Netflix Releases Trailer for Eighth & Final Season of “Elite,” Starring Omar Ayuso

Posted on July 4, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Omar Ayuso is returning to the classroom…

Netflix has released the trailer for the eighth and final season of its longest-running Spanish scripted series Elite, starring the 26-year-old Spanish actor.

Premiering on July 26, the new season will see a death roil the fictional high school.

The teen drama has been airing since 2018 and revolves around the relationships among three working-class students enrolled at the elite school through a scholarship program and their wealthy classmates.

In Season 8, the arrival of siblings Emilia and Héctor Krawietz, leaders of Las Encinas alumni association, shake the school foundations. Influential, powerful, corrupt and corrupters, the Krawietz will scatter chaos wherever they go and will destroy the lives of those who fall prey to them. Only Omar will be able to face them and will be willing to do anything to see them fall, because in the end, they represent everything that has always been wrong in Las Encinas.

Created by Carlos Montero and Jaime Vaca, Season 8 stars Ayuso, André Lamoglia, Valentina Zenere, Mirela Balić, Gleb Abrosimov, Fernando Líndez, Nadia Al Saidi, Ander Puig, Carmen Arrufat, Mina el Hammani, Iván Mendes, Maribel Verdú and newcomers Ane Rot, Nuno Gallego, Alexandra Pino and Mario Ermito, among others.

Montero confirmed in October 2023 that Season 8 would the last.

“We ended on a high note,” said Montero. “Jaime [Vaca, co-showrunner for season 7], Netflix and I thought it was time to end it. I say this with great regret because it’s been several incredible years in which I’ve met wonderful actors, we’ve worked with all the directors we wanted to work with and we’ve had the luxury of having Maribel these last two seasons. Élite changed everyone’s life, there are actors who started with us and it has been their springboard to be now world stars, it is happening to this cast and it is a pride to have contributed to that and to know that they have seen us all over the world and liked it.”

Netflix Renews Drama Series “Elite,” Starring Manu Ríos, for Eighth Season

Posted on July 19, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Manu Ríos is heading back to private school…

Netflix’s longest-running Spanish scripted series Elite, starring the 24-year-old Spanish actor, singer and model, has been renewed for an eighth season.

Rios, who portrays Patrick, joined the series, in Season 4.

Elite‘s latest run will feature new faces including Ane Rot and Nuno Gallego, while Mina el Hammani, who recurred in the first three seasons, reprises the role of Nadia.

Created by Carlos Montero and Jaime Vaca, Elite has been airing since 2018 and is set in a fictional high school. The teen drama revolves around the relationships among three working-class students enrolled at the elite school through a scholarship program and their wealthy classmates.

In addition to Rios, other cast include Ander Puig, Carmen Arrufat, Álvaro de Juana, Ana Bokesa, Álex Pastrana, André Lamoglia, Valentina Zenere, Carla Díaz, Martina Cariddi and Adam Nourou.

Mirela Balic, Fernando Líndez, Gleb Abrosimov, Ivan Mendes, Alejandro Albarracin and Maribel Verdu also joined the cast for the previous season.

Zeta Studios is producer.

Netflix Releases Teaser Trailer for Season 7 of Ander Puig’s “Elite”

Posted on June 17, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Ander Puig is returning to his Elite group in the fall…

Netflix has announced Season 7 of its popular Spanish YA drama series Elite, starring the 21-year-old Spanish actor, will premiere on October 20.

The streamer has also unveiled a teaser trailer (with subtitles) for the upcoming season.

Netflix promises Season 7 will be an epic journey for the students of Las Encinas.

In season 6, after another student’s death, Las Encinas entered a new school year determined to cover up for its scandalous past. But conflicts continued as racism, sexism, domestic abuse and homophobia run rampant in the halls of the prestigious institution. If those who run the school don’t take action to root out these issues, the students are going to do it for them.

In addition to Puig, the Season 6 cast includes Carmen Arrufat, Álvaro de Juana, Ana Bokesa, Álex Pastrana, André Lamoglia, Valentina Zenere, Carla Díaz, Martina Cariddi, Adam Nourou and Manu Ríos.

Mirela Balic, Fernando Líndez, Gleb Abrosimov, Ivan Mendes, Alejandro Albarracin and Maribel Verdu will join the cast in the upcoming season.

Nadia Al Saidi, who plays Sonia in season 6 and Omar Ayuso, who has played Omar in seasons 1-5 will also reprise their roles in the new episodes.

Created by Carlos Montero and Jaime Vaca, Season 7 will be directed by Lino Escalera, Menna Fité, Roger Gual and Ana Vázquez.

Paramount+ Orders the Manolo Cardona-Starring Film “One Must Die”

Posted on June 26, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Manolo Cardona’s latest project is heading to Paramount+.

The streamer has given the green light to the 45-year-old Colombian actor’s suspense thriller film One Must Die.

The film centers around seven people who are kidnapped and suddenly find themselves part of a deadly game. As the clock ticks, to survive the seven participants must choose one to die and the chosen one will have to agree.

In addition to Cardona, the project also stars Maribel Verdú, Carla Adell, Juan Carlos Remolina, Adriana Paz, Dagoberto Gama and Fernando Becerril.

Cardona is expected to direct the film, which will be produced by VIS in association with 11:11 FILMS.

The project will debut exclusively in all international markets.

Cardona most recently starred on the Netflix series ¿Quién mató a Sara?

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+.

Maribel Verdú Starring in Apple Studios’ “Raymond and Ray”

Posted on October 24, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Maribel Verdú is providing care…

The 51-year-old Spanish actress has been cast in Apple Studios’ Raymond and Ray alongside Oscar nominee Sophie Okonedo.

Verdu and Okonedo join a cast that includes Ewan McGregor and Ethan Hawke.

The Rodrigo García-directed and written feature, which is currently filming in Virginia, follows half-brothers Raymond (McGregor) and Ray (Hawke) who have lived in the shadow of a terrible father. Somehow, they still each have a sense of humor, and his funeral is a chance for them to reinvent themselves. There’s anger, there’s pain, there’s folly, there might be love, and there’s definitely grave-digging.

Verdú will star as Lucia, a partner and caretaker to Raymond and Ray’s father. Her character is described as one having the innate strength and alluring personality that will mend the broken family in the wake of the father’s death.

Verdú , an 11-time Goya Award nominee and two-time winner, starred in Y tu mamá también and Pan’s Labyrinth.

Raymond and Ray is produced by Oscar winner Alfonso Cuarón, Bonnie Curtis and Julie Lynn, who’ll produce through their Mockingbird Pictures.

Alicia Sanz Signs with Range Media Partners for Talent Management

Posted on June 15, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Alicia Sanz is expanding her range…

The 33-year-old Spanish actress has signed with Range Media Partners for talent management.

The star of the Amazon Prime series El Cid will continue to be repped by CAA, You Rock Talent; and Brecheen, Feldman, Breimer, Silver & Thompson.

Sanz is renowned for her turn as Paloma Iglesias in the second season of El Rey’s From Dusk Till Dawn from Robert Rodriguez.

Sanz is currently shooting Gideon Raff’s bilingual thriller series Now and Then for Apple TV+ opposite Rosie Perez, Maribel Verdú, and Marina de Tavira. Set in Miami with an all-Hispanic cast, the series 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. Sanz will play Young Sofia, a younger version of Sofia (played by Maribel Verdú), a strong self-made lawyer whose life took an unexpected turn 20 years ago and is now hiding too many secrets.

Sanz starred opposite William Levy in the feature film En Brazos de un Asesino and in the Bradley Parker directed feature, The Devil Below. Other credits include the Netflix feature #Realityhigh, Fox’s Shots Fired, James Cox’ Billionaire Boys Club and the independent thriller, Better Criminal.

Originally from Ceuta, Spain, Sanz landed her first leading role at the age of eight. She went on to make her TV debut as Lucía Elízondo Cortés on Antena3 Network’s hit drama Gavilanes, and subsequently starred in other popular Spanish series’ including Bandolera, Amar Es Para Siempre and Cuentame.

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+.

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