Jaime Camil Signs First Look Deal with Paramount’s VIS for Paramount+ TV & Film Projects

Posted on March 10, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Jaime Camil is getting a first look…

The 48-year-old Mexican actor/singer and Jane the Virgin scene-stealer has signed a first look deal with VIS, a division of Paramount, to develop a variety of television and film projects for Paramount+.

Under the terms of the agreement, he’ll create, develop and produce exclusive Spanish language and majority-Spanish language scripted and non-scripted content for the streaming service.

“We are excited to welcome Jaime Camil to our roster of global talent working to bring the best premium content to Paramount+,” said JC Acosta, President of International Studios & Networks Southern Europe, Latin America, Middle East & Africa, in an exclusive statement to Deadline. “With Jaime’s experience and creative focus, we are confident that he’ll bring the best Spanish-language content to Paramount+ that resonates with our audiences around the world.”

Added Camil, “Paramount is home to some of the most beloved and iconic films and television shows of all time. I am thrilled and humbled to join their family. Throughout history, stories have been one of the most potent drivers of society and culture. Storytelling generates empathy and it imparts wisdom through characters in place of lived experience.

“Additionally, through the prism of art, story allows us to contextualize and also see a deeper beauty within our own lives,” he continued. “I look forward to developing and producing meaningful stories with the amazing team at Paramount. I can’t wait to show the world what we have in store.”

Before making a splash in the English-language market as Rogelio de la Vega on the CW’s Jane the Virgin, Camil was already a bona fide star in Latin America.

While working on Jane the Virgin and after the show concluded in 2019, he worked as a voice actor in multiple films including Coco, Hotel Transylvania 3, and The Secret Life of Pets and The Secret Life of Pets 2; and on the small screen: Elena of Avalor, DuckTales, BoJack Horseman, and Green Eggs and Ham.

Camil most recently starred as Doc Jorge Lopez in the Apple TV+ comedy Schmigadoon! and the Steven Soderbergh feature Kimi released in February via HBO Max.

He is currently shooting the Vicente Fernandez biopic The Idol of the People in the titular role. The Caracol TV production will be released exclusively on Netflix domestically.

Jaime Camil to Star as Vicente Fernandez in “The Idol of the People” Series, to Air Globally on Netflix

Posted on December 17, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Jaime Camil will be portraying a late Mexican idol…

The 48-year-old Mexican actor, singer and television personality will star as the late Vicente Fernandez in a series based on his life.

The news arrives on the heels of Fernandez’s death last week at age 81.

The project, titled The Idol of the People, is a Caracol TV production and will air on the Colombian television network.

Netflix has taken world rights to the series outside of Colombia.

Camil has spoken at length on social media about how honored he is to play Chente, a shortened version of the name Vicente that served as one of his many monikers.

“Portraying Vicente Fernandez, without a doubt, is one of the biggest and most important challenges of my career,” he wrote in Spanish via Instagram in September. “In my opinion, Chente is Mexico’s biggest idol and the most monumental exponent of Mexican music all over the world.”

Fernandez earned three Grammy Awards throughout his five-decade career for Best Regional Mexican Album in 2009, 2016, and 2016 from a total 13 nominations. He recorded more than 50 albums, sold more than 50 million records and appeared in more than 30 films.

Fernandez had been suffering medical complications after a fall at his home this summer that injured his cervical spine and required an operation.

After Fernandez’s death, Camil paid tribute to the Ranchera legend while reflecting on how much he’s learned about him through his portrayal in the series via Twitter.

“Thanks to the project I’m working on, I’ve been able to learn the history, infancy, journey, legacy, and all the adversities he faced. My Chente, to get to be the person you were has taught me to respect you, to love you, and to honor you even more. No one can deny Vicente is a monument and a treasure for Mexico and Ranchera music on a global scale,” he said in part.

Camil is a veteran actor of Spanish-language telenovelas who made a splash stateside in the role of Rogelio de la Vega in the CW’s Jane the Virgin. After the series wrapped, he starred in the short-lived CBS series Broke, and has lent his voice to animated series including Elena of Avalor, BoJack Horseman, and currently stars as Doc Lopez in the Apple TV+ series Schmigadoon!

He also released two full-length albums in 1999 and 2002. Camil is expected to sing in The Idol of the People.

Gina Rodriguez Joins Voice Cast of Spotify’s “Batman Unburied” Scripted Podcast Series

Posted on October 17, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Gina Rodriguez is unburying her latest project…

The 37-year-old Puerto Rican actress will join the cast of Spotify’s upcoming Batman Unburied scripted podcast series.

Rodriguez, who won a Golden Globe for her work on Jane the Virgin, will voice the character of Barbara Gordon.

Rodriguez, who has featured on Netflix’s animated series Big Mouth, will play the daughter of former police commissioner Jim Gordon and star detective for Gotham PD.

Throughout the series, Barbara will grapple with her own ethics, as she tries to keep within the lines of police work yet is finding herself drawn to Batman’s self-styled method of justice.

She said she was excited to be going on this “sonic adventure” with the “iconic” role.

She joins a cast that already includes Winston Duke as Bruce Wayne and Jason Isaacs as Wayne’s loyal butler and right-hand man, Alfred.

Rounding out the cast of David S. Goyer’s take on the Caped Crusader is Sam Witwer (Supergirl) as Gotham’s cannibalistic serial killer, The Harvester, Emmy Raver-Lampman (The Umbrella Academy) as Kell, a sultry medical student helping Bruce while hiding a few secrets of her own, Jessica Marie Garcia (On My Block) as Barbara Gordon’s partner Renee Montoya – she’s smart enough to pick up Barbara’s bullshit, but begrudgingly puts up with her shady behavior and Jim Pirri (Penguins of Madasacar) as Arnold Flass, a corrupt cop who uses his badge for his own person gain.

Hasan Minhaj stars as The Riddler, Lance Reddick is Thomas Wayne, Toks Olagundoye is Martha Wayne, John Rhys-Davies is Dr. Hunter, and Ashly Burch is Vicki Vale.

The series, which marks one of the highest profile scripted podcasts to date, is a psychological thriller that takes listeners deep into the mind of Bruce Wayne introducing a slew of dark twists and turns with a number of classic Batman Super-Villains.

When audiences meet Bruce Wayne he is a forensic pathologist, working in the bowels of Gotham Hospital and tasked with examining the victims of The Harvester, a gruesome serial killer preying on Gotham’s citizens. Not only will the Super-Hero be forced to face his own mental demons, but he will also have to overcome them in order to save the citizens of Gotham as his alter-ego Batman.

Writers include Eric Carrasco (Supergirl), Saladin Ahmed (Foundation), Rebecca Klingel (The Haunting of Hill House) and Stranger Things writers’ assistant Graham Westerson.

Alex Kemp directs.

Adam Rodriguez to Serve as a Mentor & Executive-Producer on HBO Max’s “The Real Magic Mike!” Competition Series

Posted on June 18, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Life is about to imitate art for Adam Rodriguez…

The 46-year-old Puerto Rican and Cuban-American actor and former Magic Mike star will be returning to the world of male strippers as he joinsThe Real Magic Mike! (working title), HBO Max’s upcoming unscripted competition series.

Rodriguez, who played Tito in the 2012 film and 2015 sequel, has joined the project as a mentor and executive producer.

The series, from the producers behind the Magic Mike franchise and live shows, begins production next month in Las Vegas and is set to debut on HBO Max later this year. Channing Tatum, who starred in the titular role in both Magic Mike films, and director Steven Soderbergh, are among the series’ executive producers.

The competition series will transform a group of men into real-life Magic Mikes. Ten men who have “lost their magic” will come together, baring their souls and more as they learn to perform routines with one being crowned the Real Magic Mike. The winner will pocket a cash prize and an opportunity to perform on the Magic Mike Live stage in Las Vegas.

The Real Magic Mike! (wt) is produced by Eureka Productions and Warner Bros. Unscripted Television in association with Warner Horizon.

In addition to his role as Tito in both Magic Mike feature films, Rodriguez starred as Eric Delko in CSI: Miami and as Luke Alvez in Criminal Minds.

His other recent television credits include Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, Jane the Virgin and Empire, among others.

Gina Rodriguez to Make Feature Directorial Debut with Film Based on Ryan Garcia’s Boxing Life

Posted on June 15, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Gina Rodriguez is heading behind the lens…

The 36-year-old Puerto Rican actress will be making her feature film directorial debut on a feature film about a fictional character inspired by some of Mexican American boxer Ryan Garcia’s experiences in and around the sport.

Rodriguez is developing the project alongside Garcia, One Community and Endeavor Content.

Rodriguez will direct, star, produce and co-write the screenplay with actor and playwright Bernardo Cubria. Garcia will also star star.

“I grew up in a boxing family and loved watching sports dramas with my dad. The philosophies of fighting – working hard, staying focused, being honest, fighting fair but to win – has stayed with me,” said Rodriguez. “On behalf of myself and my production company I Can and I Will, I couldn’t be more excited to partner with Ryan Garcia on this film. He is not only an outstanding athlete and champion, but a true advocate of normalizing and furthering conversations on mental health. His bravery has inspired me, and I am honored to have his trust to direct this film and guide his first foray into the arts. In One Community, Endeavor Content and WME, I have found empowering partners who are driven to tell stories that bring love, tolerance and healing to the world. I am humbled by their support, in addition to that of my incredibly talented friend and fellow artist Bernardo Cubria who will be leading us in creating a script that celebrates both the sport and our community. We cannot wait to share this story with audiences worldwide.”

Similar to films like Rocky and Creed, this inspiring sports drama follows a Mexican-American boxer, Alex Guerrero (Garcia), whose struggles with mental health rival his toughest bouts in the ring. After a chance encounter with a World Champion propels him into the spotlight, he must prove to himself and the world that he has what it takes to come out on top.

“I am very excited about the opportunity to work with Gina, Bernardo, One Community, and Endeavor Content on this project,” said Garcia. “My goals have always been to prove myself in the ring and to also continue to share my story in hopes that it will inspire others. Boxing will always be at the forefront of my career and I cannot wait to return to the ring very soon as a stronger and healthier KingRy.”

The film will shoot mid-next year so as not to interfere with Garcia’s fight schedule.

“Ryan is an incredible fighter and remarkable human whose relentless focus and dedication has made him a superstar in the ring, but even more impressive is his desire to use his platform to help others by sharing his own struggles with anxiety and depression. Gina and Bernardo’s vision for this story spoke to us immediately and we are so excited to work with this incredibly inspiring team,” said Scott Budnick, CEO One Community.

The project is sure to become one of the hottest properties on the market as it is set to break barriers with a Latinx presence in front and behind the camera.

Garcia started boxing at age 7 and was a 15-time national champion. Since joining the Golden Boy stable in 2016, Garcia has steadily made his case as one of the best and most exciting up-and-coming boxers by defeating fighters such as Romero Duno, Francisco Fonseca, Carlos Morales and Jason Velez. His most recent match against Olympic Gold Medalist Luke Campbell was a true display of perseverance as Ryan hit the floor for the first time in his professional career to come back and defeat Campbell with a gut-wrenching punch to the body in the seventh round.

At 22, Garcia has an undefeated professional record of 21-0, 18 by way of knock out, currently holds the WBC Interim Lightweight title and trains under world renowned trainer, Eddie Reynoso and his father, Henry Garcia. In addition, he has amassed over 13 million followers across social platforms bringing new audiences to the sport.

Rodriguez is best known for playing the title role on the hit series Jane the Virgin, for which she won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Television Series Musical or Comedy. Her upcoming projects include Netflix’s film Awake and Netflix’s mini series Lost Ollie.

Jenna Ortega to Star in Netflix’s Addams Family-Themed Series “Wednesday”

Posted on May 20, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Jenna Ortega is all about Hump Day…

The 18-year-old Puerto Rican and Mexican American actress has landed the title role in Wednesday, Tim Burton’s live-action Addams Family series for Netflix focused on the iconic character of Wednesday Addams.

The coming-of-age comedy, written by Smallville creators Al Gough and Miles Millar and to be directed by Burton, is a sleuthing, supernaturally infused mystery charting Wednesday Addams’ (Ortega) years as a student at Nevermore Academy. That’s where she attempts to master her emerging psychic ability, thwart a monstrous killing spree that has terrorized the local town, and solve the supernatural mystery that embroiled her parents 25 years ago — all while navigating her new and very tangled relationships.

The YA series, Wednesday Addams’ first solo vehicle, marks Burton’s first live-action show and his television directing debut.

Ortega is taking over the role from Christina Ricci, the actress most closely associated the character, who played Wednesday in both feature films, The Addams Family in 1991 and sequel Addams Family Values in 1993.

Burton executive produces with Gough and Millar, who will serve as showrunners on the series. Wednesday is produced by MGM Television, which controls the underlying rights to the IP.

Ortega burst onto the scene in 2014 with two major recurring roles on Fox’s Rake and the CW’s Jane the Virgin. The latter, where Ortega played younger version of the title character, put her on the map, and Ortega quickly landed her first series lead role on Disney Channel’s Stuck In the Middle.

A lead role on Season 2 of Netflix’s You followed. On the streamer, Ortega also recently co-starred in hit feature comedy Yes Day.

Her recent feature credits also include leads in The Fallout and the upcoming Scream.

Ortega shared the news on Instagram:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jenna Ortega (@jennaortega)

Valentina Garza Signs with William Morris Endeavor (WME)

Posted on March 12, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a new endeavor for Valentina Garza.

The 45-year-old Cuban-American writer and producer has signed with William Morris Endeavor (WME).

Garza, whose credits include co-executive producer roles on the CW’s Jane the Virgin and ABC’s The Baker and the Beauty, is currently under an overall deal at Universal Television.

She also wrote and executive produced the Jane spinoff pilot Jane the Novela; the project ended up not going forward. She also has developed for Lee Daniels Productions/20th as well as ABC Studios/ABC.

This most recent development season, Garza sold a Latinx family drama to NBC. It revolved around an explosive incident that brings a woman’s mentally ill mother crashing back into her life. She’s now forced to revisit her family’s painful past and blur carefully constructed boundaries between her mother and the family she’s chosen.

The project explores themes of race, mental health, housing instability, immigration and generational trauma.

Earlier in her career, Garza spent six seasons on Fox’s The Simpsons rising to supervising producer, then served as supervising producer on Fox’s Bordertown.

Gina Rodriguez to Star in the Netflix Rom-Com “Players”

Posted on March 11, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Gina Rodriguez is a real player(s)…

The 36-year-old Puerto Rican actress and Golden Globe-winning star of Jane The Virgin will star in Players, a romantic comedy from Netflix.

Rodriguez will appear opposite Damon Wayans Jr., and Tom Ellis in the film, which will be produced by Marc Platt Productions and Campfire.

Trish Sie is set to direct the feature from a script by Whit Anderson.

The plot follows Chicago sportswriter Mack (Rodriguez) who has spent years devising successful hook-up “plays” with best friend Adam (Wayans Jr.) and their crew, but when she unexpectedly falls head-over-heels for one of her targets (Ellis), they all must learn what it takes to go from simply scoring to playing for keeps.

Rodriguez and Molly Breeskin will serve as executive producers under their I Can and I Will Productions.

Rodriguez, who starred in Netflix’s Someone Great, which she also served as a producer, has an upcoming project slate that includes the Amazon features I Want You Back and comedy-adventure Lost and Found as well as Netflix family series, Lost Ollie.

Gina Rodriguez to Star On Netflix’s Live-Action/Animation Hybrid Family Series “Lost Ollie”

Posted on March 9, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Gina Rodriguez is getting lost in her work…

The 36-year-old Puerto Rican Golden Globe-winning actress has been cast in Netflix’s Lost Ollie, a live-action/animation hybrid family series based on William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg’s book Ollie’s Odyssey.

Rodriguez, who rose to acclaim on Jane The Virgin, will star opposite Jonathan Groff, Mary J. Blige, Tim Blake Nelson, Jake Johnson and Kesler Talbot in a mix of live action and voice roles in the series from Shannon Tindle, Peter Ramsey, producer Shawn Levy’s 21 Laps Entertainment and Industrial Light & Magic.

Created, adapted and executive produced by Tindle, Lost Ollie follows a lost toy, searching across the countryside for the boy who lost him, and the story of the boy who lost more than a best friend.

Groff will voice Ollie, a handmade toy rabbit stitched together from odds and ends. Ollie has a pure spirit with a heart of gold and never ruins a chance to make friends. He’s been best friends with Billy since forever, until one day he ends up in a resale shop with no way home. Though he’s often afraid of the unknown, Ollie puts on a brave face and sets off to find Billy, meeting other toys to help him along the way.

Rodriguez will play Momma. Billy’s mother Sharon is a loving woman who inspires creativity and imagination in her son. She makes sure to cherish their time together, teaching Billy all the things he’ll need to know to find happiness in the future.

Jaime Camil to Star in Steven Soderbergh’s Next Film “KIMI” for HBO Max

Posted on March 8, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Jaime Camil has landed his next role…

The 47-year-old Mexican actor/singer and Jane The Virgin scene-stealer has been cast in Steven Soderbergh’s next film, the New Line Max Original feature KIMI, with Zoë Kravitz on board to star. Byron Bowers is also on board.

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

Plot details are being kept under wraps.

Camil can next be seen starring opposite Cecily Strong, Keegan-Michael Key, Jane Krakowski, Fred Armisen, Alan Cumming, Ariana DeBose and Kristen Chenoweth in the upcoming Apple+ musical comedy series Schmigadoon! from executive producer Lorne Michaels. He previously starred as fan and critic favorite in the Golden Globe-nominated and AFI Award-winning series Jane the Virgin. Most recently he starred in and executive produced the CBS comedy series Broke, becoming the first Latino lead in a comedy series for CBS since Desi Arnaz in I Love Lucy.

Camil is also teaming up with Jane the Virgin show creator Jennie Synder Urman and writer/comedian Al Magrigal to develop the single-camera comedy series Guerrillas through ABC, which he’ll co-executive produce and star in.

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