First Trailer Released for Judd Apatow’s Lockdown Comedy “The Bubble,” Starring Pedro Pascal

Posted on March 6, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Pedro Pascal’s latest project is bubbling up…

The first trailer has been released for Judd Apatow’s lockdown comedy The Bubble, starring a stacked cast that includes the 46-year-old Chilean actor.

The film looks at the high stakes and high jinks involved in filming a studio tentpole film during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The scenario unfolds somewhere in England during the dark days of October 2020 as a group of actors is quarantining at a posh hotel while shooting Cliff Beasts 6, the latest in an action franchise about people battling dinosaurs. And it’s no walk in the Jurassic Park.

“Thank you for wearing proper PPE,” the ensemble is told. “Physical touch is, of course, off the table, so I would recommend making sweet eyes at each other.”

But there’s an incentive to keep the cameras rolling: “We are one of two movies in production right now — if we fail, the studio’s going to go down.”

So the show goes on, and we get the lighter side of greenscreen acting.

Karen Gillan, Iris Apatow, Fred Armisen, Maria Bakalova, David Duchovny, Keegan-Michael Key, Leslie Mann, Kate McKinnon and Peter Serafinowicz also star in the Apatow-directed film.

Apatow wrote the script with Pam Brady.

The film-within-a-film will hit Netflix in the spring.

Pedro Pascal to Star in Judd Apatow’s Netflix Comedy “The Bubble”

Posted on February 10, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Things are bubbling up for Pedro Pascal…

The 45-year-old Chilean actor has been cast in Judd Apatow’s next comedy The Bubble for Netflix.

Pascal, who recently starred in Wonder Woman 1984, joins a cast that includes Karen Gillan, Iris Apatow, Fred Armisen, Maria Bakalova, David Duchovny, Keegan-Michael Key, Leslie Mann and Peter Serafinowicz.

Apatow will direct and produce the film, as well as co-write the script with Pam Brady.

The film follows a group of actors and actresses stuck inside a pandemic bubble at a hotel attempting to complete a film. The film couldn’t be more timely as more and more productions are ramping back up even as COVID-19 remains in full effect around the world.

Once Netflix boarded the project, it quickly was fast-tracked with a plan to start shooting at the top of 2021. The plan also always has been to deliver a cast that rivals previous A-list ensembles like those for The Disaster Artist and Knives Out.

Gerrison Machado to Star in Amazon Prime’s Global Thriller “The Power”

Posted on February 8, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Gerrison Machado has the power…

The Brazilian American actor has been cast in Amazon Prime Video’s The Power, a 10-part global thriller based on Naomi Alderman’s bestselling novel of the same name.

The project hails Chernobyl producer Sister and Emmy-winning The Handmaids Tale director Reed Morano.

Machado, who will be a series regular, joins a cast of newcomers that includes Rob Delaney, Alice Eve, Edwina Findley, Arichi Rush, Pietra Castro and Zrinka Cvitešić.

In The Power all teenage girls in the world suddenly develop the power to electrocute people at will. It’s hereditary, it’s inbuilt, and it can’t be taken away from them. The Power follows a cast of remarkable characters from London to Seattle, Nigeria to Moldova, as the Power evolves from a tingle in teenagers’ collarbones to a complete reversal of the power balance of the world.

In addition to Machado, Rush, Castro and Cvitešić join The Power cast as series regulars.

Delaney, Eve and Findley will recur as Tom, Kristen and Helen, respectively.

The newly added stars will act opposite Tim Robbins, Leslie Mann, John Leguizamo, Eddie Marson, Daniela Vega and Auli’i Cravalho.

Also joining the cast in recurring roles are Jacob Fortune-Lloyd, Sam Buchanan, Juliet Cowan and Simbi Ajikawo (aka Little Simz.)

Fat Joe to Appear on the Upcoming “MDA Kevin Hart Kids Telethon”

Posted on October 20, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Fat Joe’s got hart… And, he’s ready to share it with the world.

The 50-year-old Puerto Rican and Cuban American rapper, whose real name Joseph Antonio Cartagena, will take part in the MDA Kevin Hart Kids Telethon, the upcoming two-hour special hosted by Hart that reimagines the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s annual variety show fundraiser.

Fat Joe joins a lineup of talent additions that includes Don Cheadle, Common, Cindy Crawford, Whitney Cummings, Stephen Curry, Zachary Levi and Kelly Rowland.

The special, which will benefit the MDA and Help From the Hart Charity, streams live on Saturday from 8:00 – 10:00 p.m. ET on Hart’s LOL Network and its digital platforms YouTube and Pluto TV, as well as on TikTok, Triller and Twitch.

SiriusXM will air an encore of the show on its Laugh Out Loud Radio channel on October 26 at 4:00 pm ET and again the next day at 10:00 am ET.

The telethon will feature entertainment, comedy, musical performances and MDA’s Let’s Play For a Cure gaming elements, a gaming stream hosted by Zedd running simultaneously. A Telethon Showcase to celebrate the members of the neuromuscular community and hosted by Nancy O’Dell and Jann Carl will follow the two-hour main show. It will stream on the MDA’s Facebook page.

As a warmup, an MDA-hosted online auction on CharityBuzz featuring items from Serena Williams, Curry and others launches Friday at mda.org/telethon.

The latest talent additions to the lineup join previously announced guests including Garcelle Beauvais, Aloe Blacc, Jack Black, Usain Bolt, Bryan Cranston, Adam Devine, Josh Gad, Liz Gillies, Aldis Hodge, Edwin Hodge, Michael B. Jordan, DJ Khaled, Daniel Levy, Loni Love, Leslie Mann, Jillian Mercado, Robin Thicke, Gabrielle Union Wade and John David Washington.

Jonathan Krisel is directing.

Auliʻi Cravalho to Star in Amazon’s Thriller Series “The Power”

Posted on November 13, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Auliʻi Cravalho’s got the power…

The 18-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer/actress, who recently starred as Ariel on The Little Mermaid Live!, will co-star opposite Leslie Mann in The Power, Amazon‘s 10-episode global thriller drama series based on Naomi Alderman’s feminist sci-fi book.

Hailing from Jane Featherstone’s Sister Pictures, the project was adapted for screen by Alderman, who’s working alongside an all-female writers’ room.

In The Power, all teenage girls in the world develop the power to electrocute people at will. It’s hereditary, it’s inbuilt, and it can’t be taken away from them. Coming alive to the thrill of pure power: the ability to hurt or even kill by releasing electrical jolts from their fingertips, they rapidly learn they can awaken the Power in older women. Soon enough nearly every woman in the world can do it. And then everything is different.

The subversive, multi-stranded narrative follows a series of characters including Allie, a vulnerable American foster kid who reinvents herself as a faith leader; Roxy, the daughter of a London crime boss, who revels in her new abilities; Tunde, a Nigerian journalist reporting on seismic global change; and Margot Cleary – Lopez (Mann), Mayor of Seattle; loving wife and doting mother to three kids. At least that’s what her official campaign website would tell you.

Cravalho is playing Margot’s (Mann) daughter, Jos. As Margot’s career takes flight, it’s her husband Rob and daughter Jos who privately feel the effects of her success most keenly; for one of them, where previously there was conflict now comes a greater understanding, and for the other where there was love, comes hurt and betrayal.

The Power was created by Alderman, who is executive producing alongside Reed Morano, who is directing.

Cravalho most recently starred as the title character in ABC’s highly-rated The Wonderful World of Disney Presents The Little Mermaid Live! special.

She’s currently in production as the lead of the Brett Haley’s Netflix film Sorta Like a Rock Star. The actress, who burst onto the scene as the title character in the Disneyanimated hit Moana, has also appeared on NBC’s drama series Rise.

Bardem to Serve as a Presenter at This Year’s Academy Awards

Posted on February 18, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Javier Bardem has a date with Oscar…

The 47-year-old Spanish actor, who won an Academy Award for his role in No Country for Old Men, will serve as a presenter at the 89th Academy Awards on February 26.

In addition to Bardem, the latest list of presenters includes

Amy Adams, Riz Ahmed, John Cho, Dwayne Johnson, Felicity Jones, Leslie Mann, Janelle Monáe, David Oyelowo, Emma Stone and Charlize Theron, according to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.

Previously announced presenters include Halle Berry, Jamie Dornan, Chris Evans, Gael García Bernal, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Dakota Johnson, Shirley MacLaine, Kate McKinnon and Hailee Steinfeld.

Hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, the Oscars will be held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. ABC will broadcast the ceremony live.

Michele to Star Opposite Kate Upton in the Road Trip Sex Comedy “The Layover”

Posted on March 26, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Lea Michele has a post-Glee layover…

The 28-year-old part-Spanish actress has been cast in in The Layover, the William H. Macy-directed road trip sex comedy written by David Hornsby and Lance Krall.

Michele and Kate Upton will portray a pair of lifelong best friends who decide to avoid their problems by taking a vacation only to find that their plane has been rerouted due to a hurricane warning. To make matters worse, the two friends find themselves battling for the same guy during an extended layover in St. Louis. Macy will play a role in the film as well.

“The minute I met Lea and Kate, the film began to focus for me,” said Macy, moonlighting from his series Shameless. “They are singular, ambitious funny women in full. This is going to be fun.”

Michele, who recently wrapped up the sixth and final season of Glee, has reteamed with Ryan Murphy on Fox’s anthology series Scream Queens.

Upton co-starred with Cameron Diaz and Leslie Mann in Fox’s The Other Woman.

Production on The Layover is imminent.

Diaz’s “The Other Woman” Takes Down Captain America at the Box Office

Posted on April 28, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Cameron Diaz is a Woman on top…

Fox‘s comedy The Other Woman, starring the 41-year-old half-Cuban American actress, dominated the final weekend before the official start of the summer box office, registering a strong $24.7 million debut from 3,205 theaters after a long dry spell for femme-fueled fare.

Other Woman — teaming Diaz opposite Leslie Mann and Kate Upton — unseated Captain America: The Winter Soldier from the top spot at the North American box office after it dominated the chart for three consecutive weekends.

Overseas, the comedy took in $12.8 million from 31 markets for an early total of $20.6 million and global cume of $45.3 million.

Sony‘s The Amazing Spider-Man 2was the big winner internationally, where it is opening ahead of its May 2 North American launch, amassing $67.2 million over the weekend for an early total of $132 million (Other Woman did narrowly beat the superhero movie in Australia, however, grossing $4.1 million).

Directed by Nick Cassavetes, Other Woman is a win for Diaz and could bode well for Sony’s July comedy Sex Tape, in which she stars opposite Jason Segel.

Other Woman stars Diaz, Mann and Upton as three jilted women determined to expose a philandering husband. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Nicki Minaj and Taylor Kinney also star in the $40 million movie, which earned a B+ CinemaScore. Females made up a whopping 75 percent of the audience, while 65 percent of ticket buyers were over the age of 25. Roughly 44 percent were between the ages of 18 to 24, a healthy showing.

“The combination of the three actresses and a fun movie really struck a chord,” said Fox senior vice president of domestic distribution Spencer Klein.

Here are the top 10 estimates for the weekend of April 25-27 at the domestic box office:

Title, Weeks in Release/Theater Count, Studio, Weekend Total, Percentage Drop, Cume

1. The Other Woman, 1/3,205, Fox, $24.7 million.
2. Captain America: The Winter Soldier, 4/3,620, Disney/Marvel, $16 million, -37%, $224.9 million.
3. Heaven Is for Real, 2/2,705 Sony/TriStar, $13.8 million, -39%, $51.9 million.
4. Rio 2, 3/3,703, Fox/Blue Sky, $13.7 million, -38%, $96.2 million.
5. Brick Mansions, 1/2,647, Relativity/EuropaCorp, $9.6 million.
6. Transcendence, 2/3,455, Warner Bros./Alcon, $4.1 million, -62%, $18.5 million.
7. The Quiet Ones, 1/2,027, Lionsgate/Exclusive, $4 million.
8. Divergent, 6/2,066, Lionsgate/Summit, $3.6 million, -25%, $139.5 million.
9. Bears, 2/1,720, Disney, $3.6 million, -36%, $11.2 million.
10. A Haunted House 2, 2/2,310, Open Road/IM Global, $3.3 million, -63%, $14.2 million.

Saldanha’s “Rio 2” Breaks Animated Film Records in Brazil

Posted on March 31, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Carlos Saldanha has plenty of reason to get animated…

The 49-year-old Brazilian animated film director’s latest project Rio 2, the sequel to 2011’s beloved film Rio, has made history in Brazil.

The film had the biggest opening ever for an animated film in the South American country.

The Blue Sky Studios project from Saldanha, who hails from the titular town, took off with $7.3 million to edge out the prior record-holder, Madagascar 3.

The film’s voice cast includes Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, Leslie Mann, Bruno Mars, George Lopez, will.i.am, Rodrigo Santoro, Jake T. Austin, Bebel Gilberto, Andy Garcia, Rita Moreno, Kristin Chenowith, Natalie Morales and Janelle Monáe.

Rio 2 will be released in the United States on April 11.

Saldanha to Receive CinemaCon’s International Filmmaker of the Year Award

Posted on January 31, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Carlos Saldanha will be getting plenty of love at this year’s CinemaCon…

The 49-year-old Brazilian director of animated films will receive the international filmmaker of the year award at this year’s edition of CinemaCon, the annual gathering of theater owners in Las Vegas.

This year’s convention will take place March 24-27 at Caesars Palace.

Saldanha, an Academy Award nominated filmmaker who works with Blue Sky Studios, is currently wrapping production on Rio 2, his follow up to 20th Century Fox‘s animated hit Rio.

The sequel opens in theaters April 11 and features the return of voice leads Anne Hathaway, Jesse Eisenberg, Jermaine Clement, Leslie Mann, George Lopez, will.i.am and Jamie Foxx.

New voice additions include Andy Garcia, Bruno Mars, Kristin Chenoweth and Rita Moreno.

The Rio franchise is from Fox Animation Studios and Blue Sky Studios.

Saldanha’s other credits include Ice Age, Ice Age: The Meltdown, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs and Robots.

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