Eva Longoria to Star Opposite Eddie Murphy in Amazon MGM’s Heist Comedy “The Pickup”

Eva Longoria is readying for a heist

The 48-year-old Mexican American actress, director and producer will star in Amazon MGM’s heist comedy The Pickup opposite Eddie Murphy.

Eva LongoriaLongoria will star alongside fellow new cast additions Ismael Cruz Cordova (The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power), Jack Kesy and Marshawn Lynch (Bottoms).

Details as to their roles are under wraps, as is the plot of the film. Others set for roles, as previously announced, are Pete Davidson, Keke Palmer and Andrew Dice Clay.

Tim Story (The Blackening) is directing from a script by Matt Mider and Kevin Burrows. Producers include John Davis and John Fox for Davis Entertainment; Murphy and Charisse Hewitt-Webster for Eddie Murphy Productions; and Story for The Story Company.

Recently making her feature directorial debut with the dramedy Flamin’ Hot, which brought Searchlight its biggest ever streaming premiere as the first title ever to debut simultaneously on Hulu and Disney+, Longoria’s most recently appeared on screen in the TIFF drama Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, as well as the Oscar-nominated anthology Tell It Like a Woman. Up next, she’ll be seen starring on the Apple TV+ series Land of Women, based on Sandra Barneda’s bestseller, as well as the fourth season of Hulu’s hit comedy Only Murders in the Building.

Longoria is best known for her starring role in Desperate Housewives.

Best known for his role as Silvan Elf Arondir on Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, which is expected to return for its second season this year, Cordova prior to that was seen in notable roles on HBO’s The Undoing, Epix’Berlin Station, Showtime’s Ray Donovan and CBS’s The Good Wife. His feature credits include FinestkindMary Queen of Scots and Sony’s remake of Miss Bala.

TNT Releases Trailer for Reyes’ Dramedy “Claws”

Judy Reyes is clawing her way back into television…

TNT has released a new trailer for Claws, starring the 49-year-old Dominican American actress.

Judy Reyes,

The dramedy, which also stars Niecy Nash, will premiere on June 11 premiere.

TNT describes the hourlong show as “a midnight-dark, wickedly funny meditation on female badness set in a Central Florida nail salon, where there is a lot more going on than silk wraps and pedicures.”

Written/co-executive produced by Eliot Laurence and directed by Nicole Kassell, Claws follows the rise of five diverse and treacherous manicurists working at the Nail Artisan of Manatee County. In addition to Reyes and Nash, the series also stars Carrie Preston, Harold Perrineau, Jenn Lyon, Jack Kesy, Karrueche Tran, Kevin Rankin and Jason Antoon co-star.

“This is a show with great storytelling featuring empowered female characters and brought to life by a diverse group of incredibly talented individuals both in front of and behind the camera,” Sarah Aubrey, EVP Original Programming for TNT, said upon’s the show’s 10-episode pickup.

The series hails from executive producers Rashida Jones, Will McCormack and Janine Sherman Barrois, who serves as showrunner. Jones and McCormack’s Le Train Train produces in association with Warner Horizon Television and Turner’s Studio T.

FX Orders 13-Episode Season of del Toro’s Vampire Series “The Strain”

Guillermo del Toro’s latest television project will most certainly be getting airtime…

The 49-year-old Mexican filmmaker’s The Strain, which is based on del Toro and Chuck Hogan’s vampire novel trilogy, has received a series pick up at FX with a 13-episode order.

guillermo-del-toro

The Strain is a high-concept thriller that tells the story of Dr. Ephraim Goodweather (Corey Stoll), the head of the Centers for Disease Control Canary Team in New York City. He and his team are called on to investigate a mysterious viral outbreak with hallmarks of an ancient and evil strain of vampirism. As the strain spreads, Eph, his team, and an assembly of everyday New Yorkers wage war for the fate of humanity.

The cast includes Mia Maestro, Sean Astin, Kevin Durand, Natalie Brown, Jonathan Hyde, Richard Sammel, Robert Maillet, Jack Kesy, Ben Hyland and Miguel Gomez.

“This is an epic story with stunning visuals and remarkable acting,” said FX’s Eric Schrier and Nick Grad. “The Strain totally re-imagines and re-invents the genre.”

FX had landed the project in a bidding war months ago, hiring a full writing staff and committing $500,000 to creature creation.

The Strain will now head into production on its first season, with the majority of the show’s scripts already completed.

There’s also a major casting change… The role of Professor Abraham Setrakian, played in the pilot by John Hurt, is being recast.

Filming is slated to begin this month in Toronto for a July premiere.

FX’s plans to run for 39-65 episodes for the series.