Roday Cast Opposite Melanie Griffith in Untitled ABC Comedy Pilot

Posted on March 13, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

James Roday has landed a special (forces) role…

The 38-year-old Mexican American actor and former Psych star has been cast as the male lead opposite Melanie Griffith in ABC’s untitled Molyneux comedy pilot (aka The Brainy Bunch), from Imagine Television and 20th Century Fox Television.

As part of the deal, Roday has received a blind script commitment from 20th Century Fox Television to write and/or direct a future pilot.

The single-camera Molyneux project, written/executive produced by Wendy & Lizzie Molyneux and directed by Jamie Travis, is inspired by the book by Kip and Mona Lisa Harding. Through a combination of genetics and dynamic home schooling, Kip (Roday) and Mona Lisa Mitchell find themselves raising extraordinarily intelligent kids. Kip is a former Special Forces Operations sergeant, now a stay-at-home father to his seven brilliant children.

Griffith plays Kip’s mother-in-law who takes them into her Orange County home.

In addition to starring on Psych, Roday wrote and directed multiple episodes of the USA Network dramedy.

Banderas Ready to Return to Spain to Help the Local Film Industry

Posted on September 22, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Antonio Banderas is ready to return to his acting roots…

The 54-year-old Spanish actor says he’s ready to come back to Spain and help the local film industry while allowing himself a greater range of acting roles than those he gets offered in Hollywood.

“I’m looking to come home and make movies here,” Banderas told a news conference in San Sebastian International Film Festival following the screening of Gabe Ibanez’s Banderas-starring sci-fi film Automata, which the actor produced and screened as part of the festival’s Official Selection.

“Hollywood has ceased to exist as such, and now it is just a brand. I might have that brand on me my whole life, but I want to do more films from my own country. I recognize the talent here and I really believe in my people,” said Banderas.

Sporting a dramatically different look from the shaved head he wore in Automata, the bearded Banderas said his career is limited by typecasting in Hollywood.

“It’s true that in Hollywood, I’ve always had certain limitations because of my accent or ethnicity. I go straight into certain roles. I’ve been working in Hollywood for 23 years with a certain handicap,” he said.

In Spain, where locals tend to be hard on talents that make it abroad, Banderas is a much-loved exception. It’s hard to find anyone in the industry or in theaters who doesn’t speak well of the predecessor to Penelope Cruz or Javier Bardem.

Banderas said he drew on personal relationships to produce Ibanez’s second feature, including with his wife Melanie Griffith, who has since filed for divorce and who has a part in the robotic apocalyptic tale.

Banderas said that coming to Spain allowed him to open his range of genres.

“I think that with this film I complete the full rainbow of genres, but that’s not the reason I chose to do the film,” Banderas explained. “I am looking to work more in Spain now.”

Millenium Entertainment will release the $5 million production in selected theaters on Oct. 10.

“I’m sure this film has its audience, an audience that is missing films with more content. This is not a sci-fi film that if you waste five minutes, you waste $5 million. We are playing a different game. Science fiction can allow for details that are important and have to do with the life we are living right now, like the loss of values,” he added.

Autómata, Starring Banderas, to Compete at the San Sebastian International Film Festival

Posted on August 13, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Antonio Banderas is heading to Northern Spain…

Gabe Ibanez‘s latest project Autómata, starringthe 54-year-old Spanish actor, will compete at the 62nd San Sebastian International Film Festival.

Banderas portrays Jacq Vaucan in Ibanez’s sci-fi thriller that’s being hailed as a cross between a western and a detective movie. It was co-written by Igor Legarreta and Javier Sánchez Donate.

Autómata also stars Birgitte Hjort Sørensen, Melanie Griffith, Dylan McDermott, Robert Forster and Tim McInnerny.

Other films added to the competition lineup include Oscar-winning director Susanne Bier’s latest drama, A Second Chance, Anahi Berneri’s Aire Libre, Maxime Giroux’s Felix and Meira, Cristian Jimenez‘s La Voz en Offand Cedric Kahn’s Wild Life.

The six films will all vie for the Golden Shell against others announced earlier this month.

San Sebastian, Spain’s A-level festival, runs Sept. 19- Sept. 27 in the northern Basque region.

Banderas to Direct Wife Melanie Griffith in “Akil”…

Posted on February 9, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Antonio Banderas didn’t have to look too far to find his leading lady…

The 52-year-old Spanish actor and director has cast his wife Melanie Griffith in his upcoming film Akil.

Banderas will self-finance the film, his third as a director, which is based on a screenplay he recently completed.

“My country, Spain, is in tremendous financial crisis. It’s very difficult to obtain funds to make a movie. I have conceived Akil so as not to depend on third-party funding,” Banderas told Variety.

The film tells the story of a young African boy who illegally migrates to Spain, evades the authorities and takes refuge in an American woman’s home.

“This is a love story between two completely different people – in age, attitude, religion, wealth – who end up being essential to each other,” said Banderas, who previously directed Griffith in the 1999 comedy-drama Crazy in Alabama.

Banderas also helmed El camino de los ingleses, which premiered in 2006.

He and Griffith became romantically involved after co-starring in Two Much, a 1995 screwball rom-com directed by Fernando Trueba, and they wed a year later.

Shooting dates have yet been set for Akil because Banderas still needs to accommodate this new project into his busy schedule.

Banderas has signed on to play Pablo Picasso in Carlos Saura’s upcoming film 33 Dias and may also take a role in The 33, a film to be directed by Patricia Riggen that tells of a group of Chilean miners who survived for two months underground in 2010 after a cave-in.

Valderrama Returning to ABC’s “Suburgatory”

Posted on September 8, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

It appears that Wilmer Valderrama will be heading back to the ‘burbs…

The 32-year-old Venezuelan/Colombian American actor, who recently signed a deal with 20thCentury Fox Television, will be reprising his role as Yoni on Suburgatory this season, according to TVGuide.com.

When Dallas’ dog Yakult becomes extremely depressed after losing his dog walker, Dallas (Cheryl Hines) brings in Yoni to heal Yakult’s energy. Chatswin’s premier new age guru then attempts to steal Dallas back from George (Jeremy Sisto).

Valderrama’s episode is scheduled to air later in the season.

The That ’70s Show alum first appeared on the ABC comedy earlier this year when Yoni began dating Dallas after she split from her husband, Steven.

Valderrama is also set to guest-star on Raising Hope this fall as a love interest for Sabrina’s mom, played by Melanie Griffith.

He most recently co-starred on NBC’s Awake.

Season 2 of Suburgatory premieres Wednesday, October 17 at 9:30 pm ET on ABC.

Valderrama Signs Talent Deal with 20th Century Fox Television

Posted on August 24, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Wilmer Valderrama could soon return to the small screen full-time…

The 32-year-old Venezuelan/Colombian American actor has signed a one-year development and talent holding deal with 20th Century Fox Television.

As part of the deal, the studio will develop a television project for the former That ‘70s Show actor to star in and produce.

Valderrama will reportedly start meeting with writers next week to consider potential comedy and drama projects. He could also bring his own show ideas or elect to join a project already in development at the studio.

Should the project Valderrama gets attached to not get a pick up, the studio has the option to cast him in another pilot for next season.

Valderrama, who recently starred on the studio’s NBC drama series Awake, has had a similar development/holding deal in the past.

He’s already set to guest star on the 20th/Fox comedy series Raising Hope where he’ll play Melanie Griffith’s boyfriend.

“Wilmer is that great cousin who is funny and charming and talented, and you want him to come to every gathering,” said 20th Television’s head of casting Sharon Klein. “He is a breath of fresh air, all light and fun and smart.”

Along with his acting work on recent shows like Suburgatory and Are You There, Chelsea?, the actor is creator/executive producer of MTV Tr3s’ Ricardo Laguna Project and the webseries King Of The Floor for the YouTube channel NuevOn.

He’ll next be seen in Spike Lee’s The Girl Is In Trouble.

Valderrama to Play Cougar Bait on “Raising Hope”

Posted on August 7, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Wilmer Valderrama will be wooing a Working Girl in the near future…

The 32-year-old Venezuelan/Colombian American actor will be returning to Fox to guest star on Raising Hope, according to TVGuide.com.

Valderrama, who rose to acclaim on Fox’s That ’70s Show, will be part of a multi-episode arc that sees his character romance Sabrina’s mother Tamara, played by the recently cast Melanie Griffith.

Valderrama has been known to woo younger women in real life. But his Raising Hope character only has eyes for the 54-year-old Griffith. Further details on his role aren’t available, except that he’ll appear in at least three episodes.

In Season 2, Stephen Root played Sabrina’s dad. Over the years, the only thing known about Sabrina’s parents is that they’re wealthy — a stark contrast to her boyfriend Jimmy’s slightly more financially strapped family.

Valderrama, who recently starred in NBC’s short-lived Awake, has also appeared on Are You There, Chelsea?, Suburgatory, Men at Work and Royal Pains.

Raising Hope returns Tuesday, October 2 at 8/7c on Fox.

Diaz & Garcia Among the Latinos in Paramount’s Anniversary Photo

Posted on June 13, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Paramount Pictures is celebrating its 100th anniversary in a picture-perfect way, with help from five of the studio’s biggest Latino luminaries, including Cameron Diaz and Andy Garcia…

The third-oldest existing movie studio in the world released a star-studded commemorative photo through Vanity Fair magazine. In all, the picture features 116 of the biggest names in the movie industry who’ve worked with one of Hollywood’s most iconic studios.

In the image, A-list actors like Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt pose together on a giant stairway alongside noted producers, directors and executives like Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and J.J. Abrams.

“It was more than thrilling… and incredibly nostalgic… to be part of that extraordinary gathering of actors who had worked for Paramount, as I had,” said actress Ali McGraw, who can be spotted standing in the middle of photo with her Love Story costar Ryan O’Neal.

Here’s a look at the five Latinos featured in the image:

Cameron Diaz
The 39-year-old half-Cuban American actress, who may be writing her first book soon, starred in the following Paramount Pictures projects: The Shrek series and Vanilla Sky.

Andy Garcia
The 56-year-old Cuban American actor received an Academy Award nomination for his performance as Vincent Santino Corleone (a.k.a. Vincent Mancini) in one of the studio’s biggest hits, The Godfather Part III.

Zoë Saldaña
The 33-year-old half-Dominican/half-Puerto Rican American actress will be reprising her role as Uhura in the upcoming sequel to Paramount’s hugely successful Star Trek reboot.

Alejandro González Iñárritu
The 48-year-old Mexican filmmaker, the first Mexican director to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director, directed Paramount’s award-winning ensemble film Babel, which starred Gael García Bernal, Pitt, Cate Blanchett.

Antonio Banderas
The 51-year-old Spanish actor, who appears in the picture next to his wife Melanie Griffith, not only starred opposite Diaz in Paramount’s Shrek sequels, but he also starred in the Shrek prequel/spin-off Puss In Boots.

The epic picture is featured in the July issue of Vanity Fair.

Obama Attends Latino Fundraiser Hosted by Eva Longoria

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Tom Castaneda

President Barack Obama’s support among Hispanics may be slipping, but that hasn’t stopped some of the biggest Latino celebrities from showing their support for the commander-in-chief.

In what’s been dubbed “the first ever Latino fundraiser for Mr. Obama,” Mexican-American actress Eva Longoria hosted a special event at the home of Spanish actor Antonio Banderas and his wife Melanie Griffith. The goal: rally Latino support for Obama.

Obama won 67% of the Latino vote in the 2008 election. But poll figures this summer showed his support among Latinos, hit disproportionately hard by unemployment and upset over the president’s failure to reform immigration laws and hit disproportionately hard by unemployment, had
dropped to less than 50%.

But Longoria wasn’t afraid to show her support for the president.

“[Obama] speaks to the Latino community because he knows he’s the president of all Americans,” said Longoria, who beamed with pride when introducing the president, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Other Latino celebrities present included Mexican-American comedian George Lopez, as well as Mexican-American journalist Giselle Fernández and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. In all, 300 entertainment industry leaders, elected officials and Obama supporters attended the $5,000 per person event—which drew some criticism from within the Latino community, with some saying he should be meeting people struggling with unemployment or facing deportation or the loss of their homes rather than actors and celebrities.

During his speech, Obama pledged to deliver on his promises on immigration reform.

“We have a system that is broken,” Obama said, according to THR. “We are doing everything we can administratively to try to lessen the pain and hardship that it’s causing. The borders need to be secure, but the people need to recognize that immigrants are helping make the country better and stronger.”

The president reportedly urged the people in attendance to become his “community ambassadors.” And he vowed to keep on fighting.

“Don’t weary. Don’t get tired,” he said. “Because I’m not tired. I may be gray, but I’m not tired.’’

“Amazing night with our great President #ObamaBaby!” said Longoria via Twitter this morning.

Image provided by Eva Longoria via Twitter.

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