Josh Segarra Joins Cast of Netflix’s Dark Comedy Series “Sirens”

Josh Segarra can’t resist the siren call…

The 38-year-old Puerto Rican actor has joined the cast of Netflix’s dark comedy series Sirens.

Josh SegarraSegarra is among a roster of new cast additions that includes Felix Solis, Trevor Salter, Britne Oldford, Lauren Weedman, Jenn Lyon, Erin Neufer and Emily Borromeo.

They join the previously announced cast of Julianne Moore, Meghann Fahy, Milly Alcock, Glenn Howerton and Kevin Bacon.

Production is currently underway in New York.

From creator and showrunner Molly Smith Metzler and based on her play Elemeno Pea, Sirens follows Devon (Fahy), who thinks her sister Simone (Alcock) has a really creepy relationship with her new boss, the enigmatic socialite Michaela Kell (Moore). Michaela’s cult-ish life of luxury is like a drug to Simone and Devon has decided it’s time for an intervention. When Devon tracks her sister down to say WTF, she has no idea what a formidable opponent Michaela will be. The show is told throughout one explosive weekend at The Kells’ lavish beach estate.

Segarra plays Raymond, the proud manager of a restaurant franchise in Buffalo. He’s been Devon’s long-time, on-and-off, toxic boyfriend.

Solis plays Jose, who plays the role of a humble gardener but he’s actually the overall manager of The Cliff House, the head of security, the puppet master of the estate’s vast surveillance system and Peter Kell’s right-hand man.

Metzler executive produces for Quiet Coyote under her deal with Netflix.

Nicole Kassell is the executive producer and director.

Segarra’s previous credits include Abbott Elementary, Scream 6, The Other TwoAJ and the QueenOrange Is the New Black and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.

Solis’ previous credits include New York UndercoverNYPD BlueThird Watch and the film Empire.

Vertigo Releasing Acquires “Your Monster,” Starring Melissa Barrera

Melissa Barrera’s monster hit is going global…

Vertigo Releasing has acquired Your Monster, starring the 33-year-old Mexican actress, from Bankside Films.

Melissa Barrera, Your MonsterThe debut feature from writer-director Caroline Lindy blends romantic musical elements with comedy-horror.

In addition to Barrera, the film also stars Meghann Fahy, Tommy Dewey, Kayla Foster and Edmund Donovan.

The story centers on Laura (Barrera), an actress who, after battling illness and a breakup, returns to her childhood home. There, she discovers a monster (Dewey) living in her closet. As they bond, the monster helps Laura confront her ex and reclaim a promised Broadway role. Their relationship evolves as Laura rediscovers her voice and embraces her inner strength.

Your Monster premiered in the Midnight section at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year and won the Audience Favorite Award at the festival’s London edition.

Vertigo Releasing will distribute the film in the U.K. and Ireland in the fall.

Vertigo head of acquisitions and business development, Ed Caffrey, said: “We fell in love with Your Monster during Sundance so it was very exciting to see the Sundance London audience connect so strongly with the film. We can’t wait to bring it to U.K. cinemas.”

Your Monster is a Bombo and Merman Films production, in association with Gentile Entertainment Group, with international sales represented by Bankside Films.

Barrera’s previous credits include Abigail, Carmen and Scream 6.

Vertical Acquires North American Distribution Rights to Melissa Barrera’s “Your Monster”

Melissa Barrera is bringing her monster to North American theaters…

Following its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, the horror rom-com Your Monster, starring the 33-year-old Mexican actress and Tommy Dewey, has landed at Vertical for North American distribution.

Melissa Barrera, Your MonsterMarking the feature directorial debut of Caroline Lindy, who adapted the script from her own short film, Your Monster also stars Edmund Donovan, Kayla Foster and Meghann Fahy.

No word yet on a release date.

The film tells the story of the soft-spoken actor Laura Franco (Barrera), who is dumped by her longtime boyfriend (Donovan) while recovering from surgery and retreats to her childhood home to recover. With her future looking bleak, insult is added to injury when Laura discovers her ex is staging a musical that she helped him develop. But out of these gut-wrenching life changes emerges a monster (Dewey) with whom she finds a connection, encouraging Laura to follow her dreams, open her heart and fall in love with her inner rage.

“We were captivated by Caroline’s film at Sundance and thrilled it has made a home here at Vertical,” Vertical Partner Peter Jarowey said. “Marking her directorial feature debut, she has created a fantastic, fresh, genre-defying film that perfectly balances the mix of comedy, romance and horror topped off with a dash of musical theater that will captivate and delight audiences later this year.”

Stated Lindy: “I’m beyond thrilled to collaborate with Vertical on the release of Your Monster. Their strategies and commitment to innovative distribution aligns perfectly with our movie, and their passion for the film and desire to support my first feature means the world to me. The Sundance crowds were incredible, and I’m excited that more audiences will soon have a chance to see Your Monster in theaters and beyond.”

The film is produced by Foster, Lindy, Kira Carstensen, Melanie Donkers and Shannon Reilly, and executive produced by Bob Potter, Dewey, Sharon Horgan and Clelia Mountford. Jackson Sinder, Jack Taylor Cox and Alex Peace-Power were co-producers.

Barrera received an honorable mention prize for her performance in Your Monster this past weekend at the Sun Valley Film Festival.

Aubrey Plaza to Star in Legendary’s Live-Action & Animated Film “Animal Friends”

 Aubrey Plaza is makin’ time for her (animal) friends

The 38-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress has joined the all-star cast of Legendary’s forthcoming film Animal Friends.

Aubrey PlazaCombining live-action and animated characters, the project hails from writing duo Kevin Burrows and Matt Mider.

In addition to Plaza, the film will also star Ryan ReynoldsJason Momoa and Vince Vaughn.

Plot details for the project, described as an R-rated road trip adventure, are being kept under wraps. Emmy-winning director Peter Atencio is at the helm.

The idea for the film came from a general meeting between Burrows & Mider and Patrick Gooing, an executive at Reynolds’ production company, Maximum Effort. Producing alongside Legendary are Maximum Effort and Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios. Visual effects and animation will be provided by leading visual entertainment services company, DNEG.

Plaza is coming off one of the strongest years of her career, having generated major heat with her starring turn alongside Will Sharpe, Meghann Fahy and Theo James in the second season of Mike White’s HBO smash The White Lotus, for which she was recognized with a Golden Globe nomination. The SAG Award winner also recently notched Independent Spirit and Gotham Award nominations for her lead turn in John Patton Ford’s acclaimed indie crime thriller, Emily the Criminal, which she produced under her Evil Hag Productions banner.

She recently wrapped production on Francis Ford Coppola’s sci-fi epic Megalopolis and is currently shooting a role in Disney+’s Marvel series Agatha: Coven of Chaos.

HBO Releases Official Trailer for Second Season of “The White Lotus,” Featuring Aubrey Plaza

Aubrey Plaza is taking a memorable vacanza

HBO has released the official trailer for the second installment of Emmy-winning The White Lotus, featuring the 38-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress.

Aubrey Plaza“Whenever I stay at a White Lotus, I always have a memorable time. Always.” So begins the trailer with words from Season 1 scene-stealer Jennifer Coolidge’s Tanya, who is back for more adventures in Season 2, along with her new husband Greg, played by the returning Jon Gries, a fellow guest she met in Season 1 at the Hawaii resort. It’s a bit of rocky start to the vacation, as Greg is not happy Tanya has brought her assistant along for the trip.

The trailer also offers a first look at Plaza, who plays Harper Spiller, a newly wealthy woman after her husband finds professional success.

Aubrey PlazaThe seven-episode Season 2 is set at an exclusive White Lotus resort in Sicily. The social satire follows the exploits of various guests and employees over the span of a week.

Season 2 also stars F. Murray Abraham, Adam DiMarco, Beatrice Grannò, Meghann Fahy, Tom Hollander, Sabrina Impacciatore, Michael Imperioli, Theo James, Haley Lu Richardson, Will Sharpe, Simona Tabasco and Leo Wood.

The White Lotus is created, written and directed by Mike White, and executive produced by White, David Bernad and Mark Kamine.

The Hawaii-set first installment is coming off its Emmy haul of 10 wins out of 20 nominations, including Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, the most wins of any program this year.

The seven-episode series debuts on Sunday, October 30 at 9:00 pm ET/PT on HBO and will be available for streaming on HBO Max.