Luis Guzman Upped to Series Regular for Season Two of Netflix’s “Wednesday”

Posted on May 7, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

There are more Wednesdays in Luis Guzmán’s future…

The 67-year-old Puerto Rican actor has been promoted to series regular for season two of Netflix’s supernatural mystery Wednesday.

Guzman, who portrays Wednesday’s father Gomez Addams on the series, is among the main cast and guest stars announced by Netflix for the upcoming season, which will once again be headlined by Jenna Ortega.

Production has started in Ireland for a 2025 premiere.

Promoted alongside Guzman as series regulars are Catherine Zeta-Jones, who plays Wednesday’s mom Morticia Addams; Isaac Ordonez (Wednesday’s younger brother Pugsley Addams); and Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo (Sheriff Deputy Ritchie Santiago).

Joining Wednesday as new series regulars are Billie Piper, previously revealed Steve Buscemi, Evie Templeton, Owen Painter and Noah Taylor.

A teaser, featuring Thing delivering scripts to the cast, reveals the characters for Piper, who will play Capri, and Buscemi, who will portray Barry Dort.

Wednesday creators/executive producers Al Gough and Miles Millar had previously hinted that we might see more Addams family members in Season 2 and explore further Wednesday’s relationship with her mother and the rest of her family. Expanding Jones, Guzmán and Ordonez’s presence next season would fit into that plan — along with delighting fans who had been asking to see more of these characters.

Season 2 will introduce at least one new Addams family member, Grandmama, who will be played by Joanna Lumley in a guest-starring turn, with Fred Armisen set to reprise his guest role as Uncle Fester.

Christopher Lloyd, who played Uncle Fester in the Addams Family film franchise, will also guest star in Season 2 in an undisclosed role, the second cast member from the films to appear on the series after Christina Ricci’s turn last season. Other new Season 2 guest stars include Thandiwe Newton, who will play Dr. Fairburn; Frances O’Connor; Haley Joel Osment; Heather Matarazzo; and Joonas Suotamo.

Returning series regulars are Ortega as Wednesday, Emma Myers, Joy Sunday, Hunter Doohan, Victor Dorobantu, Moosa Mostafa and Georgie Farmer.

Meanwhile, Season 1 series regulars Percy Hynes White, Jamie McShane and Naomi J Ogawa will not be returning in that capacity next season.

Of the three, only McShane is slated to reprise his Sheriff Donovan Galpin role as a guest star, likely to wrap the story of his character. Galpin’s duties may be taken over by his deputy, Santiago, with Lewis-Nyawo now promoted to series regular.

White played psychic Nevermore student Xavier Thorpe, one of the two main Season 1 male leads and a romantic interest for Wednesday (Ortega), who saved his life in the season finale.

Rumors started circulating last fall that his character may be written off. White last June issued a statement, hitting back at since-deleted anonymous January 2023 social media posts that accused him of sexual assault. In his message to fans, White vehemently denied any allegations.

As for Ogawa, her vampire student character Yoko Tanaka spent Season 1 largely in the background, with diminishing screen time as the season went on and no major storylines.

The teaser, which you can watch below, also reveals that the first episode of Season 2 is titled “Here We Woe Again.” It was written by Millar and Gough and is being directed by series director/exec producer Tim Burton.

“We are thrilled that the entire Addams family will be enrolling in Nevermore Academy this season along with a dream cast of icons and new faces,” Millar and Gough said in a statement.

The Season 2 cast photo is taken in the room Wednesday shared with Enid. There is no official logline for next season, but at least some of the action is expected to again take place at Nevermore Academy as the series is charting Wednesday Addams’ years as a student at there. It is unclear whether that would include Wednesday’s parents. There is a vacancy at the helm of the Academy after the principal (and Morticia’s former roommate) Larissa Weems (Gwendoline Christie) was killed.

Wednesday‘s first season ranks as Netflix’s most popular English TV series with 252.10 million views. The black comedy spent 20 weeks on the Global Top 10 and reached the top 10 in 93 countries.

Burton, Gough and Millar executive produce with Steve Stark, Andrew Mittman, Tommy Harper, Karen Richards, Kayla Alpert, Jonathan Glickman, Gail Berman and Meredith Averill. Other Season 2 directors include Paco Cabezas and Angela Robinson. MGM Television is the studio.

As the series is starting production in its new location, after filming Season 1 in Romania, Netflix is launching a TikTok channel dedicated to all things Wednesday from Thing’s perspective.

Netflix Considering “Wednesday” Spinoff Centered Around Fred Armisen’s Uncle Fester Character

Posted on December 18, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Fred Armisen’s most recent role may be festering a new series…

Netflix is looking to build a franchise around its reigning most popular series, with a Wednesday spinoff centered around the 57-year-old half-Venezuelan American actor/comedian’s Uncle Fester character in early development at the streamer from MGM Television.

Conversations about the offshoot are happening alongside preparations for Season 2 of Wednesday — a new take of The Addams Family starring Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams — which became a ratings and pop culture phenomenon when it launched in November 2022.

The horror comedy ranks as Netflix’s most popular English-language series with 252.1M views, almost doubling the next most popular television season on the streamer.

Armisen guest starred in one episode of Wednesday‘s first season in a memorable appearance as Uncle Fester, brother of Wednesday’s father Gomez Addams (Luis Guzman), who used his ability to generate electricity to revive Thing.

Gwendoline Christie, Riki Lindhome, Jamie McShane, Hunter Doohan, Percy Hynes White, Emma Myers, Joy Sunday, Georgie Farmer, Naomi J. Ogawa, Christina Ricci and Moosa Mostafa co-starred in Season 1, with Catherine Zeta-Jones recurring as Wednesday’s mother Morticia.

Season 2 will be filmed in Ireland, with production tentatively slated to begin in late April. Season 1 was shot in Romania.

There is little information about where the mothership Wednesday series would go thematically in Season 2.

Gough and Millar have hinted that we might see more Addams family members — further expanding the universe and potentially setting up new offshoots — and explore further Wednesday’s relationship with her mother while Ortega, who is becoming a producer for Season 2, has indicated that the show would have stronger emphasize on horror over teen romance.

Eva Longoria Starring in Dark Comedy “Dead Guy”

Posted on October 27, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Eva Longoria is playing a game of hot potato…

The 48-year-old Mexican American actress/producer/director is starring in writer-director Courtney J. Camerota’s first feature, the dark comedy Dead Guy.

The film, which recently wrapped production, was shot under a SAG-AFTRA Interim Agreement.

In addition to Longoria, the film also stars Michael Shannon, Judy Greer, Luis Guzman, Amaury Nolasco, Rory Culkin and Curtis Armstrong.

Dead Guy‘s plot is set into motion when an abrasive old man suddenly dies in the apartment of a neighbor. An absurd game of hot potato then begins with the not-so-dearly departed, as neighbors and building workers each pass the body along, in the hopes of not being linked to the old man’s demise.

Said Camerota, “I wrote this script years ago and to finally see it come to life is a dream come true. The opportunity to work with such an incredible cast, crew and producing team for my directorial debut has been an absolute honor. I can’t wait for the world to see Dead Guy.”

Producer Zac Adams stated that “as both a filmmaker and movie lover, the main goal is to always create films that are not only of the highest quality, but films that are enjoyable. With the world being as dark as it’s been the past few years, I hope our film helps spread some much needed light. It was an absolute honor and privilege in helping Courtney’s vision come to life.”

Kino Lorber Acquires North American Rights to Luis Guzman’s Indie Drama “Story Ave”

Posted on May 25, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Luis Guzman’s story is headed to U.S. theaters…

Kino Lorber has acquired the North American rights to the indie drama Story Ave, starring the 66-year-old Puerto Rican actor and Asante Blackk.

Kino Lorber is slating the film for release in theaters in October, with an on digital and home video debut to follow.

Marking the feature debut of well-known music video director Aristotle Torres, the film tells the story of Kadir (Blackk), a South Bronx teen and gifted visual artist who loses his way following the death of his younger brother. Overcome with grief and struggling with school and family, he escapes into the creative yet dangerous world of graffiti gangs. To prove himself and join his neighborhood’s ruling gang, Kadir attempts to rob MTA conductor Luis (Guzmán) on the Story Ave subway platform, only to be caught off guard when Luis agrees to give Kadir the cash if he’ll sit down to a meal with him. Following their conversation and the delicate friendship that grows out of it, Kadir sees for the first time how his artistic talent could lead to a better life.

A FirstGen Content and Foxxhole Entertainment Production, in association with Mero Mero Production, The Space Program and Dark Rabbit Productions, Story Ave won a Special Jury Award for Cinematography at SXSW upon its world premiere at the Austin, TX festival. Torres and Bonsu Thompson wrote the film also starring Melvin Gregg (Snowfall), Alex R. Hibbert (Moonlight) and Coral Peña (For All Mankind).

Said Kino Lorber’s SVP of Theatrical Distribution and Acquisitions, Wendy Lidell, “Story Ave is a New York story unlike any we’ve seen before. Aristotle Torres shines an authentic light on the South Bronx, its beauty never eclipsed by its hardships, and offers audiences the true gift of a complex and worthy role for the immensely talented Luis Guzmán.”

Added Torres in his statement, “I am incredibly honored that my first film has been acquired by Kino Lorber. This partnership with such a renowned distributor is a dream come true, and I am grateful for their recognition of my work.”

Continued the filmmaker, “The team and I invested our hearts and souls into this project, and I am thrilled to see it find a home with such a prestigious brand. I am excited to collaborate with Kino Lorber to bring my film to audiences on a wider scale and share the unique vision we’ve created. This is just the beginning of an exciting journey, and I can’t wait to continue creating meaningful stories that resonate with audiences everywhere.”

Luis Guzmán Launching Own Production Company ‘Mascot Camp Productions’

Posted on January 8, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Luis Guzmán is expanding his resume…

The 66-year-old Puerto Rican actor is launching his own production company, Mascot Camp Productions.

Mascot Camp has already formed a partnership with Rescue Dog Productions, Matthew Dwyer and Michael Hollingsworth, to finance the first two years of productions, consisting of plans to make six feature films and four television series.

The company plans to get the ball rolling with the release of two feature films: Enough, a feature film about a trans man and his family; and 6 Rounds, which tells the story of how a gun and the six bullets inside it changed a town forever.

Guzmán, John LaBrucherie, Dwyer and Hollingsworth will all be executive producers.

“I’m excited to take this journey with an amazing group of talented individuals,” said Guzmán. “Born out of friendship and family this team is ready to create visual stories that will uplift and inspire. Our partnership with Rescue Dog Productions gives us the opportunity to tell the stories we want to tell in the way it should be told.”

Guzmán and LaBrucherie aim to establish a production company that will create uplifting stories that impact not only the industry but larger communities and cultures. The team includes his co-founder, Manny Padilla, Christopher Cope of Orbital Studios and Raleigh Studios, Michele LaBrucherie, Cemi Guzmán, founder of Dark Rabbit Productions, and Hector Kron.

“The aggressive production plan in place is meant to immediately impact the current viewing environment. Ten original stories that matter. This rollout is designed to maintain our presence on the air year round. Our strength is in our numbers and our diversity. Through inclusion and outreach we have already began the development beyond this two year plan. The mascots are coming and we are here to stay,“ John LaBrucherie said.

Guzmán has had a prolific career for the past few decades, making him one of the most recognizable character actors of modern times.

In addition to his appearance in the hit Netflix series Wednesday, he has logged credits in countless TV series like Code Black, Hightown, Shameless and Perpetual Grace, LTD.

He has also starred in films like Boogie Nights, Traffic, Punch-Drunk Love and Carlito’s Way.

Luis Guzmán to Star in Rian Johnson’s Peacock Series “Poker Face”

Posted on September 7, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Luis Guzmán is playin’ poker…

The 66-year-old Puerto Rican actor will star in Peacock’s Poker Face, a mystery drama series starring Natasha Lyonne, hailing from Rian Johnson, his T-Street banner and MRC Television.

Guzman is among a roster of new cast additions that includes Cherry Jones, Hong Chau and Reed Birney.

Details of their roles, as well as plot details of the 10-episode anthology-like series are being kept under wraps.

In addition to Lyonne, the four join previously announced cast members Adrien Brody, Angel Desai, Audrey Corsa, Benjamin Bratt, Charles Melton, Chloe Sevigny, Clea DuVall, Danielle MacDonald, Dascha Polanco, Ellen Barkin, Jasmine Aiyana Garvin, Jameela Jamil, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Judith Light, Leslie Silva, Lil Rel Howery, Niall Cunningham, Nicholas Cirillo, Nick Nolte, Ron Perlman, S. Epatha Merkerson, Shane Paul McGhie, Simon Helberg, Stephanie Hsu, Tim Blake Nelson and Tim Meadows.

Johnson is the creator, writer and director of Poker Face and will also executive produce alongside T-Street partner Ram Bergman and the company’s television president Nena Rodrigue. Nora Zuckerman and Lilla Zuckerman (Prodigal Son, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D) serve as showrunners and executive producers. Lyonne also will serve as an executive producer via her Animal Pictures. The company’s Maya Rudolph and Danielle Renfrew Behrens will co-executive produce.

Guzmán is best known for his roles in Steven Soderbergh’s films such as Out of Sight, The Limey, and Traffic, and in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Boogie Nights, Magnolia, and Punch-Drunk Love.

On television, he has had key roles on Showtime’s Shameless, Epix’s Godfather of Harlem and Perpetual Grace, LTD.

Luis Guzman to Star in Aristotle Torres’ Directorial Debut

Posted on August 25, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Luis Guzmán has a Story to tell…

The 65-year-old Puerto Rican actor will star in Aristotle Torres’ feature directorial debut Story Ave, for FirstGen Content and Jamie Foxx’s Foxxhole Productions.

Guzman will star opposite Asante Blackk in the film, which has wrapped production in New York.

It will also star Alex Hibbert, Melvin Gregg, Cassandra Freeman and Coral Peña.

Based on Torres’ 2018 short of the same name co-written by Bonsu Thompson — which was, in turn, based on Torres’ life — Story Ave follows a teenage graffiti artist (Blackk) who, after running away from home, holds up an unsuspecting MTA worker (Guzmán) in a robbery gone right that changes their lives forever.

Story Ave is a FirstGen Content and Foxxhole Entertainment Production, in association with Mero Mero Production, The Space Program, and Dark Rabbit Productions.

Torres and Thompson developed the feature through the Sundance Director and Screenwriter Labs, with Guzmán and his son, executive producer Cemi Guzmán of Dark Rabbit Productions, joining the project in its infancy and proving instrumental in advancing Torres’ vision.

Blackk is an Emmys and Critics’ Choice Award nominee who found his breakout role in Ava DuVernay’s Netflix limited series When They See Us, which had him portraying Central Park Five member Kevin Richardson.

The actor most recently appeared on NBC’s hit show This Is Us as Déjà Pearson’s (Lyric Ross) boyfriend, Malik, and is set to make his feature debut in Cory Finley’s Landscape with Invisible Hand for MGM and Plan B, opposite Tiffany Haddish.

Guzmán is an Independent Award nominee known for turns in such films as The Taking of Pelham 123, Fast Food Nation, Waiting…, Anger Management, Punch-Drunk Love, The Count of Monte Cristo, Traffic, Boogie Nights and Carlito’s Way, among many others. Notable TV credits include Hightown, Ultra City Smiths, Shameless, Godfather of Harlem, Roadies, Narcos and Oz. The actor recently made an appearance on Peacock’s The Resort and will next be seen in Netflix’s Addams Family series Wednesday, as well as Gareth Evans’ action-thriller Havoc, among other projects

Netflix Releases First Look at Jenna Ortega as “Wednesday” in Upcoming Addams Family Television Series

Posted on June 6, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Jenna Ortega is embracing her Family…

Netflix has revealed the first look at “Wednesday,” the upcoming Addams Family television series starring the famous clan’s daughter, with the 19-year-old Puerto Rican and Mexican American actress and Scream 5 star in the title role.

First created by Charles Addams for a series of New Yorker cartoons, the Addams Family is a bizarre aristocratic clan with an obsession of the macabre and a complete lack of concern regarding how others perceive them.

Following their creation, the characters grew in popularity after a 1964 sitcom fleshed out their personalities, and have since starred in two live-action theatrical films, two animated series, a Broadway musical and two animated films.

The only daughter of parents Gomez and Morticia, Wednesday was depicted in the original sitcom as the most sweet-natured of the family.

However, the 1991 Barry Sonnenfeld-directed film adaptation changed her personality to be much more deadpan and sadistic, with Christina Ricci’s portrayal in the film making her one of the most popular characters in the franchise.

“Wednesday” spins-off the character as she attends a boarding school Nevermore Academy, where she develops psychic powers and investigates a supernatural killing spree connected to her own family’s history.

In addition to Ortega as Wednesday, the rest of the Addams Family will make appearances in the show. Catherine Zeta-Jones is part of the main cast as matriarch Morticia, while Victor Dorobantu plays the disembodied hand servant of the family, Thing. Isaac Ordonez plays Wednesday’s brother Pugsley in a recurring role, while George Burcea plays the family manservant Lurch. Luis Guzmán will guest star in the series as Wednesday’s father Gomez.

The main cast of the show includes Riki Lindhome, Jamie McShane, Percy Hynes White, Gwendoline Christie, Thora Birch, Hunter Doohan, Joy Sunday, Emma Myers, Georgie Farmer, Naomi Ogawa and Moosa Mostafa. In a nod to the ’90s films, Ricci will also appear in an unconfirmed role.

Al Gough and Miles Millar, the creators of the Superman series Smallville, serve as showrunners and executive producers for the series.

Tim Burton will also executive produce and direct the majority of episodes, with Gandja Monteiro and James Marshall serving as additional directors.

The series is produced by MGM Television for Netflix.

Starz Renews Monica Raymund’s Crime Drama Series “Hightown” for Third Season

Posted on March 1, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Monica Raymund is riding high(town)…

Starz has renewed its critically acclaimed crime drama series Hightown, starring the 35-year-old half-Dominican American actress, for a third season.

The Cape Cod-set series is created and executive produced by Rebecca Cutter and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer Television and Lionsgate Television.

“Hightown is such an incredible show, and we could not be happier that it’s been renewed for a third season,” said Kathryn Busby, President, Original Programming for Starz. “We are excited to return to Cape Cod to see our iconic characters battle their past mistakes as well as new foes in the dangerous underworld that lies beneath this idyllic setting.”

In Season 2, the picture-perfect version of summer on Cape Cod clashed with its off-season reality. Per the logline: Achieving her dream of becoming a real cop, Jackie Quinones (Raymund) is out to do some good in this world. Thrust immediately into the crime wave of deadly carfentanyl flooding the Cape, Jackie is laser-focused on bringing down drug dealer Frankie Cuevas (Amaury Nolasco), the man Jackie holds responsible for the death of her best friend, Junior. For Jackie, it is personal — but then again, for Jackie, everything is personal.

When Frankie’s cousin Jorge (Luis Guzmán) joins his operation, he introduces a new level of violence and chaos. With disgraced officer Ray Abruzzo (James Badge Dale) off the force and mired in depression, Jackie finds a new partner in Leslie (Tonya Glanz), the only other woman on the force. Through it all, Jackie must walk the tightrope of sobriety as she struggles to stay above an ocean of secrets, betrayal and the shame and failure of her past.

Riley Voelkel, Atkins Estimond, and Dohn Norwood also star.

Cutter made her television directorial debut in Season 2. Oscar-nominated filmmaker Rachel Morrison also directed two of the second season’s 10 episodes.

Raymund, Brandon Sonnier, Radium Cheung, Antonio Negret and Eagle Egilsson also directed in Season 2.

Season 2 is streaming on all Starz platforms.

Luis Guzmán to Star in Jacquelyn Quinones Feature Directorial Debut “Miles Away”

Posted on January 27, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Luis Guzmán is miles away…

The 65-year-old Puerto Rican actor has joined the cast of Miles Away, an upcoming indie from writer, director and producer Jacquelyn Quinones.

Produced by Quinones, Miles Away is a dramedy that explores a day in the life of a rideshare driver, with short vignettes of passengers all feeding into the story of the driver learning to deal with no money, a thankless job and a sister with mental illness.

Andre Royo, Noel Gugliemi, Alberto Frezza, Norma Maldonado, Henri Esteve, Jennifer Bartels, Eddie Martinez, Jessica Sarah Flaum, Marilyn Camacho and Charo Toledo round out the cast of the Puerto Rican filmmaker’s feature directorial debut, in which she also appears.

“Excited to be part of this project. Jackie Quinones is a new voice for a new generation. Her work personifies the social and cultural diversity reminiscent of the now and necessary for the future,” said Guzmán. “She is an insightful creative, her work transcends stereotypes. Miles Away finds a unique harmony toeing the line of conventional storytelling and inventive hybrid genre narratives focusing on social change.”

Guzmán is an Independent Spirit Award nominee who has garnered nearly 160 screen credits over the course of his five-decades and change in entertainment.

He can currently be seen in the Starz drama Hightown and will next appear in Tim Burton’s Netflix series Wednesday, among other projects.

The actor is also known for turns films like Top Five, We’re the Millers, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, He’s Just Not That Into You, Yes Man, School for Scoundrels, Fast Food Nation, Waiting…, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd, Anger Management, Punch-Drunk Love, Boogie Nights and Traffic, among many others.

Additional television credits include Ultra City Smiths, Shameless, Godfather of Harlem, Code Black, Roadies, Narcos and Oz.

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