UCP Extends Overall Development Deal with Tanya Saracho

Tanya Saracho is getting an extension…

UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group, has extended an overall development deal with the Latina Mexican-American actress, playwright, dramaturge and screenwriter.

Tanya SarachoShe will develop and produce original projects for broadcast, cable and streaming platforms under the agreement.

Saracho is currently in development on several projects including the series The Wild Wild, inspired by the lives of Annie Oakley, America’s most famous sharpshooter, and the renowned trick-rider Señorita Rosalie, who were both stars of the famed Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show.

She’ll serve as co-creator and executive producer of the project along with Jenniffer Gomez, with Jamie Babbit attached to direct and executive produce.

“It’s a pleasure and honor working with Tanya and her company, Ojalá. Their creative brilliance and entrepreneurial approach to producing and writing is so rare, and we are thrilled to continue our partnership,” said Beatrice Springborn, President, UCP and Universal International Studios, in a statement to Deadline.

“I am grateful to continue my relationship with UCP and be able to keep crafting the stories that matter most to me – brown, queer narratives which are still missing from the landscape and are so important to tell, and which UCP has proven a commitment to nurturing,” shared Saracho.

Saracho most recently served as creator, showrunner and executive producer of the critically acclaimed series Vida on Starz. The show featured all Latine writers and directors, including Saracho, who made her TV directorial debut. Vida won the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comedy Series and was also honored by the National Hispanic Media Coalition with the 2019 Impact Award.

Additionally, the series won the Audience Award at the 2018 SXSW Film Festival and made its Season 2 premiere as an Official Selection of the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival.

She was the recipient of the Norman Lear Writers Award at the Imagen Awards in 2021 and was honored by the LGBTQ California Legislative Caucus as their 2020 Pride Month Honoree. She received the Rising Star Award at the Outfest Legacy Awards and was awarded the New Voice Award by Final Draft.

Saracho co-founded the Untitled Latinx Project, whose mission is to increase Latine representation in television through content created by Latine writers, along with co-founding the Writers Access Support Staff Training Program to help increase representation and opportunities for underrepresented communities.

In addition, Saracho launched the Ojalá Ignition Lab in 2021, aimed to nurture, amplify and empower intersectional Latine voices.

Adrian Martinez Signs with Innovative Artists

Adrian Martinez is getting innovative

The 48-year-old Latino actor has signed with Innovative Artists.

Adrian Martinez

Martinez was most recently a series regular on ABC’s Stumptown.

His other television credits include heavy recurring roles on CBS All Access’ No Activity and NBC’s The Blacklist: Redemption.

In film, Martinez will soon be seen in Disney+’s Lady and the Tramp, in Jamie Babbit’s The Stand-In opposite Drew Barrymore, and in Jordan Galland’s Leave Not One Alive opposite Bella Thorne.

He’s also had a major leading role in the feature film Focus starring Will Smith and Margot Robbie.

Martinez continues to be repped by Vault Entertainment and Sarna & Associates.

Plaza to Star Opposite Zac Efron & Robert De Niro in “Dirty Grandpa”

Aubrey Plaza is about to get dirty…

The 30-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress/comedian has joined the cast of Lionsgate’s road trip comedy Dirty Grandpa.

Aubrey Plaza

The Parks and Recreation star will star opposite Zac Efron and Robert De Niro in the film about an uptight twenty-something (Efron) who embarks on a road trip before his wedding to bond with his recently widowed grandfather (De Niro) only to find that his grandpa is a foul-mouthed lunatic on a mission to get laid during Spring Break.

Plaza will portray Lenore, a savvy, beguiling party girl looking for fun on Spring Break.

Dan Mazer (Da Ali G Show) is directing from a screenplay by John Phillips.

Lionsgate has already slated the film for an August 12, 2016 release.

Plaza returns to NBC television this month for the seventh and final season of Parks and Recreation. Her film credits include Safety Not Guaranteed, The To Do List, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Funny People, and Damsels In Distress.

She next appears in Hal Hartley’s Ned Rifle and in A Driftless Area with John Hawkes. She also stars with Natasha Lyonne and Judy Greer in Jamie Babbit’s indie comedy Fresno.