Jacob Vargas to Appear on Disney+’s TV Series “National Treasure”

Posted on June 22, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Jacob Vargas is treasuring his latest gig…

The 50-year-old Mexican-American actor and performer has landed a heavily recurring role in National Treasure, Disney Branded Television’s television series for Disney+ produced by ABC Signature.

Executive produced by the films’ producer Jerry Bruckheimer, director Jon Turteltaub and writers Marianne and Cormac Wibberley, the project is an expansion of the National Treasure film franchise told from the point of view of young heroine Jess (Lisette Olivera), a DREAMer in search of answers about her family who embarks on the adventure of a lifetime to uncover the truth about the past and save a lost Pan-American treasure.

The series, whose pilot episode is written by the Wibberleys and will be directed by Mira Nair, centers on Jess, a Latina whose brilliant and resourceful mind loves a good mystery, and she has a natural talent for solving puzzles. Over the course of the show, Jess will uncover her own buried history, as well as the truth about her parents and her connection to a long-lost treasure.

Vargas plays Rafael a rugged, treasure-obsessed, adventurous soul with a good sense of humor.

Vargas recently portrayed Tony Ochoa on Mr. Iglesias for Netflix. He also recurred on Mayans M.C. and appeared on Luke Cage and Sons of Anarchy.

On the film side, he most recently was seen in Steven Soderbergh’s Kimi. His other film credits include Princess of the Row, The 33 and Diego Luna’s biopic Cesar Chavez.

Jacob Vargas to Star in Steven Soderbergh’s Next Film “KIMI”

Posted on March 18, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Jacob Vargas has lined up his next big role…

The 49-year-old Mexican actor has joined the cast of Steven Soderbergh’s next film, the New Line Max Original feature KIMI, with Zoë Kravitz on board to star.

Byron Bowers and Jaime Camil are also on board.

The film will premiere exclusively on HBO Max. David Koepp penned the script and will produce with Michael Polaire.

Plot details are being kept under wraps.

The film would mark the second collaboration between Warner Bros Pictures Group, HBO Max and Soderbergh since the recent restructuring of the studio, and the third between Soderbergh and HBO Max. It follows No Sudden Move, the upcoming starry Max Original ensemble crime thriller from Warner Bros. Pictures that features Don Cheadle, Benicio Del Toro, David Harbour, Amy Seimetz, Jon Hamm, Ray Liotta, Kieran Culkin, Brendan Fraser, Noah Jupe, Bill Duke, Frankie Shaw and Julia Fox.

Soderbergh’s most recent pic, Let Them All Talk, with Meryl Streep, premiered on HBO Max in December.

Vargas and Soderbergh’s partnership goes all the way back to Soderbergh’s Oscar-winning drug trafficking film Traffic, where Vargas played del Toro’s partner Manolo. Vargas would later appear in Soderbergh’s HBO series Mosaic.

He currently stars in the Netflix series Mr. Iglesias and was previously on the series Luke Cage and Sons of Anarchy. Recent film credits include Mark Carlson’s Princess of the Row opposite Martin Sheen and Ana Ortiz, The 33 as Edison “Elvis” Peña, one of the 33 Chilean miners that was trapped for 69 days, and Diego Luna’s biopic Cesar Chavez as Richard Chavez opposite Michael Peña.

Emilio Estevez’s “The Public” to Stream on Peacock in September

Posted on August 25, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Emilio Estevez is going public with his latest project…

Peacock has unveiled a slate of original films that will debut on NBC’s streaming service in September, including the 58-year-old part-Spanish American actor’s latest film The Public.

The film, written, executive produced and directed by Estevez, centers around an act of civil disobedience that turns into a standoff with police when homeless people in Cincinnati take over the public library to seek shelter from the bitter cold.

The film stars Alec Baldwin, Estevez, Jena Malone, Taylor Schilling, Christian Slater, Che “Rhymefest” Smith, Gabrielle Union, Jacob Vargas, Michael K. Williams, and Jeffrey Wright.

The Public will premiere on Peacock on Thursday, September 15.

The film had its world premiere on September 9, 2018, at the Toronto Film Festival. It was theatrically released in the United States on April 5, 2019, by Greenwich Entertainment.

Netflix Renews Gabriel Iglesias’ “Mr Iglesias” for Second Season

Posted on August 10, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesiasis returning for his sophomore year…

Netflix has renewed Mr. Iglesias, starring the 43-year-old Mexican American stand-up comedian and actor, for a second season.

In the series created by Kevin Hench, Iglesias stars as Gabe, a good-natured public high school teacher who works at his alma mater. Gabe takes on teaching gifted but misfit kids to not only save them from being “counseled out” by a bully bureaucrat assistant principal (Oscar Nuñez) but also to help them unlock their full potential.

Sherri Shepherd, Jacob Vargas, Maggie Geha, Richard Gant, Cree Cicchinoand Fabrizio Guidoco-star.

Hench returns for Season 2 as showrunner and will serve as executive producer alongside Iglesias, Ron DeBlasioand Joe Meloche.

“A lot of my fans ask me what I would be if I wasn’t a stand-up comic,” Iglesias said previously. “I tell them a history teacher because I love history. So it’s great that in this sitcom, I have the opportunity to live out my alternate reality had I not become Fluffy.”

The series is part of a three project deal Iglesias signed with Netflix a year ago, which also includes a pair of stand-up specials from the veteran comic.

Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias’s Netflix Series “Mr. Iglesias” to Premiere in June

Posted on April 25, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesiasis ready to lead the class…

Netflix has announced plans to globally premiere the 42-year-old Mexican American comedian/actor’s multi-camera comedy Mr. Iglesias on Friday, June 21.

Iglesias plays Gabe, a good-natured public high school teacher who works at his alma mater. Gabe takes on teaching gifted but misfit kids to not only save them from being “counseled out” by a bully bureaucrat assistant principal (Oscar Nuñez) but also to help them unlock their full potential.

Sherri Shepherd, Jacob Vargas, Maggie Geha, Richard Gant, Cree Cicchino and Fabrizio Guido co-star.

“A lot of my fans ask me what I would be if I wasn’t a stand-up comic,” Iglesias said. “I tell them a history teacher because I love history. So it’s great that in this sitcom, I have the opportunity to live out my alternate reality had I not become Fluffy.”

The series is part of a three-project deal Iglesias signed with Netflix a year ago, which also includes a pair of stand-up specials from the veteran comic.

Mr. Iglesias is created by Kevin Hench and executive produced by Iglesias, Hench, Ron DeBlasio and Joe Meloche.

The first season will be 10 episodes.

Jacob Vargas to Star on Netflix’s “Mr. Iglesias”

Posted on August 18, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Jacob Vargas is making the grades…

The 47-year-old Mexican-American actor has been cast as a series regular opposite Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias in Mr. Iglesias, Netflix’s upcoming comedy series from the comedian and Cristela co-creator/executive producer Kevin Hench.

In the comedy, Iglesias plays Gabe, a good-natured public high school teacher who works at his alma mater. He takes on teaching gifted but misfit kids to not only save them from being “counseled out” by a bully bureaucrat Assistant Principal, but also to help them unlock their full potential.

Vargas will play Tony Medina, Gabe’s longtime best friend and fellow teacher at the high school.

Iglesias executive produces with Hench.

Vargas is known for his role as Allesandro Montez on Sons of Anarchy. He stars in the feature The Public with Emilio Estevez, which will screen at the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival. His recent television credits include Luke Cage and HBO’s Mosaic.

Ferrera Among 683 Stars Invited to Become Members of The Academy

Posted on June 30, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

America Ferrera is joining the Academy…

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited a record 683 people to joins its ranks, including the 32-year-old Honduran American actress, more than double last year’s 322 invitees.

Best known for her Golden Globe-, Screen Actors Guild Award and Emmy-winning role on ABC’s Ugly Betty, Ferrera has also starred in several acclaimed films including Real Women Have Curves, Under the Same Moon, End of Watch, Cesar Chavez and Lords of Dogtown.

The Academy was careful to include a breakdown by gender and race, with the new list comprising of 46% women, including Girl in Progess star Eva Mendes and Fast & Furious star Michelle Rodriguez, and 41% people of color, including Luis Guzman, Oscar Isaac and Spanish director J.A. Bayona.

“We’re proud to welcome these new members to the Academy and know they view this as an opportunity and not just an invitation — a mission and not just a membership,” Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs said in a statement. “This class continues our long-term commitment to welcoming extraordinary talent reflective of those working in film today. We encourage the larger creative community to open its doors wider and create opportunities for anyone interested in working in this incredible and storied industry.”

The new invitees include 28 Oscar winners, range in age from 24 to 91 and represent 59 countries.

Other Latinos invited to join AMPAS include Enrique Castillo, Sal Lopez, Marisa Paredes, Jacob Vargas, Daphne Zuniga, Ciro Guerra and Nicole Garcia.

Check out the complete list here.

XLrator Media Acquires U.S. Rights to Vargas’ “Crossing Point”

Posted on October 31, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Jacob Vargas’ latest project is crossing into the United States…

XLrator Media has acquired the U.S. rights to Crossing Point, the film starring the 44-year-old Mexican actor.

Along with Vargas, the action-thriller stars Rudy Youngblood (Apocalypto), Luke Goss (the Death Race series, Blade II), Tom Sizemore (Saving Private Ryan), Paulina Gaitan (Sin Nombre, Netflix’s Narcos), María Gabriela de Faría (Nickelodeon’s Isa TKM) and newcomer Shawn Lock.

It’s directed by Daniel Zirilli from a script by Paul Dominic and Lock.

Compound B, the genre division of Bleiberg Entertainment, is representing the sales rights to the film and will be introducing Crossing Point to international buyers at the American Film Market 2015.

XLrator Media will release the film in 2016 through its Turbo action label.

AMC to Release Melendez’s “Journey of a Female Comic” Doc in Southern California

Posted on April 4, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Kiki Melendez’ Hollywood journey will take her to theaters in Southern California…

The award-winning actress, comedienne, writer and producer’s documentary comedy Journey of a Female Comic will be released through AMC Theatres’ AMC Independent Program in Los Angeles and San Diego just in time for CInco de Mayo.

“I am so grateful to AMC Independent for the opportunity to share my story. My hope in making this film, is to encourage and inspire women to take their dreams into their own hands,” says Melendez.

Journey of a Female Comic, which will hit theaters on Friday, May 2, 2014 with other major markets to follow, is an inspirational film for audiences of all races, genders, and backgrounds.

It centers on Melendez’ life growing up in a developing country, being raised by a single immigrant mother, and her career in Hollywood pursuing the American Dream. Never forgetting her humble beginnings, Melendez’ journey is thought-provoking, inspiring audiences to discover the difference between fame and fulfillment.

AMC’s independent program added the 88-minute film to its slate after it received an enthusiastic reception at test screenings.

The feature began as an experimental short film, premiering at the DR Global Film Festival. It also opened at Miami’s Hispanicize Film Showcase and The Broadway International Film Festival in 2012, where it represented the U.S. and won Best Documentary.

“Journey of A Female Comic fits perfectly within our AMC Independent programming initiative, which opens our screens to movies that resonate with our diverse audiences,” said Nikkole Denson-Randolph, Vice President of Alternative Content at AMC. “Melendez’ story is honest and entertaining, and will connect with many of our guests.”

Journey of A Female Comic also features appearances by other Latino trailblazers in Hollywood, including Edward James Olmos, Jacob Vargas, Esai Morales, Nadine Velazquez, the late Lupe Ontiveros, Maria Conchita Alonso and Guy Ecker.

Melendez also has lively conversations with international stars including Aaron Spelling, Usher, Sofia Vergara, Halle Berry, Hugh Jackman, John Travolta, Shakira and Marc Anthony.

Melendez is best known for creating Galavision’s No. 1 entertainment show in 2000, Kiki Desde Hollywood, and Showtime’s hit show Hot Tamales Live! in 2008, the longest running all-female comedy show, available on HULU.

Consuelos Returning for Season Two of YouTube’s “Blue” Series This Week

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Mark Consuelos will be feelin’ Blue this week…

The 41-year-old half-Mexican American actor, who was just cast in the Liam Neeson-starrer A Walk Among Tombstones, returns to YouTube’s WIGS channel on Friday.

Consuelos is back for the second season of Blue, the channel’s hit online series starring Julia Stiles as a single mother trying to protect her son from the consequences of her secret career as an upscale escort.

Written and directed by Rodrigo Garcia, Blue also features Holly Robinson Peete, Uriah Shelton, Kathleen Quinlan, Carla Gallo and Jacob Vargas.

The series, which will feature 26 all-new episodes, will premiere this Friday, March 15. New episodes will air every Friday through April 5th.

The season two trailer for Blue, as well as all episodes from season one, can be viewed now at www.youtube.com/wigs.

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