Juliana Aidén Martinez Joins Cast of NBC‘s “Law & Order: SVU”

Posted on July 23, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Juliana Aidén Martinez is ready to take a bite out of crime…

The Colombian American actress has joined the cast of NBC‘s Law & Order: SVU as a new detective.

The new season begins on October 3 at 9:00 pm ET/PT on NBC and next day on Peacock.

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit follows detectives from the Special Victims Unit as they investigate and prosecute sexually based crimes. Some episodes are loosely based on real crimes that have been ripped from the headlines.

The fight for justice never ends as Captain Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and her squad provide a tireless voice for the voiceless. Benson’s compassion for victims and pledge to protect the innocent stand as a beacon of hope for all.

Law & Order: SVU also stars Ice T, Peter Scanavino and Octacio Pisano, among others.

Dick Wolf is creator and executive producer of Law & Order: SVU.

The series is produced by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group and Wolf Entertainment.

Martinez is best known for her breakout role in Netflix’s Emmy-nominated Griselda, opposite Sofia Vergara.

She previously starred in the independent 2022 thriller Boundary, directed by Anthony Faust.

Her other credits include 9-1-1, The Blacklist and Prodigal Son.

During her time at the Yale Drama School, Martinez was selected for Lena Waithe’s Hillman Grad Mentorship Lab.

Danny Pino to Star in FOX‘s Anthology Crime Series “Accused”

Posted on July 10, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Danny Pino is among the accused…

The 50-year-old Cuban American actor will star in FOX‘s anthology crime series Accused for Season 2.

Pino is among a roster of new cast additions that includes Taylor Schilling and Justin Chambers.

New episodes will drop this fall.

They join the previously announced actors Felicity Huffman, William H. Macy, Nick Cannon and Michael Chiklis.

The project reunites Pino and Chiklis who most recently co-starred in the MGM+ series Hotel Cocaine.

From FOX Entertainment and Sony Pictures Television, Accused is a collection of intense, topical human stories of crime and punishment. Told from the defendant’s point of view through flashbacks, each episode is a fast-paced provocative thriller, exploring a different crime, in a different city with an entirely original cast.

The series is based on the BBC BAFTA Award-winning crime anthology of the same name created by Jimmy McGovern.

Schilling, Chambers and Pino will star in “April’s Story” where a nurse commits a crime that changes the trajectory of her life. Schilling will play ‘April,’ Chambers will play ‘Tyler’ and Pino will play ‘Jake.’

Accused is developed for American television by Howard Gordon, who executive produces with Alex Gansa, David Shore, Erin Gunn and Daniel Pearle.

Pino currently stars as the general manager of the Mutiny Hotel and Club, Roman Compte, in the MGM+ series, Hotel Cocaine.

Before that, he completed his run in the fifth and final season of FX’s Mayans M.C., where he starred as “Miguel Galindo” and directed two episodes.

Additionally, he played opposite Amy Adams in Stephen Chbosky’s film adaptation of Dear Evan Hansen and portrayed NYPD detective Nick Amaro in four seasons of Law & Order: SVU.

Pino also recently completed the short film, Unión De Reyes, which he wrote, directed, produced and starred in.

Clayton Cardenas to Appear on Kurt Sutter’s New Netflix Series “The Abandons”

Posted on March 4, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Clayton Cardenas is reuniting with Kurt Sutter…

The 38-year-old half-Mexican American actor has joined the cast of Sutter’s new Netflix series The Abandons in a recurring role.

Cardenas’ casting reunites him with Sutter, the co-creator of the Sons of Anarchy spinoff series Mayans M.C., in which Cardenas starred in the series regular role of Angel Reyes across the show’s five seasons.

Gillian Anderson, Lena Headey, Lucas Till, Nick Robinson, Diana Silvers, Lamar Johnson, Aisling Franciosi and Natalia del Riego also star.

Created and executive produced by Sutter, who also serves as showrunner, The Abandons follows a group of diverse, outlier families pursuing their Manifest Destiny in 1850s Oregon, as a corrupt force of wealth and power, coveting their land, tries to force them out. These abandoned souls, the kind of lost souls living on the fringe of society, unite their tribes to form a family and fight back. In this bloody process, “justice” is stretched beyond the boundaries of the law. The Abandons will explore that fine line between survival and law, the consequences of violence, and the corrosive power of secrets, as this family fights to keep their land.

In addition to his work on Mayans M.C., Cardenas previously played Diego Castillo on the Emmy-winning series American Crime and has appeared on series such as Law & Order: SVU, Snowfall, FBI and S.W.A.T.

Up next, he will recur in the Fox drama The Cleaning Lady‘s third season.

In addition to acting, Cardenas is a spoken-word poet and painter whose large-scale canvas work has caught the attention of collectors across.

Danny Pino Lands Leading Role in MGM+’s Crime Thriller “Hotel Cocaine”

Posted on March 15, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Danny Pino is checking in to a new project…

The 48-year-old Cuban American actor, who stars in Mayans M.C., will star as the lead in Hotel Cocaine, MGM+’s upcoming crime thriller from creator Chris Brancato.

Hotel Cocaine is the story of Roman Compte (Pino), a Cuban expatriate who fought against Fidel Castro in the Bay of Pigs invasion and re-made his life in Miami. He is general manager of the Mutiny Hotel, the glamorous epicenter of the Miami cocaine scene of late ‘70s and early ‘80s. The Mutiny Hotel was Casablanca on cocaine, a glitzy nightclub, restaurant and hotel frequented by Florida businessmen and politicians, international narcos, CIA and FBI agents, models, sports stars and musicians. At the center of it all was Compte, who was doing his best to keep it all going and fulfill his own American dream.

Brancato serves as executive producer and showrunner. Guillermo Navarro will direct the pilot episode and executive produce the series, with Michael Panes and Alfredo Barrios Jr. also serving as executive producers. The eight-episode series from MGM+ Studios, in partnership with MGM Television, will begin production in May in the Dominican Republic, and is slated to premiere in early 2024.

Pino, born and raised in Miami, stars as organized crime boss Miguel Galindo in Mayans M.C., which is heading into its fifth and final season on FX.

He made his episodic directorial debut in the drama’s fourth season. Pino, also known for his roles as police detective Nick Amaro on Law & Order: SVU and Detective Scotty Valens on Cold Case, recently completed the short film, Union de Reyes (Union of Kings), which he wrote, directed, produced and starred in.

Hotel Cocaine will be distributed internationally by MGM.

Rick Gonzalez Joins Cast of NBC’s “Law & Order: Organized Crime”

Posted on July 30, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Rick Gonzalez is getting organized…

The 43-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican American actor has joined the cast of NBC’s Law & Order: Organized Crime for Season 3.

Gonzalez will portray an NYPD detective assigned to the Organized Crime unit.

The series follows Law & Order: SVU character Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni), a veteran detective who returns to the New York Police Department following his wife’s murder. He joins the Organized Crime Task Force.

Law & Order: Organized Crime is produced by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group and Wolf Entertainment.

Gonzalez most recently starred in the Peacock series The Lost Symbol, based on the Dan Brown novel of the same name. Prior to that, he portrayed Rene Ramirez/Wild Dog in the CW’s Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow.

On the film side, his credits include Coach Carter, Old School, The Guilt Trip and War of the Worlds.

Marc Menchaca to Star in Apple TV+’s Limited Series “The Big Cigar”

Posted on July 6, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Marc Menchaca is going undercover…

The 46-year-old half-Mexican American actor has joined the cast of Apple TV+’s six-episode limited series The Big Cigar, which is centered on Black Panther leader Huey P. Newton.

Menchaca, who most recently starred on Netflix’s Ozark, will star alongside André Holland, Don Cheadle, Alessandro Nivola and Tiffany Boone in the project.

Based on the eponymous Playboy magazine article by Joshuah Bearman, the series tells the extraordinary, hilarious, almost-too-good-to-be-true story of how Newton relied on his best friend, Bert Schneider (Nivola), the Hollywood producer behind Easy Rider, to elude a nationwide manhunt and escape to Cuba while being pursued into exile by the FBI.

Menchaca will portray Agent Sydney Clark. A former lawyer and Vietnam vet from Oklahoma, Clark lives undercover as a dirty hippie while pursuing Newton, who is wanted on charges of killing a teenage prostitute.

NAACP Image Award winner Janine Sherman Barrois is serving as The Big Cigar‘s showrunner. Jim Hecht wrote the show’s first episode, with Cheadle directing and executive producing the first two.

The show hails from Warner Bros. Television, where Barrois and her Folding Chair Productions are under an overall deal. Barrois and Hecht are executive producing alongside Bearman, Joshua Davis and Arthur Spector through their production company Epic, a division of Vox Media Studios.

Menchaca is best known for his scene-stealing turns as Jack Hoskins on HBO’s hit series The Outsider, and as Russ Langmore on the Emmy-winning Netflix drama series Ozark.

He will next be seen in Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, HBO’s miniseries The White House Plumbers, John Hyams’ thriller Sick and Gareth Edwards’ sci-fi pic True Love for New Regency.

His additional television credits include Black Mirror, Homeland, MacGyver, Blue Bloods, Chicago P.D., Sleepy Hollow, The Blacklist, Law & Order: SVU, CSI and Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

Clayton Cardenas to Star in & Executive Produce Alessandro Camon’s Drama “Time Alone”

Posted on May 3, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Clayton Cardenas is getting a little time alone…

The Latino actor, who currently appears on Mayans M.C., will star opposite Taraji P. Henson in Alessandro Camon’s drama Time Alone, based on his play.

The film will begin production in Los Angeles in July.

In the project, Cardenas will play Gabriel, a young man convicted of killing a gang rival. His journey intersects with Anna (Henson), the mother of a police officer murdered in the line of duty, as they both end up in the world’s most lonely places: a solitary confinement prison cell, and the silent house of a grieving mother.

Cardenas was originally slated to play Gabriel onstage when the Belle Rêve production premiered at Los Angeles Theatre Center, before scheduling complications arose. Time Alone went on to receive the Stage Raw Award and Critics Award for Best Play, along with other nominations.

Emanuel Morretti’s Motus Studios will finance and produce the film with Oakhurst Entertainment’s Jai Khanna and Marina Grasic.

Cardenas’ manager Marni Rosenzweig will also produce for The Rosenzweig Group, alongside Escape Artists’ Todd Black, TPH Entertainment and Suzanne Warren, with Cardenas executive-producing alongside Jason Tamasco and Zak Kristofek of Traction.

“I’m thrilled to be working with Clayton on a film that means so much to both of us, and to everyone involved,” said Camon. “Clayton’s powerful work in Mayans M.C brought his talent to a wide audience, but I’m a believer from the early days. He has the heart of a warrior and the soul of a poet.”

Said Cardenas: “From the moment I auditioned for the role in 2017, I had a gut instinct I would be portraying this character. To see it go from the theater stages to film feels fully aligned with what I ultimately envisioned for this project. I am truly honored to be working with my costar Taraji, whose body of work I’ve always admired, and to bring life to the words of Alessandro, who I am deeply in awe of. These two are the type of artists I continue to strive to work with to leave a dent in the universe.”

Added Rosenzweig: “Alessandro Camon wrote a beautiful play that has resonated with me for years. I’m thrilled to be a part of bringing his words back to life in a new medium.”

Cardenas is best known for his role as Angel Reyes on FX’s biker drama Mayans M.C., which recently returned for its fourth season. The actor also has appeared on such series as American Crime, Law & Order: SVU, Snowfall and S.W.A.T. In addition to acting, he is a spoken-word poet and painter whose large-scale canvas work has caught the attention of collectors across the country.

Paloma Guzman to Recur on Starz’s “Power Book III: Raising Kanan”

Posted on February 25, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Paloma Guzman has (power) booked a new project…

The Latina actress has landed a heavily recurring role in the Starz/Lionsgate Power prequel series, Power Book III: Raising Kanan.

From creator and showrunner Sascha Penn, Power Book III: Raising Kanan takes viewers back to the ’90s and the early years of the now-deceased Kanan Stark, portrayed in Courtney Kemp’s original series by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.

Guzman will play Detective Regina Foyle, a veteran NYPD detective with a sensitive yet rugged side. She’s a contradiction in all the best ways.

Power Book III: Raising Kanan is executive produced by Kemp through her company End of Episode and Jackson through his G-Unit Film and Television.

Penn is the creator/showrunner of Raising Kanan. Lionsgate Television produces the series for Starz.

Known for her role as Jacki Molina in Pretty Little Liars, Guzman recently wrapped filming a major recurring role on the upcoming season of Roswell, New Mexico.

Her previous credits include a recurring role on the final season of HBO’s The Deuce, as well as roles on Law & Order: SVU, FBI, Shades of Blue, among others.

Marc Menchaca to Star in Gareth Edwards’ New Film “True Love”

Posted on January 23, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Marc Menchaca has found true love…

The 46-year-old Mexican American actor has joined the cast of Gareth Edwards’ New Regency film True Love, which has entered production in Thailand.

Menchaca, who has starred in Ozark and The Outsider, will star alongside John David Washington, Gemma Chan, Allison Janney, Benedict Wong and Sturgill Simpson in the film.

The latest film written and directed by Edwards is billed as an original sci-fi story set in the near future. Specifics as to its plot are currently undisclosed.

Edwards is producing the film with his Rogue One collaborator Kiri Hart and New Regency, which has provided the film’s financing.

Menchaca is perhaps best known for his scene-stealing turns as Jack Hoskins in HBO’s hit series The Outsider, and as Russ Langmore in the Emmy-winning Netflix drama series Ozark.

The actor most recently wrapped production on the Netflix feature No One Gets Out Alive, and the action-thriller Gypsy Moon alongside Lena Headey and Sam Worthington.

He made a recent appearance on HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm and will soon be featured in its upcoming series The White House Plumbers, as well as an upcoming episode of Amazon Prime’s Jack Ryan. His additional television credits include Black Mirror, Homeland, MacGyver, Blue Bloods, Chicago P.D., Sleepy Hollow, The Blacklist, Law & Order: SVU, CSI and Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

Octavio Pisano Promoted to Series Regular on NBC’s “Law & Order: SVU”

Posted on October 15, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Octavio Pisano is taking on more shifts…

The 35-year-old Latino actor and producer, who portrays Detective Joe Velasco on NBC’s Law & Order: SVU, has been promoted to series regular.

Pisano’s Joe Velasco is a former undercover and detective under Chief McGrath (Terry Serpico) who’s been assigned to the SVU. Pisano has appeared in 3 episodes so far, beginning with the season 23 premiere.

Season 23 picked up mere hours after last season’s finale, where Catalina Machado (Zabryna Guevara) was arrested for trafficking single mothers living in shelters in a complex housing-for-sex scheme. She now wants to flip on her superiors in exchange for a deal with the feds, and names a powerful congressman as the big fish. It’s a make-or-break case for the NYPD and puts enormous pressure on the entire SVU squad to get a conviction.

Starring Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: SVU chronicles the lives of the Special Victims Unit of the New York City Police Department, an elite squad of detectives who investigate crimes of sexual assault, child abuse and domestic violence.

Ice T, Peter Scanavino and Kelli Giddish also star.

Law & Order: SVU is TV’s longest-running primetime live-action series. It received a three-year renewal in 2020, taking it through Season 24.

Pisano starred alongside Michael Chiklis in the CBS All Access limited series Coyote. He was cast in the pilot for the New York Undercover reboot created by Dick Wolf and in Tyler Perry’s If Loving You Is Wrong. Pisano’s film credits include Ms Purple directed by Justin Chon, Badsville, Powder & Gold and Smartass.

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