José María Yazpik to Star in Netflix’s New Series “The Gringo Hunters”

Posted on March 12, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

José María Yazpik is going on the hunt…

The 53-year-old Mexican actor has been cast in Netflix’s new series The Gringo Hunters, which has begun production in Mexico City.

In addition to Yazpik, who starred on Netflix’s Narcos, is among a roster of cast members that includes Sebastian Roché, Harold Torres and Mayra Hermosillo.

Plans to shoot in Tijuana are also in place.

Torres and Hermosillo are part of the gringo hunters’ core group alongside Manuel Masalva, Andrew Leland Rogers, Héctor Kotsifakis, Dagoberto Gama and Regina Nava. Gerardo Trejoluna and Paulina Dávila also star.

All 11 are contracted as series regulars on the bilingual crime series, which will be shot mostly in Spanish with some English.

The series is based on The Washington Post story “A U.S. murder suspect fled to Mexico. The Gringo Hunters were waiting,” by Kevin Sieff.

The series is inspired by a real elite Mexican police unit that catches American fugitives on the run to Mexico.

The series will be coming to Netflix in 2025 and promises to delve into the reality of the International Liaison Unit, with mysteries to solve, suspense, twists and turns and the challenges and intrigue faced by this type of police operation.

“Our commitment to the best Mexican stories and creators is clearly reflected in The Gringo Hunters. Our producers have put together a very strong cast and crew. Partnering with Imagine Entertainment has been a very enriching experience. I’m sure our subscribers will find The Gringo Hunters thrilling,” said Francisco Ramos, Vice President of Latin American Content for Netflix.

Directors include Adrián Grünberg, Alonso Álvarez, Jimena Montemayo and Natalia Beristáin.

The project is produced by Woo Films and Redrum in co-production with Imagine Entertainment and in association with The Washington Post. Luis Rosales, who was behind casting for Alfonso Cuarón’s Roma, served as casting director. Netflix will announce writers at a later time.

Since its formation in 2002, the real “gringo hunters” have apprehended over 1,600 fugitives — ranging from murderers on the FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted” list to billionaires accused of securities fraud.

Apple TV+ Releases First Trailer for Rosie Perez’s Bilingual Drama Series “Now & Then”

Posted on April 19, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Rosie Perez is officially on the case…

Apple TV+ released the first trailer for its upcoming bilingual drama series Now & Then, starring the 57-year-old Puerto Rican actress and activist.

In addition to Perez, the series also stars Manolo Cardona, Marina de Tavira, José María Yazpik, Soledad Villamil, and Maribel Verdú, among others.

Three of the 8 episodes will be released on May 20 with the remaining episodes dropping weekly every Friday through June 24.

Set in Miami, Now & Then follows a group of college best friends whose lives are forever changed after one of them ends up dead. Now, 20 years later, the remaining 5 are forced to reunite after a threat puts their seemingly perfect worlds at risk.

Perez portrays Flora, a detective obsessed with an unresolved case from 20 years ago, who will stop at nothing to discover the truth. Her partner Sullivan (Željko Ivanek) helps to keep Flora from getting into too much trouble.

The six original friends are played during their younger years by Jorge Lopez, Alicia Jaziz, Dario Yazbek Bernal, Alicia Sanz, Jack Duarte, and Miranda de la Serna.

Now & Then hails from Bambú Producciones and creators Ramón Campos, Teresa Fernández-Valdés, and Gema R. Neira, the team behind the Spanish series Velvet, Cable Girls and Gran Hotel. Gideon Raff will executive produce and direct the first two episodes.

Apple TV+ to Premiere First Three Episodes of Rosie Perez’s Bilingual Drama Series “Now and Then” in May

Posted on February 1, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Rosie Perez is embracing the now and then…

Apple TV+ has announced plans to release the first three episodes of its bilingual drama series Now and Then, starring the 57-year-old Puerto Rican Oscar-nominated actress and activist, on May 20.

The remaining five episodes of the series will be released individually on Fridays.

Set in Miami, Now and Then explores the differences between youthful aspirations and the reality of adulthood, when the lives of a group of college best friends are forever changed after a celebratory weekend ends up with one of them dead. Now, 20 years later, the remaining five are reluctantly reunited by a threat that puts their seemingly perfect worlds at risk.

In addition to Perez, the series stars Academy Award nominee Marina de Tavira, José María Yazpik, Maribel Verdú, Manolo Cardona, Soledad Villamil, Emmy winner Željko Ivanek, Jorge López, Alicia Jaziz, Dario Yazbek Bernal, Alicia Sanz, Jack Duarte and Miranda de la Serna.

The series is created by Ramón Campos, Teresa Fernández-Valdés and Gema R. Neira. Campos and Fernández-Valdés will serve as showrunners. Gideon Raff will direct and executive produce.

Bambú Producciones produced for Apple TV+.

Jorge Lopez to Star in AppleTV+’s Bilingual Thriller Series “Now and Then”

Posted on June 13, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Jorge Lopez is preparing for a thriller of a project…

The 29-year-old Chilean actor has been cast in AppleTV+’s bilingual thriller series Now and Then.

Lopez has been added to a list of cast newcomers that includes Alicia Jaziz, Dario Yazbek Bernal, Alicia Sanz, Jack Duarte and Miranda de la Serna.

The Spanish and English series hails from Bambú Producciones and creators Ramón Campos, Teresa Fernández-Valdés and Gema R. Neira, the team behind the Spanish series Velvet, Cable Girls and Gran Hotel. Gideon Raff will executive produce and direct the first two episodes.

Lopez joins as as Alejandro, a dedicated and athletic young man with a bright future. He’s the glue that holds his group of friends together and always does what is expected without thinking of his own happiness.

Jaziz will appear as Young Ana, a younger version of Ana (Marina de Tavira), a smart and ambitious woman who put her political career on hold to support her husband’s.

Yazbek Bernal plays Young Pedro, a younger version of Pedro (José María Yazpik), a complex politician married to Ana, he feels entangled in a life that doesn’t belong to him.

Sanz will take on Young Sofia, a younger version of Sofia (Maribel Verdú), a strong self-made lawyer who’s life took an unexpected turn 20 years ago and is now hiding too many secrets.

Duarte appears as Young Marcos, a younger version of Marcos (Manolo Cardona), a passionate surgeon who sacrificed his dreams for his family and friends.

de la Serna plays Young Daniela, a younger version of Daniela (Soledad Villamil), an introspective artist who constantly struggles to overcome a traumatic event from her past.

Campos and Fernández-Valdés will serve as showrunners, and the series will be written by Neira and Campos with their team. Bambú Producciones will produce the series for Apple TV+.

Lopez is best known for his first major role in the the Disney Channel Latin American telenovela Soy Luna. He also played Valerio in the Netflix series Elite.

Rosie Perez to Star in Apple TV+’s Bilingual Thriller Drama Series “Now and Then”

Posted on May 29, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Rosie Perez is ready to thrill…

The 56-year-old Puerto Rican Oscar-nominated actress and activist has been cast in Apple TV+’s bilingual thriller Now and Then, a drama series that’ll be shot in Spanish and English.

In addition to Perez, who most recently appeared in The Flight Attendant and Birds of Prey, the stellar ensemble cast also includes Marina de Tavira (Roma), José María Yazpik (Narcos: Mexico), Maribel Verdú (Y tu mamá también, Pan’s Labyrinth), Manolo Cardona (Who Killed Sara?), Soledad Villamil (The Secret in their Eyes) and Željko Ivanek.

The series that hails from Bambú Producciones and creators Ramón Campos, Teresa Fernández-Valdés and Gema R. Neira, the team behind the Spanish series Velvet, Cable Girls and Gran Hotel. Gideon Raff will executive produce and direct the first two episodes.

De Tavira will play Ana, a smart and ambitious woman who put her political career on hold to support her husband’s.

Perez is Flora, a talented detective obsessed with an unresolved case from 20 years ago, who will stop at nothing to discover the truth.

Yazpik portrays Pedro, a complex politician married to Ana, he feels entangled in a life that doesn’t belong to him.

Verdu plays Sofia, a strong self-made lawyer who’s life took an unexpected turn 20 years ago and is now hiding too many secrets.

Cardona portrays Marcos, a passionate surgeon who sacrificed his dreams for his family and friends.

Villamil is Daniela, an introspective artist who constantly struggles to overcome a traumatic event from her past.

Ivanek plays Sullivan, seasoned detective who keeps his partner Flora from getting into too much trouble, always operates based on evidence and logic.

The series will be written by Neira and Campos with their team. Campos and Fernández-Valdés will serve as showrunners. Bambú Producciones will produce for Apple TV+.

Bad Bunny to Make Acting Debut on Season Three of Netflix’s “Narcos: Mexico”

Posted on November 11, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Bad Bunny’s ready to make his acting debut…

The 26-year-old Puerto Rican Latin trap and reggaeton singer, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has joined the Season 3 cast of Netflix’s series Narcos: Mexico.

Bad Bunny joins a roster of cast additions that includes Luis Gerardo Méndez, Alberto Guerra and Luisa Rubino.

Bad Bunny will guest star as Arturo “Kitty” Paez, a member of Ramon Arellano Felix’s gang called the “Narco Juniors” – rich, well connected kids from upper society who fell in with the cartel life for the money, drugs and violence.

Méndez will play Victor Tapia, a Juarez cop with a moral dilemma; despite his
misgivings over getting involved, he is drawn into the mystery of a series of brutal killings

Guerra is Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, an independent drug trafficker, whose unassuming manner belies the fact that he is quietly one step ahead of everyone else

Rubino will be Andrea Nuñez, a young idealistic and ambitious journalist, whose mission to expose corruption brings her an even bigger story than she anticipated

Additional new cast series regulars include: Alejandro Furth as Ramon Salgado, Lorenzo Ferro as Alex Hodoyan, José Zúñiga as General Rebollo, Diego Calva as Arturo Beltran Leyva, Kristen Lee Gutoskie as Dani, Beau Mirchoff as Steve Sheridan.

Additional new guest stars include: Yessica Borroto as Marta, Damayanti Quintanar as Hortencia, Manuel Uriza as Carlos Hank Gonzalez and Markin López as Rogelio

Returning regular cast members are Scoot McNairy, José María Yázpik, Alfonso Dosal, Mayra Hermosillo, Matt Letscher, Manuel Masalva, Alejandro Edda, Gorka Lasaosa. Returning guest star is Alberto Ammann.

Set in the 1990s, when the globalization of the drug business ignites, Season 3 examines the war that breaks out after Felix’s empire splinters. As newly independent cartels struggle to survive political upheaval and escalating violence, a new generation of Mexican kingpins emerge. But in this war, truth is the first casualty – and every arrest, murder and take-down only pushes real victory further away.

Directors are Andrés Baiz, Alejandra Márquez Abella, Luis Ortega, Amat Escalante and Wagner Moura. Production company is Gaumont.

A premiere date for Narcos: Mexico Season 3 has not been announced.

Netflix Renews José María Yazpik’s Drug-Trafficking Drama “Narcos: Mexico,” Without Star Diego Luna

Posted on October 29, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

There’s more narcos action in José María Yazpik, but it won’t include Diego Luna…

Netflix has ordered a third season of the 49-year-old Mexican actor’s drug-trafficking drama series Narcos: Mexico. However, the show will come back without its lead Diego Luna, who portrayed drug cartel leader Félix Gallardo.

Season 2 ended with Luna’s Gallardo sentenced to prison for his drug trafficking crimes and there had been much speculation he wouldn’t return if the series was renewed for a third season. Luna is set to reprise his Cassian Andor character in Disney+’s Star Wars spinoff series Rogue One, which is currently in pre-production.

Series co-creator Carlo Bernard will be taking over day-to-day showrunning duties from Eric Newman, who is stepping back after five seasons. Newman will continue to executive produce the series alongside Bernard, Jose Padilha, Sidonie Dumas, Christophe Riandee, Nicolas Atlan, Doug Miro and Andrés Baiz.

Wagner Moura, who starred as Pablo Escobar during the first two seasons of Narcos, also will return to the series, directing two episodes in the new season.

“I am grateful for my five years at the helm of Narcos and Narcos: Mexico and am immensely proud of what this spectacular team has achieved with these shows,” said Newman. “Carlo Bernard is the first person I ever spoke to about this project, over ten years ago, and I am extremely pleased to leave the steering of Season 3 of Narcos: Mexico in his very capable hands.”

Set in the 90s, when the globalization of the drug business ignites, Season 3 examines the war that breaks out after Felix’s empire splinters. As newly independent cartels struggle to survive political upheaval and escalating violence, a new generation of Mexican kingpins emerge. But in this war, truth is the first casualty – and every arrest, murder and take-down only pushes real victory further away.

In addition to Yazpik, returning cast members for season three include Scoot McNairy, Alberto Ammann, Alfonso Dosal, Mayra Hermosillo, Matt Letscher, Manuel Masalva, Alejandro Edda and Gorka Lasaosa.

In addition to Moura, Andrés Baiz, Alejandra Marquez, Luis Ortega, Amat Escalante will direct on Season 3.

Season 2, which premiered in February, is currently streaming on Netflix.

Narcos: Mexico is produced by Gaumont for Netflix.

Almodóvar Shares “I’m So Excited” Trailer at London Tribute

Posted on December 15, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Pedro Almodóvar is being heralded for his “heart as big as the Grand Canyon”…

The 63-year-old Spanish filmmaker was honored at an Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences retrospective of Almodóvar’s work in London, which was attended by celebrities like Grace Jones, Kristen Scott Thomas and Miranda Richardson.

During the high-profile event, Almodóvar brother Agustin, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Stephen Frears and Sally Potter were among the people offering their tributes to the Oscar-winning filmmaker.

Quentin Tarantino even participated in special pre-recorded video to thank Almodóvar for having a “a filmography to beat.” Meanwhile, Frears enthused about Almodóvar’s ability to make everything seem natural.

“He creates a coherent world in which all of the elements fit,” he said. “It comes out of his imagination complete. I met him in New York when I was with My Beautiful Laundrette. I felt like an impostor; here was the transgressive real thing. Mine was a charade.”

A humbled Almodóvar admitted to being embarrassed by all the kind words.

“Tonight I know more about myself than ever,” he joked. “I’ve always strived to try and make life more livable with my films. It’s the homework of any kind of artistic expression. That was the lesson I learned from my mother.”

He even revealed that he’d tried and failed to nab the rights to books like The Hours, Silence of the Lambs, The Human Stain and The Reader, any of which would have been his first foray into English-language film. It’s a bridge he says he’ll likely not attempt to cross again.

“But you have to respect destiny. Perhaps I was not the one to make the movies that I now admire so much.”

And as a delight to the audience, Almodóvar shared a clip from his new film I’m So Excited, which Sony Pictures Classics will release next year. The film, which was originally titled Los Amantes Pasajeros, is the famed director’s return to comedy after a number of dramas like The Skin I Live In and Habla con ella.

The film’s all-star cast includes Javier Cámara, Cecilia Roth, Lola Dueñas, Raul Arévalo, Carlos Areces, Antonio de la Torre, Hugo Silva, Willy Toledo, Miguel Ángel Silvestre, Blanca Suárez, José Luis Torrijo, José María Yazpik and Laya Martí, with special collaborations from Penélope Cruz, Antonio Banderas and Paz Vega.

Yazpik to Headline Indie Film “The Jesuit”

Posted on October 24, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

José María Yazpik is heading south of the border for a thrilling revenge mission…

The 41-year-old Mexican actor has been cast as the lead in Alfonso Pineda Ulloa’s indie film The Jesuit.

Written bythe film centers on a man called “The Jesuit” who has been imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit. When his wife is killed and his son kidnapped and taken to Mexico, he devises a dangerous plan to rescue his son and avenge his wife’s death.

Shannyn Sossamon will play the woman Yazpik’s character hires to masquerade as his wife during his revenge mission.

Yazpik, most recently starred in Diego Luna’s Abel and just finished work opposite Penelope Cruz in Pedro Almodóvar’s newly named comedy Brief Lovers.

His previous credits include Beverly Hills Chihuahua, The Burning Plain and Borderland.

The Jesuit is set to begin filming this month in Mexico.

Sony Pictures Classics Acquires the Rights to Almodóvar’s Next Film

Posted on June 20, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

The anticipation is definitely building for Pedro Almodóvar’s next film, even though production hasn’t even started on the project…

Sony Pictures Classics announced Tuesday that they have acquired all North American rights to Almodóvar’s new comedy currently titled I’m So Excited from El Deseo.

The film, an ensemble comedy written and directed by Almodóvar, is set to begin production in July and will be released next summer.

The all-star cast includes Javier Cámara, Cecilia Roth, Lola Dueñas, Raul Arévalo, Carlos Areces, Antonio de la Torre, Hugo Silva, Willy Toledo, Miguel Ángel Silvestre, Blanca Suárez, José Luis Torrijo, José María Yazpik and Laya Martí.

In addition, the film—which was previously known as Los Amantes Pasajeros—will include special collaborations from Penélope Cruz, Antonio Banderas and Paz Vega.

The Sony Pictures Classics team has a long history with Almodóvar that began with Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown at Orion Classics and has continued with seven films at Sony Pictures Classics , including Goya-winning film The Skin I Live In, Broken Embraces, Volver, Bad Education, All About My Mother and Talk to Her.

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