Shakira to Reprise Gazelle Role in “Zootopia 2”

Posted on November 9, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Shakira is ready to try everything again…

The 47-year-old Colombian superstar is returning to the animal world of Zootopia next year.

The news was announced on Friday at the D23 Brazil expo during Pixar’s panel.

Shakira filmed a surprise video for fans and revealed that she will be back as the singing character Gazelle in next year’s sequel “Zootopia 2.”

“I’m here to announce some big news. Are you ready? Gazelle is returning to ‘Zootopia 2,’” she said in the video, which included footage from the first Zootopia of Gazelle performing with her tiger backup dancers. “That’s right. Gazelle is back and she’s got a new look, a new song and, of course, new dance moves. Just wait until you see what she and her tiger dancers have been working on. I know you’re going to love it. That’s all I can share for now, but I look forward to seeing you all on my tour next year and I’ll see you at the movies next November.”

Shakira played Gazelle in the first Zootopia, which was released in theaters back in 2016.

The sequel is set for November 26, 2025. Gazelle is a singing Thomson’s gazelle who also happens to be a pop star.

She’ll return alongside Ginnifer Goodwin as rabbit police officer Judy Hopps and Jason Bateman as the clever fox Nick Wilde.

Newcomers to the sequel include Everything Everywhere All at Once Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan as Gary, a slippery snake being pursued by new partners Judy and Nick, and comedian Fortune Feimster as Nibbles, a beaver who runs into the law.

Robin De Jesus to Star in Netflix’s New Limited Series “Black Rabbit”

Posted on April 30, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Robin De Jesus is hoppin’ along to his next project…

The 39-year-old Latino actor and Broadway star will star in Netflix’s new limited series Black Rabbit, which is led by stars and executive producers Jude Law and Jason Bateman.

De Jesus is part of a roster of new cast additions that includes Academy Award-winning actor Troy Kotsur, Abbey Lee and Odessa Young.

From Zach Baylin and Kate Susman, Black Rabbit follows the owner of a New York City hotspot (Law) who allows his turbulent brother (Bateman) back into his life, opening up the door to escalating dangers that threaten to bring down everything he’s built.

In addition to Law and Bateman, Cleopatra Coleman, Amaka Okafor, Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù, Dagmara Dominczyk and Chris Coy also star.

Kotsur will play “Joe Mancuso,” a local bookie with ties to organized crime and the brothers’ past. Lee will play “Anna,” a formidable NYC bartender. Young will play “Gen,” an East Village tattoo artist with a connection to the brothers. De Jesus plays “Tony,” a talented NY chef.

Also joining the hour-long series in recurring roles are Amir Malaklou, who will play “Naveen,” an investor in Jake’s businesses; Don Harvey will play “Matt,” an old school BK bartender. Forrest Weber who will play “Junior,” a hotheaded criminal. Francis Benhamou will play “Lisa Klein,” a journalist with New York Magazine. Gus Birney will play “Mel Whitney,” an aspiring actress and hostess. John Ales will play “Jules Zablonski,” a renowned NY artist. Steve Witting will play “Andy,” a credit card processor and money lender.

Executive producing are Bateman and Michael Costigan for Aggregate Films; Law and Ben Jackson for Riff Raff Entertainment; Zach Baylin and Kate Susman via Youngblood Pictures; Andrew Hinderaker, who will serve as co-showrunner; Zac Frognowski; Justin Levy and David Bernon and Erica Kay. Bateman will direct the first two episodes. Black Rabbit is the latest series out of Aggregate’s creative partnership with Netflix.

De Jesus, a multiple Tony Award nominee, has starred in tick, tick… BOOM!, The Boys in the Band, Milkwater and 11:55.

Sofia Carson to Star in Netflix’s Rom-Com “The Life List”

Posted on March 5, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Sofia Carson is making the List…

The 30-year-old Colombian American actress/singer will star in The Life List, a new Netflix rom-com from writer-director Adam Brooks.

Carson will star opposite Kyle Allen, Sebastian De Souza and Connie Britton in the project.

Based on the 2013 novel by Lori Nelson Spielman, The Life List‘s logline is as follows: When Alex Rose’s (Carson) mother sends her on a quest to complete her childhood bucket list, it takes her on a journey that will make you both laugh and cry as she uncovers family secrets, finds romance, and discovers herself along the way.

Liza Chasin is producing for 3dot Productions. The film falls under Chasin’s first-look deal with the streamer, announced in 2019, which also covers her upcoming Morocco-set love story Lonely Planet starring Laura Dern, Liam Hemsworth and Diana Silvers.

Carson is best known for starring opposite Nicholas Galitzine in the hugely popular romance Purple Hearts from Netflix and Alloy Entertainment, which spent six weeks in the Global Top 10 Films (English) upon its September 2022 debut on the streamer, reaching the Top 10 Films in 93 countries. Prior to that, she starred in Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists as well as Disney Channel’s Descendants films.

Up next, she’ll be seen starring opposite Jason Bateman, Taron Egerton and more in Jaume Collet-Serra’s action thriller Carry On, also for Netflix.

Selena Gomez Hints at Retiring from Music

Posted on January 4, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Selena Gomez may be retiring from music in the near future…

The 31-year-old Mexican American singer/actress shared on the on the latest episode of SmartLess, the podcast hosted by Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes, that she’d like to focus on only one aspect of her career.

“I started having a lot of fun with music and then touring was really fun. But I was doing my TV show at the same time [Wizards of Waverly Place] and I just found it really fun so I just kept going but the older I get, the more I’m kind of like, I would like to find something to just settle on,” she explained.

The Only Murders in the Building actress added that she’d like to focus on her acting career, sharing, “I do feel like I have one more album in me but I would probably choose acting.”

Gomez recalled that she got into singing after snagging the lead role on her Disney Channel series Wizards of Waverly Place.

“Disney is, it’s safe to say, a machine and, in a way, forcefully require that I know how to sing so I could sing the theme song [of a show]. They know how to package someone and make it a whole triple threat thing,” she said.

After she recorded the theme song for Wizards of Waverly Place, Disney asked if Gomez would like to record an album, which she “thought it would be fun.”

She added, “I wanted to be an actress, I never really intended on being a singer full-time but apparently that hobby turned into something else.”

Gomez’s acting career is skyrocketing even more lately, as her role in Hulu’s Only Murders has snagged her two Golden Globes nominations in 2023 and 2024 for best performance by an actress in a television series – musical or comedy.

Jenna Ortega to Serve as Presenter at This Weekend’s SAG Awards Ceremony

Posted on February 25, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Win or lose, Jenna Ortega will take the SAG Awards stage…

The Screen Actors Guild has announced the latest group of presenters for Sunday’s SAG Awards ceremony, with the 20-year-old Puerto Rican and Mexican American actress set to participate.

Ortega is nominated in the Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series category for her starring role in Netflix’s acclaimed series Wednesday, which has been renewed for a second season.

In addition to Ortega, the list of recently added presenters includes Jason Bateman, Jeff Bridges, Aubrey Plaza, Adam Scott, Zendaya, SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher, Matt Bomer, Ariana DeBose, Eugene Levy and Amy Poehler.

Previously announced presenters for the 29th annual ceremony include Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan, Michelle Yeoh, Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Paul Dano, Gabriel LaBelle, Michelle Williams, Jessie Buckley, Claire Foy, Rooney Mara, Jovan Adepo, Diego Calva and Li Jun Li.

The SAG Awards are set for Sunday, February 28, at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles. The ceremony, featuring the winners in the guild’s 15 acting categories, will stream live on Netflix’s YouTube channel.

Tonatiuh to Star in Netflix & Amblin’s Thriller “Carry-On”

Posted on October 17, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Tonatiuh is carrying on…

The Latino actor, screenwriter and activist will star in Netflix and Amblin’s thriller Carry-On.

Tonatiuh is part of a roster of new cast additions that includes Dean Norris, Logan Marshall Green and Sinqua Walls.

Additionally, Joe Williamson, Curtiss Cook, Josh Brener and Gil Perez-Abraham round out the cast, who will all join previously announced stars Taron Egerton, Jason Bateman, Sofia Carson, Danielle Deadwyler and Theo Rossi.

Details regarding the characters they’ll portray remain under wraps.

Carry-On will begin production this week with Jaume Collet-Serra serving as director.

The film centers around Ethan Kopek, a young TSA agent who gets blackmailed by a mysterious traveler to let a dangerous package slip through security and onto a Christmas Day flight.

TJ Fixman penned the screenplay’s first draft, with Michael Green doing the most recent polish. Dylan Clark will produce. The film marks the first production out of the overall deal Amblin signed with Netflix last June.

Tonatiuh’s previous projects include Vida, Promised Land and Angelyne.

Otmara Marrero to Star Opposite Edgar Ramirez in Netflix Series “Florida Man”

Posted on August 15, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Otmara Marrero is headed to The Sunshine State…

The 32-year-old Cuban American actress will star opposite Edgar Ramirez in Netflix’s eight-episode series Florida Man.

Marrero joins a roster of new cast additions that includes Anthony LaPaglia, Abbey Lee, Lex Scott Davis and Emory Cohen as series regulars, with Clark Gregg joining in a recurring role in the hourlong series from veteran television writer producer Donald Todd and Jason Bateman & Michael Costigan’s Aggregate Films.

Additionally, Netflix has tapped Miguel Arteta to direct the pilot and second episode and executive produce. This reunites him with Ramírez with whom he worked on the Netflix feature Yes Day.

Rounding out directors for the season are Julian Farino (eps 3/4), Haifaa Al Mansour (eps 5/6) and Kevin Bray (eps 7/8).

In Florida Man, created by Todd, when a struggling ex-cop (Ramírez) is forced to return to his home state of Florida to find a Philly mobster’s runaway girlfriend, what should be a quick gig becomes a spiraling journey into buried family secrets and an increasingly futile attempt to do the right thing in a place where so much is wrong. The series is described as a wild odyssey into a sunny place for shady people in the spirit of Body Heat and Elmore Leonard’s Out of Sight.

Marrero is Patsy, Mike’s sister, living in Orlando, is relentlessly upbeat, churchgoing, and bravely soldiering on in the life she made too early with husband Deacon and daughter Tyler.

Marrero’s credits include comedy series Connecting and the role of Izzy Morales on StartUp.

Veronica Falcón to Star on Netflix’s Drama Series “Ozark” for Fourth & Final Season

Posted on June 29, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Veronica Falcón is heading to the Ozarks…

The 54-year-old Mexican actress, choreographer and Queen of the South scene stealer has joined the cast of Netflix’s drama series Ozark for its fourth and final season.

Starring and executive produced by Jason Bateman, the series was created by Bill Dubuque and Mark Williams.

Ozark is a thrilling drama set in the present-day and follows the Byrde family’s journey from their normal, suburban Chicago life to their dangerous criminal enterprise in the Missouri Ozarks. The series explores capitalism, family dynamics, and survival through the eyes of (anything but) ordinary Americans.

Falcón will recur as Camila Elizonndro. She is the sister of drug cartel leader Omar Navarro (Felix Solis) whose son Javi Elizonndro (Alfonso Herrera) is scheming to take over his uncle’s cartel. Once she acknowledges her long dormant ambition, Camila quietly works behind the scenes to become a formidable player in her family’s drug empire.

In addition to Bateman, Ozark stars Laura Linney, Sofia Hublitz, Skylar Gaertner, Charlie Tahan, Jessica Frances Dukes, Lisa Emery, John Bedford Lloyd, and Joseph Sikora.

Chris Mundy returns as showrunner, writer and executive producer for Season 4. The series hails from MRC Television.

Falcón’s credits also include Room 104, Perry Mason, Perpetual Grace LTD, Why Women Kill and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

She will appear alongside Joseph Gordon-Levitt for Apple’s Mr. Corman and in Netflix’s Gentefied.

Her film credits include Jungle Cruise, The Purge, The Starling and Voyagers.

Edgar Ramírez to Star in Netflix Series “Florida Man”

Posted on April 19, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Edgar Ramírez is headed to the Sunshine State…

The 44-year-old Venezuelan actor will star in Florida Man, which has received a formal eight-episode series from Netflix.

Ramirez, the star of the streamer’s popular film Yes Day, will headline the hourlong series from veteran television writer/producer Donald Todd and Jason Bateman & Michael Costigan’s Aggregate Films.

The series is not related to limited series Florida Man starring Joel Edgerton, which is in development at Anonymous Content. It’s based on Tom Cooper’s novel, with Graham Gordy writing.

Ramírez stars opposite Jennifer Garner in Netflix’s movie Yes Day, which was estimated to be seen by 53 million households in the first four weeks. He recently starred opposite Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant in HBO’s high-rated and award-winning limited series The Undoing. He soon will begin production on Borderlands and next will star in Disney’s Jungle Cruise and Universal’s The 355.

Ramírez is a two-time Golden Globe nominee for his performances as Carlos the Jackal in Carlos and as Gianni Versace in American Crime Story.

Alfonso Herrera to Star on the Fourth & Final Season of Netflix’s “Ozark”

Posted on November 14, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Alfonso Herrera is heading to the Ozarks…

The 37-year-old Mexican actor/singer has joined the cast for the fourth and final season of Netflix’s critically acclaimed series Ozark.

Meanwhile, 49-year-old Puerto Rican actor Felix Solis, who has a recurring role in Season 3, have been promoted to series regular for the new season.

Bruno Bichir and CC Castillo have been tapped for recurring roles in the series starring and executive produced by Jason Bateman.

Created by Bill Dubuque and Mark Williams, Ozark is a thrilling drama set in the present-day and follows the Byrde family’s journey from their normal, suburban Chicago life to their dangerous criminal enterprise in the Ozarks, Missouri. The series explores capitalism, family dynamics, and survival through the eyes of (anything but) ordinary Americans.

Herrera will play Javi Elizonndro, a member of the Navarro family who walks a fine line between playing the obedient lieutenant and scheming to take over his uncle’s cartel.

Solis plays Omar Navarro.

Bichir will recur as Navarro’s Priest. Navarro’s confessor and confident; works for the cartel because he deeply believes he belongs where God is needed most.

Castillo is Sheriff Leigh Guerrero, Missouri law enforcement who refuses to play on anyone’s terms but her own.

They will join series stars Bateman, Laura Linney, Julia Garner, Sofia Hublitz, Skylar Gaertner, Charlie Tahan, Jessica Frances Dukes, Lisa Emery, John Bedford Lloyd, and Joseph Sikora in the new season.

As previously announced, Season 4 will be released in two parts, 7-episodes each and is set to begin production this year. Chris Mundy will return as showrunner, writer and executive producer.

In Season 3, with the casino up and running, Marty (Bateman) and Wendy (Linney) fought to keep control of their family’s destiny. Marty preached keeping the status quo. Aided by an alliance with Helen (McTeer) and drug cartel leader Omar Navarro (Solis), Wendy plotted for expansion. But when Wendy’s brother Ben (Tom Pelphrey) came into town, everyone’s lives were thrown into chaos.

Since its 2017 premiere, the series has racked up thirty-two Emmy nominations with three wins, to date, for Bateman for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series and two for Garner for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. The most recent third season received 18 Emmy nomimations. The series from MRC Television has also garnered two Golden Globe nominations and six SAG Awards nominations for its performances by Bateman, Garner and Linney.

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