns to direct, shooting expected to begin in October in Vancouver, Canada.

The film’s sequel, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, grossed $708 million worldwide last year with Reeves at the helm, nearly double the business of the franchise reboot — a major score for Fox and producer Chernin Entertainment.

Chavarria, the young star of Universal Pictures’ upcoming film Low Riders, is the male lead on Hulu’s drama series East Los High.

In Low Riders, from Imagine Entertainment and Blumhouse Productions, he plays an East LA teen immersed in the world of lowrider cars and street tagging while caught between his traditional father (Demian Bichir) and his estranged gangbanger brother, who both are competing in the annual lowrider “Supershow.”

His other recent credits include Aquarius, Prime Suspect, Southland and the feature Teacher of The Year.

Monreal to Star in Untitled Lowrider Project from Universal Pictures

Posted on January 13, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Yvette Monreal is ridin’ low…

The 22-year-old Latina actress has landed a leading role in the untitled lowrider project from Universal Pictures, Blumhouse Productions and Imagine Entertainment.

Gabriel Chavarria, Demian Bichir and Theo Rossi are also starring in the inspirational drama that’s set in the youth culture of East Los Angeles’ world of lowrider cars and street tagging.

The story tells of a teen (Chavarria) caught between his traditional father (Bichir) and his estranged gangbanger brother, Ghost (Rossi), who are both competing in the annual lowrider “Supershow.”

Monreal, who was a regular on Robert Rodriguez’ Matador television series, will portray the romantic interest for Chavarria, taking on the role of a smart, talented maverick of a girl who is a fellow tagger but who also has a scholarship to Columbia University in New York.

Ricardo de Montreuil is directing.

Monreal has also recurred on MTV’s Faking It.

Longoria In Talks to Star Opposite Demian Bichir in Low Riders-Themed Movie

Posted on October 30, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Eva Longoria’s career may be hitting a low point…

The 39-year-old Mexican American actress

From Universal Pictures, Blumhouse Productions and Imagine Entertainment, the film takes place in the East LA world of low rider cars and street tagging.

Bichir was already tapped to play the lead in the film, with Ricardo de Montreuil on board to direct the script, which was written by Josh Bierne-Gordon and Justin Tipping. Previous drafts were written by Cheo Hodari Coker and Elgin James.

Longoria is currently filming Bichir’s directorial debut Refugio, a Mexico City-set drama about a young dreamer who’s born in the circus and embarks on a search to find his long lost true love. Longoria plays a horse acrobat who joins the circus trying to heal a broken heart.

There’s no word on who Longoria would portray in the upcoming feature if she agrees to make the movie.

Delayed “Pelé” Biopic Headed to Theaters After the World Cup

Posted on February 10, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

He’s considered one of the best soccer players of all time… And, now Pelé’s life story is heading to the big screen.

Pelé, the biopic about the legendary 73-year-old Brazilian soccer star, is scheduled to hit theaters sometime in 2014.

But sadly, it doesn’t look like the film will be ready for delivery before this summer’s soccer World Cup, as previously planned, due to a lengthy spell in post-production and reshoots for the project.

Written and directed by Michael Zimbalist and Jeff Zimbalist, the film stars newcomers Leonardo Lima Carvalho and Kevin de Paula, who will both portray the soccer star at different stages in his young life.

The film is described as an origins story, chronicling Pele’s rise from the slums of Sao Paulo to become the people’s hero when, as a 17-year-old, he led Brazil to its first World Cup victory, in 1958.

Carvalho will play Pelé between ages 10 through 13 and De Paula will play him between the ages of 13 and 17.

Vincent D’Onofrio, Rodrigo Santoro, Diego Boneta, Colm Meaney and Seu Jorge also star.

Also in the cast are Brazilian actors Marianna Nunes, Milton Goncales, Rafael Henrique, Marcus Vinicius, Julio Levy, Thelmo Fernandes, Felipe Simas, Charles Myara, Jerome Franz and Roger Haag.

Imagine Entertainment’s Brian Grazer and Seine Pictures‘ Ivan Orlic are producing Pele with Kim Roth and Colin Wilson executive producing.

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