Jackie Cruz to Star in the Indie Horror Film “Woozy”

Posted on August 28, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Jackie Cruz is feelin’ a little woozy…

The 38-year-old Dominican–American actress, singer and former model will star in the forthcoming indie horror film Woozy, the feature debut of writer-director Joey Bicicchi.

Cruz, best known for her work on Orange Is the New Black, is among a roster of new cast additions that includes Penelope Mitchell and Jeff Adler.

Details regarding the roles to be played by the trio haven’t been disclosed yet.

Production on the film is currently underway in New Jersey.

Woozy is a film that tells of unhealthy coping mechanisms and the battle against fears, depression, phobias, and delusions. Dusty (Emile Hirsch) has deliberately structured his life, through meditation, yoga, boxing, nutrition, and hygiene, to create a clean and safe environment. But what happens when Dusty’s flawless system fails? Out comes Woozy, a horrifying apparition who torments Dusty.

Best known for her role as Marisol ‘Flaca’ Gonzales on Netflix’s acclaimed prison-set comedy-drama Orange Is the New Black, Cruz has more recently been seen taking on an arc on NBC’s Good Girls.

Her film credits include A Nice Girl Like You, opposite Lucy Hale; Lansky, opposite Harvey Keitel; Midnight in the Switchgrass, opposite Bruce Willis; and Panama, opposite Mel Gibson, to name a few.

First Trailer Released for George Miller’s “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga,” Starring Anya Taylor-Joy

Posted on December 4, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Anya Taylor-Joy is bringing the fury…

The first official trailer has been released for Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, starring the 27-year-old Argentine American Golden Globe-winning actress.

“Whatever you do, whatever it takes — promise me you’ll find your way home.” This is what “the darkest of angels is told,” begins the trailer for the film, the prequel to 2015’s Fury Road and part of George Miller’s Mad Max universe.

Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth star in the film that returns to the iconic dystopian world launched 45 years ago with the low-budget/high-octane Mel Gibson-led Mad Max.

Oscar winner and six-time nominee Miller is back at the helm for the action fest he co-wrote with Nico Lathouris.

Here’s your logline: As the world fell, young Furiosa (Taylor-Joy) is snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers and falls into the hands of a great Biker Horde led by the Warlord Dementus. Sweeping through the Wasteland, they come across the Citadel presided over by The Immortan Joe. While the two Tyrants war for dominance, Furiosa must survive many trials as she puts together the means to find her way home.

Alyla Browne and Tom Burke also star in the film.

Among the Fury Road Oscar winners returning for this trip are production designer Colin Gibson, editor Margaret Sixel, sound mixer Ben Osmo, costume designer Jenny Beavan and makeup designer Lesley Vanderwalt.

Warner Bros opens the film from Village Roadshow Pictures on May 24 stateside, with its overseas rollout starting two days earlier. Furious also will rev up in IMAX theaters.

The John Wick Prequel Series “The Continental,” Starring Mishel Prada, to Stream on Prime Video Globally

Posted on November 4, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Mishel Prada’s continental moment is headed to Amazon…

The John Wick prequel series The Continental, starring the 32-year-old part Puerto Rican, Dominican and Mexican actress, will be housed internationally on Prime Video in all territories Amazon’s streaming service is available except Israel and the Middle East. It is slated for debut in 2023.

In the U.S., The Continental, produced by Lionsgate Television, will launch on Peacock after it moved from Starz to the NBCU streamer earlier this year.

The three-part action event series is more of a natural fit for Peacock, which also acquired the rights to the John Wick movies.

The Continental explores the origin story and inner workings of the exclusive Continental Hotel, a centerpiece of the John Wick Universe which serves as a refuge for assassins. It told from the perspective of the hotel manager, portrayed by Ian McShane in the film franchise – a young Winston Scott, played by Colin Woodell. Throughout the series, viewers will follow Winston through the underworld of ‘70’s New York, where he will battle demons from his past as he attempts to seize control of the iconic hotel – a hotel that serves as a meeting point for the world’s most dangerous criminals.

Woodell stars alongside Ayomide Adegun, who will portray a young Charon, Peter Greene, who plays Uncle Charlie, Mel Gibson as Cormac, Ben Robson as Frankie, Hubert Point-Du Jour as Miles, Jessica Allain as Lou, Prada as KD and Nhung Kate as Yen.

Keanu Reeves, who stars in the movies, is not expected to star in the series.

“The John Wick films have created one of the most immersive, detailed and enjoyable universes we’ve seen on screen in the last decade,” said Chris Mansolillo, Director, Content Acquisition, Prime Video. “We are extremely proud to play a part in continuing to build that universe, offering viewers an insight into the origins of the infamous Continental Hotel and its incredible characters.”

Greg Coolidge and Kirk Ward serve as writers, showrunners, and executive producers on The Continental. Shawn Simmons serves as a writer and executive producer.

Hughes directs the first and third nights and Charlotte Brandstrom directs the second night.

Antonio Jaramillo to Star in Film Adaptation of “Macho!,” Based on Book by Victor Villaseñor

Posted on July 9, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Antonio Jaramillo is a macho! man.

The Mexican actor will star alongside Rudy Youngblood in Verloren Productions’ drama Macho!, based on the book by Victor Villaseñor.

The coming-of-age tale – taking place during the 1960s – centers on Roberto Garcia, who at age 17, already has big dreams of making his fortune, building a family, and gaining the respect of his community. With ambition to burn and a passion to prove his manhood, Roberto takes the dangerous journey north, crossing the Mexican border to pick fruit in the “golden fields” of California. It is said that a good man can make more money there in a week than in an entire year in the mountains of Michoacán, his home. With dreams that overshadow harsh realities, Roberto is unprepared for the jammed boxcars and bolted trucks that carry undervalued migrant workers through the searing desert to long days of harsh labor.

The film will examine the brutality of migrant labor, as well as Cesar Chavez’s efforts to unionize workers, offering vivid portrayal of the immigrant experience through the eyes of a brave young man who bids goodbye to everything he knows to follow his dreams.

Verloren Productions founder Walt Perez adapted the screenplay and will produce alongside Soren Odom, Melanie Tirado, Ralph Esparza and Jaime Peralta.

Renowned music producer A.B. Quintanilla will craft its score, with production kicking off next spring.

Jaramillo’s previous credits include The Wilding, Mayans M.C. and Shades of Blue.

Youngblood is best known for his starring role as Jaguar Paw in Mel Gibson’s Apocalypto.

Jackie Cruz Replaces Stephanie Beatriz in the Horror-Thriller “History of Evil”

Posted on May 31, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Jackie Cruz is embracing a new history…

The 35-year-old Dominican-American actress, singer, former model and Orange is The New Black star is replacing Stephanie Beatriz as co-lead in the horror-thriller film History of Evil, which recently wrapped production.

Paul Wesley co-stars in the feature, which was pre-bought by AMC’s genre streamer Shudder for release in North America, the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.

Beatriz reportedly had to switch out before the film’s early May start due to scheduling conflicts.

Written and directed by Iranian-American filmmaker Bo Mirhosseni, the film is being produced by genre specialists XYZ Films, Under the Shadow outfit Two & Two Pictures and Jake Siegel.

In History Of Evil, a family on the run from a corrupt state takes refuge in a safe house with an evil past — a terrifying last stop on a near-future Underground Railroad.

The film is the first project under a pact between XYZ Films and Two & Two Pictures to make films from first- and second-time genre directors from under-represented demographics.

The pact is set to produce two to three pictures a year initially and was hatched as a result of XYZ Films partnering with Two & Two on Babak Anvari’s Under the Shadow, which went on to win a BAFTA for Outstanding Debut. The companies most recently collaborated on Anvari’s third feature film, I Came By, which is currently in post-production for Netflix.

Cruz is best known for starring in Netflix’s hit series Orange Is The New Black. Her recent features include the Bruce Willis actioner Midnight In The Switchgrass and the thriller Panama with Mel Gibson and Cole Hauser.

Adan Canto to Star in the Indie Spy Thriller “Agent Game”

Posted on April 23, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

It’s (agent) game on for Adan Canto…

The 39-year-old Mexican actor/director will star in Agent Game, an indie spy thriller being directed by Grant S. Johnson.

Canto joins a cast that includes Dermot Mulroney, Katie Cassidy, Rhys Coiro, Annie Ilonzeh, and Mel Gibson.

In the film, CIA officer Harris (Mulroney) is involved in missions to detain and relocate foreign nationals for interrogation. When Harris’ superior is murdered, he finds himself the scapegoat for the killing of a detainee and must run from a team of operatives sent to bring him in (Canto, Cassidy, Coiro), led by a ruthless double agent (Ilonzeh). Gibson plays a rogue intelligence official running the off-book operation to hunt down and kill Harris.

Tyler W. Konney is producing the film, which he co-wrote with Mike Langer.

Canto’s credits include Designated Survivor and X-Men: Days of Future Past.

David Zayas to Star in the Action Film ” Force of Nature”

Posted on August 9, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

David Zayasis a force of nature…

The 56-year-old Puerto Rican actor will star opposite Mel Gibson, Kate Bosworth and Emile Hirsch in Emmett-Furla-Oasis’ Force of Nature.

Zayas, best known for his role on Dexter, will play John the Baptist in the Michael Polish-directed action film about a gang of thieves who plot a heist during a hurricane, only to have a cop complicate events.

Zayas’ character is part of the bank heist crew, described as a ruthless, cold guy who’ll stop at nothing to get what he wants, even if means sacrificing people on his team.

The film is currently shooting in Puerto Rico.

Zayas is a former New York police officer, and he began his acting career with LAByrinth Theater Company in 1992. His film credits include The Expendables, Michael Clayton, 16 Blocks, The Savages and Martin Scorsese’s Bringing Out the Dead. He’ll next appear in Paramount Players’ Body Cam.

He played Angel Batista on the Emmy-winning Showtimes eries Dexter, was recently seen as Sal Maroni on Fox’s Gotham, portrayed Sheriff Aguirre on Netflix’s Bloodline, and Eduardo Magana on Hulu’s Shut Eye among several credits. While working on the crime drama The Beat, Zayas met Emmy-winning television writer and producer Tom Fontana, who went on to create the role of Enrique Morales on HBO’s Oz especially for him.

Ambrosio to Star in Paramount Pictures’ “Daddy’s Home 2”

Posted on March 30, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Alessandra Ambrosio is returning Home…

Following a cameo appearance in the 2015 comedy Daddy’s Home, the 35-year-old Brazilian supermodel and Victoria’s Secret Angel is set to return in a more prominent role for Paramount Pictures’ upcoming Daddy’s Home 2.

The film will see Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell reprising their roles, as well as new additions Mel Gibson and John Lithgow.

In the sequel, father and stepfather, Dusty (Wahlberg) and Brad (Ferrell), are now working together to give their kids a perfect Christmas, however, upon the arrival of Dusty’s dad (Gibson) and Brad’s dad (Lithgow), their blended family conflicts rise to the surface.

Sean Anders is directing a script he wrote with John Morris.

Ambrosio most recently appeared in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows.

Cabral Returning for Season 3 of ABC’s “American Crime”

Posted on July 9, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Richard Cabral isn’t leaving his Crime family…

The Mexican American actor has joined Felicity Huffman and Regina King as the third cast member to sign on for the upcoming third installment of John Ridley’s acclaimed ABC anthology series American Crime.

In Season 3, the series will be set in North Carolina and will deal with labor issues, economic divides and individual rights.

American Crime earned 10 Emmy nominations for its first season, winning for King. Cabral received a supporting actor Emmy nomination for his portrayal of Hector Tontz. The series, executive produced by Ridley and Michael McDonald, is coming off a well-received second season.

Cabral’s feature work includes Ridley Scott’s The Counselor, Chris Weitz’s A Better Life and End of Watch opposite Jake Gyllenhaal, and he also had guest-starring turns on ABC’s Body of Proof and HBO’s Luck.

He’ll next be seen in Blood Father, a Taken-style action thriller directed by Jean-Francois Richet (Mesrine) and starring Mel Gibson.

Iglesias Joins the Voice Cast of the Animated Family Comedy “Blazing Samurai”

Posted on November 4, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Gabriel Iglesias’ career is blazing forward…

The 39-year-old Mexican American comedian/actor has joined the impressive voice cast of the animated family comedy Blazing Samurai.

Samuel L. Jackson leads the way for the film that will be directed by Chris Bailey and Mark Koetsier.

The film centers on a scrappy dreamer of a dog named Hank (voiced by Michael Cera) who longs to become a great warrior and fights to save the town of Kakamucho from becoming the litter box of a nefarious feline warlord, transforming society and himself on his quest to become a true samurai.

The project is equally inspired by and an homage to Mel Brooks’ classic comedy Blazing Saddles. In fact, Brooks is one of those in the voice cast (he’ll play the misguided but benevolent leader, Shogun).

Along with Iglesias, Cera and Brooks, the voice cast includes George Takei, Aasif Mandvi, Djimon Hounsou, Michelle Yeoh, Sandra Tsing Loh, Mel B., and “Heavenly” Joy Jerkins.

The project was written by Ed Stone and Nate Hopper.

Blazing Samurai will be released by Open Road Films in the United States on August 4, 2017. Sony Pictures International Releasing has already picked up several major territories worldwide, and Huayi Brothers Media Corporation is distributing the film in Greater China.

Iglesias will star as Ichiro and Chuck, Kakamucho’s Laurel and Hardy towncats.

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