Open Road Films to Release Iglesias’ “The Nut Job 2” in May 2017

Posted on April 12, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

There’s more nuttiness in store for Gabriel Iglesias next summer…

Open Road Films has set a May 19, 2017 U.S. release date for The Nut Job 2, featuring the 39-year-old Mexican American comedian and actor as part of the voice cast.

It’s a sequel to the 2014 sneaky animated hit that grossed $120.9M worldwide, which had the biggest box office opening ever for an independent animated film.

Will Arnett, Katherine Heigl, Maya Rudolph, Iglesias as the voice of Jimmy, and Jeff Dunham are reprising their voice roles for the follow-up, with more cast coming soon. The family film was originally eyed as a January 15, 2016 title.

The sequel returns to Oakton, where the evil mayor decides to bulldoze Liberty Park and build a dangerous amusement park in its place. Surly Squirrel (Arnett) and his ragtag group of animal friends band together to save their home, defeat the mayor, and take back the park.

Cal Brunker is directing a script he co-wrote with Scott Bindley and Bob Barlen.

Luna Launches Branded Entertainment Studio, Gloria

Posted on August 18, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

It’s all guts and Gloria for Diego Luna…

The 35-year-old Mexican actor/director/producer and his business partners Pablo Cruz and Eric Bonniot have officially launched the branded entertainment studio, Gloria.

Luna and Cruz, along with Gael Garcia Bernal, are also co-founders of the Mexican production and distribution company Canana.

Based in Los Angeles and Mexico City, Gloria is working on projects in both English- and Spanish-speaking markets.

“The Latino community is hugely influential and we want to work with brands to tell stories that are relevant and real,” said Luna, who was recently cast in Star Wars: Rogue One.

Gloria’s upcoming projects include a feature-length branded documentary and it is currently in production on a six-part web series for Mexico’s largest department store chain.

Among the talent working with Gloria are Gravity co-writer Jonas Cuaron and Alonso Ruizpalacios, the award-winning director of Gueros.

As for Luna, has had a busy year so far. Along with being cast in Star Wars: Rogue One, he directed the Danny Glover–Maya Rudolph road movie Mr. Pig.

Rodriguez Joins Voice Cast of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Big Hero 6”

Posted on July 16, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Genesis Rodriguez is a big hero in training…

The 26-year-old Venezuelan- and Cuban-American actress has been added to the voice cast of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ fall feature Big Hero 6.

The film centers on a young robotics prodigy named Hiro Hamada and his robot companion Baymax, who pull together a team of crime fighters to save the city of San Fransokyo.

Rodriguez will voice the character of Honey Lemon, a chemistry whiz. Don’t let her glasses and funky fashion fool you: Honey may be as sweet as her namesake, but she has a fire in her belly and a can-do attitude that make her pretty much unstoppable. Her knowledge of alchemy proves powerful, too, when the effusive brainiac becomes part of the “Big Hero 6” and creates clever concoctions that when thrown, can get her team out of nearly any jam.

In addition to Rodriguez, the voice cast includes Maya Rudolph, James Cromwell, Damon Wayans Jr., T.J. Miller, Alan Tudyk, Jamie Chung and Daniel Henney.

Big Hero 6 is the first Disney film to feature Marvel Comics characters and is adapted by Don Hall and Jordan Roberts from the Marvel comic mini-series of the same name, whose team and characters were created by Man of Action’s Duncan Rouleau and Steven T. Seagle.

Hall and Bolt‘s Chris Williams co-directed the film, which hits theaters in 3D on November 7.

Leguizamo to Star Opposite Tina Fey & Amy Poehler in “The Nest”

Posted on July 1, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

John Leguizamo is flying to the nest…

The 49-year-old Colombian actor has landed a role in The Nest, a comedy starring Tina Fey and Amy Poehler as two 30-something sisters who throw one last party in their parents’ soon-to-be-sold house.

Directed by Pitch Perfect-helmer Jason Moore froma screenplay by Paula Pell, the film will also star John Cena, James Brolin, Ike Barinholtz and Maya Rudolph.

No word yet on Leguizamo’s character in the film for Universal Pictures.

Earlier this year, he starred in the hit comedy Ride Along, where he co-starred with Ice Cube and Kevin Hart. He was also recently seen in the Open Road pic Chef and has a handful of projects set to go into production, including Fugly and American Ultra.

The multi-hyphenate has also begun expanding his brand outside of film with his HBO special Ghetto Klown premiering in March and his PBS special American Masters: The Boomer List currently in pre-production. He will also be performing at Central Park SummerStage on July 28th.

The Nest is set for release on December 18, 2015.

Armisen to Guest Star on Maya Rudolph’s NBC Variety Special/Pilot

Posted on April 17, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

He’s already the bandleader for his former Saturday Night Light cast mate Seth Meyer’s band on NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers… And, now Fred Armisen is about to reunite with another SNL alum.

The 45-year-old half-Venezuelan actor will guest star on Maya Rudolph’s upcoming variety special/pilot for NBC.

Revisiting the variety-show format, The Maya Rudolph Show special will air at 10:00 pm ET on Monday, May 19.

In addition to Armisen, the project will also feature appearences by Andy Samberg, Kristen Bell, Chris Parnell, Craig Robinson, Sean Hayes and Janelle Monae.

Raphael Saadiq will serve as the bandleader for the project, which is being produced by Rudolph, David Javerbaum, Erin David and Dave Becky, with Lorne Michaels serving as executive producer.

Rudolph and Armisen often collaborated together on SNL, including memorable skits as Beyonce and Prince in the recurring sketch “Prince Show.”

The pair also shared the stage on the SNL sketch “Bossa Nova” as a bossa nova band with host Alec Baldwin appearing as a sleaze bag.

del Toro In Final Talks to Star Opposite Emily Blunt in the Crime Thriller “Sicario”

Posted on April 8, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Benicio del Toro may soon star in a Sic role…

The 47-year-old Puerto Rican actor, who earned an Academy Award for his performance in Traffic, is in final talks to star in the crime thriller Sicario.

del Toro would star opposite Emily Blunt in the film which centers on the hunt for a dangerous drug kingpin.

Blunt will portray a female cop from Tucson, Arizona, who travels across the border to Mexico with mercenaries to catch a notorious drug lord.

Sicario will be helmed by Prisoners director Denis Villeneuve, based on a screenplay from Sons of Anarchy actor Taylor Sheridan.

del Toro will next star as Taneleer Tivan or The Collector in James Gunn‘s Guardians of the Galaxy, which will hit U.S. theaters on August 1.

He’s also among the cast of Paul Thomas Anderson‘s all-star crime comedy drama Inherent Vice along with Joaquin Phoenix, Josh Brolin, Owen Wilson, Reese Witherspoon and Maya Rudolph, among others.

Trailer Released for Hayek’s “Grown Ups” Sequel

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Salma Hayek is all grown up… again!

The 46-year-old Mexican actress is reprising her role as Roxanne Chase-Feder in this summer’s Grown Ups 2, the sequel to the 2010 Adam Sandler-starrer that earned more than $160 million domestically.

The first film centered on a group of old high school friends who reunite for the Fourth of July weekend; the sequel sees Sandler’s character relocate his family back to the small town where he and his friends grew up.

And from the just-released trailer for the sequel – which also stars Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade, Maya Rudolph and Maria Bello, as well as newcomers Taylor Lautner and Andy Samberg – Hayek and the gang will be bring the funny!

Grown Ups 2 is set for release domestically by Sony Pictures on July 12.

Armisen to Appear on NBC’s Game Show “Hollywood Game Night”

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Fred Armisen is about to get his game on…

The 46-year-old half-Venezuelan actor and former Saturday Night Live star has signed on to appear on NBC’s new game show series Hollywood Game Night.

Executive produced by Will & Grace’s Sean Hayes and hosted by Glee’s Jane Lynch, features celebrities hanging out and playing games with fun-loving non-celebrity contestants in a cocktail party atmosphere.

Along with Armisen, other celebrities set to appear on the game show include Amy Poehler, Matthew Perry, Jason Bateman, Kristin Bell and fiance Dax Shephard, Maya Rudolph, Minnie Driver, Kristen Chenoweth, Cheryl Hines, Molly Shannon and Max Greenfield, with more stars expected to join.

The series, which has an eight-episode order, is based on Hayes’ real-life game nights. In each episode, two contestants will be treated to a night of fun and celebration where they get to rub shoulders with the celebrity crowd. At the end, one of the contestants will walk away with a cash prize and a night of stories and memories.

DreamWorks Animation Releases Trailer for Peña’s “Turbo”

Posted on March 21, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Michael Peña is getting quite animated in his next motion picture…

The 37-year-old Mexican American, who recently landed a starring role in Fox’s drama pilot The List, voices the character of Tito in DreamWorks Animation’s feature film Turbo.

DreamWorks just released the first full-length trailer for the film, which features Ryan Reynolds as an ambitious garden snail who, after a freak accident, gains super speed and gets the chance to pursue his dream of racing in the Indy 500.

In addition to Reynolds and Peña, Turbo stars Luis Guzman as Tito’s brother, as well as Michelle Rodriguez, Maya Rudolph, Samuel L. Jackson and Snoop Dogg.

Turbo will hit theaters on July 17.

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