Diego Boneta to Star in “El Gato,” Based on Richard Dominguez’s Comic Book Series “El Gato Negro”

Diego Boneta has landed a purr-fect role…

The 33-year-old will lead the newly greenlit bilingual series El Gato (working title), based on the comic book series El Gato Negro by Richard Dominguez.

Diego BonetaProduction is expected to begin this spring in Mexico.

Boneta was previously attached to a project based on the same comic book titled El Gato Negro: Nocturnal Warrior from MGM Television and Mark Burnett in 2019 that stalled.

In El Gato, Boneta will play Frank Guerrero, the black sheep of his family, who finds himself at the center of a vast conspiracy when he discovers his father was the titular ‘70s vigilante. Frank, who returns home to Mexico after the death of his father and finds himself neck-deep in a nest of vipers – his estranged family – who are vying for control of his father’s business empire.

But Frank’s grief is interrupted when he learns his only inheritance, a seemingly worthless parcel of land on the border, sits atop the lair of a famous costumed vigilante. His father was “El Gato.” Now, Frank is in the crosshairs. To survive, he’ll have to solve mysteries decades in the making and unravel the truth about his father’s connections to a modern-day terror plot.

Eric Carrasco created the series and will showrun and executive produce along with co-showrunners Turi Meyer and Alfredo Septién.

“This is a pulp thriller,” Carrasco said in a statement. “It’s a family drama, it’s everything I love about spies and masks and secret identities. A lot of us on this team – Diego, Andrew Mittman, Steve Stark and Carla Gonzalez Vargas, and I – have been at this for a long time now, and it’s a genuine thrill to finally make the show with MGM Television and Prime Video.”

“Sharing El Gato with audiences around the world is a dream come true,” Boneta shared. “This has been a passion of mine since I started Three Amigos. Eric Carrasco and the entire team have built a character and universe that honors the superhero genre and still feels completely epic and original. It is an absolute honor to play Frank and produce this with my amazing partners at Amazon, MGM, and all other producers on this epic story. Get ready for a wild ride.”

In addition to Carrasco, the series is executive produced by Boneta, Meyer, Septién, Steve Stark of Toluca Pictures, Mittman of 1.21, and Gonzalez Vargas; and co-executive produced by Kai Dolbashian, Marilu G. Carranza and Joel NovoaSchneider. The series is being produced by MGM Television, a division of Amazon MGM Studios.

Boneta and his company Three Amigos, under an overall deal with Prime Video, are currently in production on the upcoming film Follow, directed by Gonzalo Tobal and starring Boneta and Martha Higareda for Prime Video. This is the first project under Three Amigos’ overall deal with Prime Video.

Last year, Boneta starred in two limited series for Prime Video – Stanley, directed by Beto Hinojosa and La Liberación directed by Alejandra Márquez Abella.

Macarena Achaga to Star in Season Two of Netflix & Gato Grande’s “Luis Miguel: The Series”

Macarena Achaga is joining El Sol de Mexico’s entourage…

The 28-year-old Argentine actress/model has joined the cast of Netflix and MGM’s Gato Grande’s popular Spanish-language show Luis Miguel: The Series for the upcoming second season, which is currently taping after being delayed earlier this year due to the pandemic.

Macarena Achaga

In addition to Achaga, who will portray Michelle, new additions to the cast include Fernando Guallar as Mauricio Ambrosi, Pablo Cruz Guerrero as Patricio Robles, Juan Ignacio Cane as José Pérez, Teresa Ruiz as Azucena, Valery Sais as young Michelle, and Axel Llunas as young Sergio Basteri.

They join previously announced Diego Boneta, Camila Sodi, Cesar Bordon, Juan Pablo Zurita, Cesar Santana, Martin Bello, Lola Casamayor, Pilar Santacruz, Kevin Holt and Gabriel Nuncio.

The story, told in two different timelines, will explore the difficulties of balancing Luis Miguel’s family and professional life. It’s due to launch on Netflix next year. Sources say a third season is in the works, but the streamer hasn’t confirmed the news yet.

Directed by Humberto Hinojosa and Adrian Grunberg, scripts come from Daniel Krauze, Ana Sofia Clerici, Anton Goenechea, Diego Ayala, Karin Valecillos and Paulina Barros.

Mark Burnett, Carla González Vargas and Pablo Cruz are executive producers, with Carolina Leconte and Jaime Ramos producers.

Achaga was recently seen in Amazon series El Candidato. She is known in Latin America as a former band member of Mexican-Argentine pop group Eme 15 and for roles in series including Gossip Girl: Acapulco. Her breakout role came in the Televisa soap Amar A Muerte, where she featured in one of the first significant lesbian storylines in primetime Mexican television. Her character was then spun off into 2019 miniseries Juliantina.

John Ortiz to Star in Netflix’s Drama Series “Messiah”

John Ortiz has landed the king of all projects…

The 49-year-old Puerto Rican actor has joined the cast of Netflix’s drama series Messiah, from writer Michael Petroni and producers Mark Burnett and Roma Downey.

Created by Petroni, the 10-episode Messiah explores the lines among religion, faith and politics. It chronicles the modern world’s reaction to a man who first appears in the Middle East creating a groundswell of followers around him claiming he is the Messiah. Is he sent from God or is he a dangerous fraud bent on dismantling the world’s geopolitical order? The story unfolds from multiple points of view, including a young CIA agent, an Israeli Shin Bet officer, a Latino preacher and his Texan daughter, a Palestinian refugee and the media, among others.

Ortiz plays Felix, smart, humble and unassuming on the outside. Though blessed with a strong faith and a loving family, Felix struggles with his lot in life leading a tiny, uninspired congregation in a border town in Texas where he assumes he will live out the rest of his days. Felix’s life is about to change as he gets swept up into Al-Massih’s world. With growing power comes corruption and Felix must choose between remaining true to himself or going down a darker path.

Ortiz will next be seen on the big screen alongside Hailee Steinfeld and Jon Cena in Paramount Pictures’ Transformers spinoff Bumblebee and in a co-starring role in revenge thriller Peppermint opposite Jennifer Garner.

MGM Developing TV Series Based on the Life of Luis Miguel

He’s known as El Sol de México, but Luis Miguel’s light could soon shine beyond the Mexican border.

MGM is developing a television series based on the life of the 46-year-old Mexican superstar, an icon in Latin America.

Luis Miguel

The project hails from a Spanish-language joint production venture MGM set with Mexican entrepreneurs Miguel Aleman and Antonio Cue.

Aleman and Cue’s Gato Grande Productions aims to develop content for the worldwide market. Expanding into Spanish-language production has been a goal of Mark Burnett, president of MGM Television and Digital.

“We see the value of premium content for the Spanish-speaking market throughout the world, and we look forward to many additional projects across all platforms that we can now develop with Antonio, Miguel and Gato Grande. This is only the beginning,” Burnett said.

A native of Puerto Rico, Miguel got his start in music as a teenager in the early 1980s, winning a Grammy in 1985 at the age of 14 for his duet with Sheena Easton, “Me Gustas Tal Como Eres.” He has collected another four Grammys to date and has sold more than 100 million records worldwide.

“It has taken me a long time to want to tell my story and I have been looking for the right team to tell it the way it should be told,” Miguel said.

Aleman is a radio and TV entrepreneur and former Televisa executive. Cue is the grandson of a founder of the Mexican brewery Grupo Modelo and is a former owner of the Major League Soccer team Chivas USA.

“Antonio and I have been looking to get into the content business for some time and after forming a deep personal relationship with Mark, we knew that the timing and opportunity were just right.” said Aleman. “To be able to launch our company Gato Grande with the story of Luis Miguel, one of the most important, legendary talents in music, is very exciting,” added Cue.

Carla Gonzalez Vargas, an author and filmmaker who helmed the 2015 documentary Alivio, will oversee the Miguel series in her role as Gato Grande’s head of development.

Aguilera Returning for Season 10 of NBC’s “The Voice”

Christina Aguilera will be spinning again soon…

The 34-year-old part-Ecuadorian American singer will join fellow coaches Adam Levine, Blake Shelton and Pharrell Williams for Season 10 of The Voice, NBC has confirmed.

Christina Aguilera

Aguilera, who helped launch the reality singing competition as the sole female coach, appeared in the first three seasons before taking a break for Season 4, with Shakira filling her seat.

The Burlesque star returned in Season 5, but then took a long hiatus for Seasons 6 (Shakira) and Season 7, with Gwen Stefani replacing Shakira.

Aguilera then returned for Season 8, before taking yet another break for the current installment (Season 9).

The Voice is currently averaging a 3.5 rating, 11 share in adults 18-49 and 12.6 million viewers overall in L+3 in weeks 1 and 2 of the current season, according to Nielsen and the network.

The Emmy-winning reality series also debuted with six-month time-period highs for NBC on both Monday and Tuesday.

The Voice hails from United Artists Media Group, Talpa Media USA and Warner Horizon Television. The series was created by John de Mol, who serves as executive producer along with Mark Burnett, Audrey Morrissey, Lee Metzger and Jay Bienstock.

“The coaches on The Voice continue to bring incredible energy, unrivaled musical expertise and a want-to-win attitude that makes for the perfect ingredients of a two-time Emmy-winning show,” said Paul Telegdy, President, Late Night and Alternative Programming, NBC Entertainment. “We can’t wait to see what season 10 will bring.”

The 10th season of The Voice will begin in February.

Boneta to Star in Fox’s Comedy-Horror Series “Scream Queens”

Diego Boneta is a scream king…

The Mexican actor-singer has been cast as one of the male leads in Scream Queens, Fox’s comedy-horror series created by Glee creators Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan.

Diego Boneta

The project revolves around a college campus that’s rocked by a series of murders.

Boneta is reportedly set to portray a bookish but handsome guy in the first installment of the anthology series slated for fall.

Boneta, who starred in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical Rock of Ages, joins an ensemble cast that includes Lea Michele, Jamie Lee Curtis, Emma Roberts, Skyler Samuels, Nick Jonas, Keke Palmer, Joe Manganiello, Ariana Grande and Abigail Breslin.

Boneta will next be seen in CBS miniseries The Dovekeepers, produced by Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, and the Imagine feature Pelé.

First “A.D.” Miniseries Trailer Released Featuring di Pace as Jesus Christ

Juan Pablo di Pace is taking on one of the holiest roles in history…

NBC has released the first trailer for NBC‘s A.D., featuring the 35-year-old Argentine actor, singer and director as Jesus Christ.

Juan Pablo di Pace as Jesus Christ in A.D.

The television minisries offers a look at the aftermath of the Crucifixion of Christ, how it shakes those closest to him and changes Rome.

Christ’s death has a massive impact on his disciples, his mother Mary, and key political and religious leaders of the era, completely altering the entire world in an instant. The disciples struggle to survive and share their beliefs, while trying to protect themselves from a government that worries about a potential uprising.

Meanwhile, those who believe in the Resurrection are waiting for his return. “High priest, the tomb is now opened and the Nazarene is gone,” so a soldier tells Caiaphas.

The project is a follow-up to History Channel‘s hit original series The Bible.

In addition to di Pace, the cast also includes Richard Coyle (as Caiaphas), Vincent Regan (as Pilate), Adam Levy (as Peter), Emmet Scanlan (as Saul), Chipo Chung (as Mary Magdalene), Jodhi May (as Leah, wife of the High Priest Caiaphas), Joanne Whalley (as Claudia, wife of Pilate), Greta Scacchi (as Mother Mary) and Babou Ceesay (as John).

The 12-episode miniseries is executive produced by Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, who also shepherded The Bible.

It will premiere Sunday, April 5 on NBC.

Aguirre-Sacasa to Script Mark Burnett & Roma Downey’s Faust-Based Drama Series

Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa has landed a devilish project…

The Nicaraguan-American playwright, screenwriter and comic book writer is set to pen a drama series based on the classic German legend of Faust.

Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa

From husband and wife duo Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, the executive producers of The Bible and the upcoming follow-up A.D., Faust is described as a faith-based medical procedural and a contemporary take on the popular tale about a scholar who sells his soul to the devil for ultimate knowledge, which will explore questions of faith and the supernatural in a grounded, realistic way.

Set in Washington, DC, the Aguirre-Sacasa-penned drama centers on an ambitious surgeon forced to confront a terrible truth: That he may lose everything good in his life—his job, his family, his very soul—when a diabolical stranger from his past arrives, to collect on a bargain they made thirteen years earlier.

Aguirre-Sacasa will executive produce with Burnett and Downey.

The series hails from Downey and Burnett‘s LightWorkers Media, the faith and family division of United Artists Media Group, Burnett and Downey’s joint venture with MGM and Hearst.

Aguierre-Sacasa serves as the Chief Creative Officer of Archie Comics. His film and television credits include Big Love, Glee and the 2013 Carrie remake.

Di Pace to Star in NBC’s Event Series “A.D.,” A Follow-Up to “The Bible” Miniseries

Juan Pablo Di Pace is headed to Bible study…

The 35-year-old Argentine actor, singer and director has been cast in Mark Burnett and Roma Downey’s 12-episode NBC event series A.D., which is set to premiere on Easter Sunday, April 5.

Juan Pablo Di Pace

A follow-up to Burnett and Downey’s highly rated The Bible miniseries, A.D. chronicles the aftermath of Jesus’ crucifixion as the tiny band of followers fight for survival while they try to spread the Word to the world. But they have hope and soon they have power: the amazing miracle of the resurrection, and the arrival of the Holy Spirit upon them.

Di Pace, who most recently starred on TNT’s Dallas, will portray Jesus, the charismatic leader who appears only when dying on the cross, or in resurrected divine form.

Di Pace’s other credits include the films Mamma Mia! and Survival Island, as well as television appearances on Camp.

Boneta Lands Recording Contract with Sony Music U.S. Latin

Diego Boneta is ready to make sweet music in America…

The 23-year-old Mexican actor and singer, who has made a name for himself in television and film, has landed a recording deal Sony Music U.S. Latin.

Diego Boneta

Boneta, best known for portraying Rocco on the Mexican telenovela Rebelde, is a rising star in Hollywood who has become a fixture on U.S. television with roles on MTV’s Underemployed, CW‘s 90210 and ABC Family‘s Pretty Little Liars. He’s also starred in several films, most notably the film adaptation of the Broadway hit musical Rock of Ages, where he starred as Drew Boley and performed nine tracks on the film’s acclaimed soundtrack.

Now, Boneta is hoping to advance his musical career further with his newly inked record deal with Sony Music U.S. Latin. The label plans to release material in both English and Spanish, beginning with an EP that could come out in early 2015.

“Diego is a brand and music is an integral part of his artistic identity,” says Sony Music U.S. Latin president Nir Seroussi, who plans to find Boneta opportunities in multiple media, including opportunities for Boneta’s music in the many films he acts in.

His upcoming projects include the horror flick Summer Camp and Pelé, the biopic about the legendary Brazilian soccer player, in which Boneta plays archrival Pedro alongside Vincent D’onofrio and Rodrigo Santoro.

“The idea is not to simply release an album but create a strategy that’s congruent with my career,” Boneta said in an exclusive interview with Billboard. However, Boneta points out, “Diego the actor and Diego the singer are managed completely separate from one another.”

Boneta actually started out as a singer, taking voice lessons when he was only 8 years old and becoming a finalist on music reality show Codigo F.A.M.A. when he was 12. At 15, Boneta landed his star-making role on the popular soap opera Rebelde and went on to release two successful solo albums with EMI.

By 2010, at 20 years old, Boneta was already making a mark in Hollywood with his roles in Pretty Little Liars and 90210, plus a role in Mean Girls 2. He was signed briefly to Adam Levine‘s label but finally went to Sony, where he’ll work in both languages and across many mediums.

Now, Boneta is writing new tracks even as he prepares to begin shooting the miniseries The Dovekeepers, from Roma Downey and Mark Burnett (The Bible).

The trick to the balancing act, he says, is “finding the time. I’d like to be doing what Justin Timberlake does.”