Trailer Released for John Leguizamo’s Family Comedy “Playing with Fire”

John Leguizamois playing with fire

Paramount has released the first trailer for Playing with Fire, the upcoming family comedy starring the 54-year-old Colombian actor and stand-up comedian, John CenaKeegan-Michael Keyand Tyler Mane

John Leguizamo

Leguizamo and team play firefighters who rescue three children and, unable to locate the siblings’ parents, become inadvertent and unlikely babysitters.

Directed by Andy Fickmanfrom a screenplay by Dan Ewenand Matthew Lieberman(story by Ewan), Playing with Fire is a Paramount Picturesand Paramount Playerspresentation, in association with Walden Mediaof a Broken Roadproduction.

John Leguizamo Playing with Fire

In addition to Leguizamo, Cena, Key, and Mane, the film’s cast also includes – as the children – Brianna HildebrandChristian Converyand Finley Rose Slateras well as Dennis Haybertand Judy Greer.

Paramount will release Playing with Fire in theaters on November 8. 

Javier Bardem to Present at This Year’s Oscars

Javier Bardemhas a date with Oscar…

The 49-year-old Spanish actor has been added to the list of presenters for the 91st Oscars show later this month.

Javier Bardem

Bardem, won the Academy Awardfor Best Supporting Actorfor his role as the psychopathic assassin Anton Chigurh in the 2007 Coen Brothersfilm No Country for Old Men, joins a roster of new additions that includes Angela BassettChadwick BosemanEmilia ClarkeLaura DernSamuel L. JacksonStephan JamesKeegan-Michael KeyKiKi LayneJames McAvoyMelissa McCarthyJason Momoa and Sarah Paulson.

They join previously announced AwkwafinaDaniel Craig,Chris EvansTina FeyAllison Janney,Brie LarsonJennifer LopezFrances McDormandGary OldmanAmy PoehlerSam RockwellMaya Rudolph,Amandla StenbergCharlize TheronTessa Thompson and Constance Wuat the show, set for February 24 live on ABC.

The presenters have added interest in a year in which the Oscars is going host-less, with Academy president John Bailey saying as late a week ago the show remained “in flux.”

“The array of talent anchoring the show this year has brought some of the most indelible moments in recent cinematic memory to audiences around the world,” said producer Donna Gigliotti and co-producer and director Glenn Weisson Monday in the announcement. “They join together to reconnect us with the nominees, their tremendous movies, and outstanding performances.”

Helena Bonham-Carter Joins Voice Cast of Netflix’s “Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance”

Helena Bonham-Carter is putting up some Resistance…

The 52-year-old part Spanish actress has joined the all-star voice cast of Netflix’s forthcoming Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.

Helena Bonham-Carter

Taron EgertonAnya Taylor-Joy and Nathalie Emmanuel have been cast as respective Gefling heroes Rian, Brea and Deet, while Bonham-Carter, Toby JonesAlicia Vikander, Simon Pegg and Andy Samberg also lend their voices to the return of Jim Henson’s classic that will launch globally in 2019.

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance is based on Henson’s 1982 feature The Dark CrystalThe series tells a new epic story, set many years before the events of the movie and realized using classic puppetry with cutting-edge visual effects. We find that the world of Thra is dying. At the heart of Thra is the Crystal of Truth, a source of untold power. But it is damaged, corrupted by the evil Skeksis, and a sickness spreads across the land. When three Gelflings uncover the horrific truth behind the power of the Skeksis, an adventure unfolds as the fires of rebellion are lit and an epic battle for the planet begins.

Also joining the voice cast are Caitriona Balfe, Harris Dickinson, Natalie Dormer, Eddie Izzard, Theo James, Shazad LatifGugu Mbatha-Raw and Mark Strong.

The Skeksis & Mystics will be voiced by Harvey Fierstein, Mark Hamill, Ralph Ineson, Jason Isaacs,Keegan-Michael Keyand Ólafur Darri Ólafsson. Aughra will be voiced by Donna Kimball.

Additional characters will also be voiced by puppeteers from the production.

First Trailer Released for Gina Rodriguez’s Animated Holiday Film “The Star”

Gina Rodriguez’s star is rising this holiday season…

The first trailer has been released for the 32-year-old Puerto Rican actress and Jane the Virgin star’s The Star, an animated holiday film in which the animals run the village.

Gina Rodriguez

Steven Yuen stars as Bo, a donkey who yearns for a life beyond his daily grind. When finally he summons the courage to break free, his adventure leads him to make friends with a flockless sheep (Aidy Bryant) and ambitious dove (Keegan-Michael Key). Little do they know, but they and a group of eccentric camels and stable animals are about to become unlikely heroes in the Greatest Story Ever Told.

Directed by Timothy Reckart from Carlos Kotkin’s script, the toon features a diverse, big-name voice cast that also includes Zachary Levi as Joseph and, Rodriguez as Mary.

Gina Rodriguez's Mary in The Star

Christopher Plummer plays the villainous King Herod. The animal characters include Kelly Clarkson, Patricia Heaton, Kristin Chenoweth, Anthony Anderson, Ving Rhames, Gabriel Iglesias.

Meanwhile Tyler Perry, Tracy Morgan and Oprah Winfrey voice the trio of wise-cracking camels.

The film from Sony Pictures Animation and Affirm Films in association with Walden Media features a new title song by Mariah Carey, and the trailer sports a contemporary take on Stevie Wonder’s yuletide classic “That’s What Christmas Means to Me.”

Columbia Pictures will release The Star on November 10.

Lin-Manuel Miranda to Perform at This Year’s Tony Awards

Lin-Manuel Miranda is making his triumphant return to the Tony Awards

The 37-year-old Puerto Rican composer, playwright, actor and singer will perform on Sunday’s Tonycast, almost one year after his hit Broadway musical Hamilton swept the awards.

Lin-Manuel Miranda

The casts of Bandstand, Come From Away, Dear Evan Hansen, Falsettos, Groundhog Day The Musical, Hello, Dolly!, Miss Saigon, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 and War Paint will perform during 71st Annual Tony Awards, which CBS will broadcast live from Radio City Music Hall from 8:00 to 11:00 PM.

There’s still no word on what Miranda will perform.

There will be additional performances by The Radio City Rockettes and Tony Award winners Cynthia Erivo (The Color Purple) and Leslie Odom Jr. (Hamilton).

There will be additional appearances by Scott Bakula, Sara Bareilles, Orlando Bloom, Rachel Bloom, Glenn Close, Stephen Colbert, Brian d’Arcy James, Cynthia Erivo, Tina Fey, Sutton Foster, Josh Gad, Whoopi Goldberg, Jonathan Groff, Mark Hamill, Taraji P. Henson, Christopher Jackson, Allison Janney, Scarlett Johansson, Anna Kendrick, Keegan-Michael Key, Nick Kroll, John Legend, John Lithgow, Patina Miller, John Mulaney, David Oyelowo, Chazz Palminteri, Sarah Paulson, Lea Salonga, Tom Sturridge, Tommy Tune, Olivia Wilde, and 2017 Tony nominees Sally Field, Josh Groban, Bette Midler and Ben Platt.

Although Midler will appear as a presenter in one of the acting categories, she is not scheduled to participate in the Hello, Dolly! segment, which will be led by co-star Hyde Pierce. The blockbuster production’s offer to present the title song, or another of Dolly’s show-stoppers, live via remote from the Shubert Theatre was declined by the Tony producers.

The ceremony will be hosted by Tony and Academy Award-winning actor Kevin Spacey.

The Tony Awards are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing.

Aguilera to Star in “Predator” Reboot “The Predator”

It’s preying time for Augusto Aguilera

The Latino actor has been cast in the final main role in 20th Century Fox’s Shane Black-directed reboot The Predator.

Augusto Aguilera

Aguilera is the final piece of the alien-hunter team alongside Sterling K. Brown, Trevante Rhodes, Boyd Holbrook, Jacob Tremblay, Olivia Munn and Keegan-Michael Key.

The plot is being kept under wraps, but the film is part of the original franchise that began with 1987’s Predator.

Black co-wrote the script with Fred Dekker.

Production began last month and Fox has already slated the film for release on February 9, 2018.

Aguilera, who appeared as Kieran on Chasing Life, has guest-starred on Major Crimes and Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders. His other credits include the Alfonso Gomez-Rejon’s Hulu pilot Citizen, Ice for Antoine Fuqua and John Singleton’s FX pilot Snowfall.

Beatriz to Perform at Young Storytellers Foundation Fundraiser

Stephanie Beatriz is ready for something big…

The 34-year-old half-Colombia/half-Bolivian actress is among the thespians who’ve signed up to perform at the Young Storytellers Foundation’s 12th annual The Biggest Show fundraiser.

Stephanie Beatriz

Taking place on October 24 at New Roads School in Santa Monica, California, The Biggest Show event takes selected screenplays from throughout the previous school year for a staging that also serves as the organization’s biggest annual fundraiser.

The non-profit Young Storytellers group sends volunteers into dozens of Los Angeles-area public elementary schools to work with fifth grade students on developing short screenplays.

Over the course of eight weeks, the students learn the basics of crafting a dramatic narrative by working one on one with mentors, many of them industry writers. At the end of the program, each student’s screenplay is brought to life at an evening event for family and friends with a group of volunteer actors.

In addition to Beatriz, one of the stars of Fox’s Brooklyn Nine-Nine, the cast for this year’s The Biggest Show will also feature Keegan-Michael Key, Max Greenfield, Jack Black, Judy Greer, Tom Lennon and Jason Mantzoukas.

Brothers Randy and Jason Sklar will serve as hosts.

Young Storytellers Foundation was formed in 1997 by a group of film students that included future Glee and American Horror Story co-creator Brad Falchuk.

Beatriz’s credits include television appearances on The Closer, Modern Family, Southland, Jessie and Hello Ladies.

Alonzo Joins the Voice Cast of Sony Pictures-Rovio’s “Angry Birds” Animated Film

Cristela Alonzo is about to get angry

The 35-year-old Mexican American actress/comedian, the star of the new ABC sitcom Cristela, has signed on to join the voice cast of Sony PicturesRovio’s Angry Birds animated film along alongside a bevy of mostly comedy stars.

Cristela Alonzo

In addition to Alonzo, the voice cast includes Saturday Night Live alums Jason Sudekis, Bill Hader and Maya Rudolph, as well as Josh Gad, Danny McBride, Peter DinklageKeegan-Michael Key, Tony Hale, Grammy nominee Romeo Santos, and YouTube stars Smosh (Ian Andrew Hecox and Anthony Padilla). 

The news was revealed to fans over the last 48 hours as they slinged one billion birds. Game players had the chance to unlock the news and get a sneak peak at the new look of the characters in the film.

Angry Birds marks vidgame maker Rovio’s entree into feature films. Sony will distribute worldwide. The film will bow stateside on July 1, 2016.  It is directed by Fergal Reilly and Clay Kaytis and written by Jon Vitti.

Vergara to Present at This Year’s Primetime Emmy Awards

She may not be nominated this year, but Sofia Vergara will still be taking the stage at the Primetime Emmy Awards.

The 42-year-old Colombian actress and Modern Family star has been added to the presenters list for the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards.

Sofia Vergara

Along with Vergara, the new additions to the list include Viola Davis, Allison Janney, Keegan-Michael Key, Lucy Liu, Debra Messing, Jordan Peele, Andy Samberg and Octavia Spencer.

They join previously announced Halle Berry, Bryan Cranston, Zooey Deschanel, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Woody Harrelson, Adam Levine, Matthew McConaughey, Julianna Margulies, Jim Parsons, Amy Poehler, Julia Roberts, Gwen Stefani and Kerry Washington.

The Emmys telecast is set to air live on Monday, August 25 at 8:00 pm ET on NBC.

Armisen to Present at This Year’s Creative Arts Emmy Awards

Fred Armisen is about to get creative

The 47-year-old half-Venezuelan American actor and former Saturday Night Live star, who received his first-ever Emmy nomination in an acting category this year, will be among the presenters at the 2014 Creative Arts Emmy Awards on August 16, according to the show’s executive producer Spike Jones Jr.

Fred Armisen

Armisen, who earneda best supporting actor in a comedy nod for Portlandia, the IFC series filmed and set in Portland, joins a list of presenters that includes Jane Lynch, Morgan Freeman, Tony Goldwyn, Heidi Klum and much of the nominated cast of Orange Is the New Black.

Other presenters include Patrick Adams (Suits), Vince Gilligan (Breaking Bad), Tony Goldwyn (Scandal), Judy Greer (Archer), Jonathan Groff (The Normal Heart), Tim Gunn (Project Runway), Tony Hale (Veep), Allison Janney (MomMasters of Sex), Keegan Michael Key (Key and Peele), Natasha Lyonne (Orange Is the New Black), Joe Manganiello (True Blood), Joel McHale (The Soup; Community), Aisha Tyler (Archer), Matt Walsh (Veep), Matt Weiner (Mad Men) and Bellamy Young (Scandal).

This year’s awards show will take place a week and a day before the Primetime Emmy Awards. An edited version of the show will be broadcast on the FXM cable network.

The entire show will be streamed on Emmys.com from noon to 3 p.m. on Monday Aug. 25, just before the Primetime Emmy Awards.