Pardo & Alonso’s “Revolution” Renewed for Second Season

Posted on April 27, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

It looks like Daniella Alonso and JD Pardo have hit pay-dirt… as long as their characters don’t meet an untimely end.

NBC has given an early renewal to its hit freshman series Revolution, which stars the 34-year-old Puerto Rican/Peruvian-American actress and 32-year-old Argentinean/Salvadoran American actor.

The network has given the sci-fi series a full-season, 22-episode pickup.

Revolution, the Monday night drama that centers on a family trying to reunite amidst a worldwide power failure, is executive produced by Eric Kripke, J.J. Abrams and Bryan Burk.

Revolution is the season’s top-rated drama on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox and the top-rated new series among those networks in adults 18-49, scoring a 4.6 rating, 12 share and 11.8 million viewers overall in “most current” averages for the season to date.

Pardo portrays Jason Neville on the series, while Alonso plays Nora Clayton.

Saldaña ‘Ready’ for Action in New “Star Trek Into Darkness” Trailer

Posted on March 10, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Zoë Saldaña is ready to head into the darkness…

Or at least that’s what the 34-year-old Puerto Rican/Dominican-American actress says in the latest trailer for J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek Into Darkness.

The clip for Paramount Pictures’ follow-up the blockbuster hit sequel to 2009’s Star Trek reboot appeared before showings of Disney’s Oz: The Great and Powerful.

Saldaña is reprising her role as Nyota Uhura in the film.

Star Trek Into Darkness opens nationwide on May 17th.

Cuarón Finds Lead Actor for His NBC Drama Pilot “Believe”

Posted on February 15, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Alfonso Cuarón has found an actor he can believe in…

The 51-year-old Mexican filmmaker and J.J. Abrams have cast Jake McLaughlin in their NBC drama pilot Believe.

The high-concept project, written by Cuarón and Mark Friedman, revolves around the unlikely relationship between Bo, a girl who possesses a great gift/powers — which will come into their own in seven years — and Tate (McLaughlin), the man who is sprung from prison to protect her from the people trying to hunt her down.

Cuarón, who will see his latest film Gravity out in theaters in October, will direct the pilot, which he’ll executive produce with Friedman, Abrams and Bryan Burk.

McLaughlin has previously appeared in two of Abrams movies, Cloverfield and Super 8.

Alonso & Pardo Featured in New Action-Packed “Revolution” Promo

Posted on January 7, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

NBC’s sci-fi series Revolution, starring Daniella Alonso and JD Pardo, may not return for the second half of its first season until March… But the network is already building anticipation for the final episodes.

NBC recently released a new promo for the show, which not only features images of the powered up Monroe Republic , but a passionate kiss involving Alonso’s character and Pardo’s character switching allegiances.

During the show’s panel at TCA winter press tour, producer Eric Kripke hinted that surprises would come more often in the new episodes.

“I felt like we could pick up the pace of the stunning revelations. I thought maybe the pace of the shocking surprises was a little too slow… We wanted to have a second half that was bigger and better and more exciting,” he teased. “It will be more shocking, more often.”

The second half will also explore more part of the world as Kripke admitted, “The focus which we’ve seen so far has actually been very limited within the Monroe Republic. In the second half, we start to slowly, but surely expand the world.” He further shared, “We cross the border into Georgia, the Georgia Federation, for instance, another nation, and we see they have many of those things that the Monroe Republic doesn’t… and then we go west.”

He continued, “Anyway, so it’s about expanding the world and it’s about seeing that it’s all of a piece and that we’re teasing it out at a very deliberate pace because we want everyone to really explore the world in an effective way.”

Of the long break between the first and second half, executive producer J.J. Abrams said “it helped tremendously” with his previous show Lost, so “when this came up for this show, I was tremendously relieved.” As the said strategy allows the show to run straight through without further breaks or repeats when it returns, Abrams called it “the best thing for the viewers.”

The new episodes of “Revolution” will being airing on Monday, March 25 at 10:00 pm ET on NBC.

Saldaña to Bring Joy Castro’s “Hell Or High Water” to Life…

Posted on December 8, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Zoë Saldaña is looking to bring a mystery novel to life…

Saldaña has teamed up with producers Jane Startz and Aida Bernal to option the mystery thriller Hell or High Water.

The 34-year-old half-Puerto Rican & half-Dominican American actress and her sister Cisley’s Saldaña Productions will work with Jane Startz Productions and Bernal’s Spellbound Entertainment to bring the novel to the screen.

The companies are currently trying to figure out whether Joy Castro‘s debut novel will be made into a feature or a television series.

Hell or High Water follows New Orleans reporter Nola Céspedes as she is dragged into the city’s post-Katrina underworld on the trail of what she thinks will be her big scoop. The novel was released July 17 by Thomas Dunne Books and was named one of the best books of 2012 by The Kirkus Review.

Saldaña is starring in the upcoming J.J. Abrams-directed Star Trek Into Darkness, which will be released on May 17, 2013.

She’ll next be seen alongside Clive Owen in Blood Ties, directed by Guillaume Canet.

Saldaña Sheds Tears in the Teaser Trailer for “Star Trek Into Darkness”

Posted on December 6, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Zoë Saldaña is getting all emotional in the new Star Trek film…

In the just released teaser trailer for Star Trek Into Darkness – the J.J. Abrams-directed sequel to the blockbuster 2009 series reboot – the 34-year-old half-Puerto Rican & half-Dominican American actress sheds a few tears in one of her scenes in the trailer.

Saldaña, reprising her role as Uhura, is spotted with her hands in her face, being held tightly by a distraught Scotty (Simon Pegg). In another, she’s seen looking up at something in the sky.

Getting more attention in the trailer: Benedict Cumberbatch, as The Darkness. The BAFTA and Emmy-nominated Sherlock star looms large and destructive in the teaser. Even though his role is still unclear, Cumberbatch is definitely not a nice guy. And, he’s a major turncoat, taking on Captain Kirk (Chris Pine), Spock (Zachary Quinto) and the rest of the Enterprise.

From the first look, his destruction is mighty, and it more than shatters what he calls their illusion of safety. Get ready for an extra teaser on December 17, for a few more morsels ahead of the first trailer.

Star Trek Into Darkness lands in theaters on May 15, 2013.

Cuarón to Direct First American Television Project for NBC…

Posted on September 22, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Alfonso Cuarón is set to make his first foray into American television…

The 50-year-old Mexican filmmaker has partnered with J.J. Abrams for a high-concept drama, which has landed at NBC with a pilot production commitment.

Cuarón, a three-time Oscar nominee, will direct the pilot, which he’ll co-write with Home of the Brave’s Mark Friedman. The project centers on a girl who possesses great powers, which will come to fruition in seven years, and the man who gets released from prison to protect her from those trying to hunt her down.

Warner Bros. Television and Abrams’ studio-based Bad Robot are producing the untitled project, with Abrams, Cuarón, Friedman and Bryan Burk executive producing.

Cuarón received Academy Award nominations for writing Y tu mamá también and Children of Men, both of which he directed as well. He also received a nod for editing Children of Men. He also helmed Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

Alonso to Star in NBC’s “Revolution”

Posted on June 29, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Daniella Alonso is ready for a revolution…

The 33-year-old half-Puerto Rican and part-Peruvian actress has landed a role on NBC’s J.J. Abrams-produced drama Revolution.

Alonso will portray “Nora” on the eagerly awaited show. Series creator and executive producer Eric Kripke describes her character as a “rebel fighter, battling against the militia that controls North America. And she’s got a lot of rough water under the bridge with Miles, Billy Burke’s character. And she likes to blow stuff up.”

Alonso has previously had recurring roles on Friday Night Lights, One Tree Hill and Covert Affairs.

Revolution, which showcases a post-apocalyptic America where electrical devices cease functioning, debuts on September 17.

Diaz & Garcia Among the Latinos in Paramount’s Anniversary Photo

Posted on June 13, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Paramount Pictures is celebrating its 100th anniversary in a picture-perfect way, with help from five of the studio’s biggest Latino luminaries, including Cameron Diaz and Andy Garcia…

The third-oldest existing movie studio in the world released a star-studded commemorative photo through Vanity Fair magazine. In all, the picture features 116 of the biggest names in the movie industry who’ve worked with one of Hollywood’s most iconic studios.

In the image, A-list actors like Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt pose together on a giant stairway alongside noted producers, directors and executives like Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and J.J. Abrams.

“It was more than thrilling… and incredibly nostalgic… to be part of that extraordinary gathering of actors who had worked for Paramount, as I had,” said actress Ali McGraw, who can be spotted standing in the middle of photo with her Love Story costar Ryan O’Neal.

Here’s a look at the five Latinos featured in the image:

Cameron Diaz
The 39-year-old half-Cuban American actress, who may be writing her first book soon, starred in the following Paramount Pictures projects: The Shrek series and Vanilla Sky.

Andy Garcia
The 56-year-old Cuban American actor received an Academy Award nomination for his performance as Vincent Santino Corleone (a.k.a. Vincent Mancini) in one of the studio’s biggest hits, The Godfather Part III.

Zoë Saldaña
The 33-year-old half-Dominican/half-Puerto Rican American actress will be reprising her role as Uhura in the upcoming sequel to Paramount’s hugely successful Star Trek reboot.

Alejandro González Iñárritu
The 48-year-old Mexican filmmaker, the first Mexican director to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director, directed Paramount’s award-winning ensemble film Babel, which starred Gael García Bernal, Pitt, Cate Blanchett.

Antonio Banderas
The 51-year-old Spanish actor, who appears in the picture next to his wife Melanie Griffith, not only starred opposite Diaz in Paramount’s Shrek sequels, but he also starred in the Shrek prequel/spin-off Puss In Boots.

The epic picture is featured in the July issue of Vanity Fair.

Saldaña May Star Opposite Megan Fox in Swindle

Posted on March 15, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Zoë Saldaña could soon be sharing the screen with Megan Fox…

Paramount Pictures has acquired the action-heist spec script Swindle as a starring vehicle for the 33-year-old half-Dominican/half-Puerto Rican American actress and Fox.

The actresses will reportedly produce the film with Moneyball producer Michael De Luca, who is developing the project.

Paramount is remaining tight-lipped about the storyline for the project, which came out of a desire by Saldaña and Fox to do a movie together.

Saldana is currently shooting the J.J. Abrams-directed Star Trek sequel and will next star in the Guillaume Canet-directed Blood Ties, opposite Clive Owen, Billy Crudup, and Marion Cotillard.

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