Tenoch Huerta to Star in Amazon Studio’s Untitled Cortes/Moctezuma Series

Posted on February 21, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Tenoch Huerta is exploringa whole new role…

The 39-year-old Mexican actor will star alongside Javier Bardem in the untitled Cortés and Moctezuma project from Amazon Studios and Amblin Television.

Yoshira Escárrega has also been cast in the project.

The limited series will be a four-hour epic drama that maps the inexorable march and eventual clash between Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortésand Aztec Emperor Moctezuma II, leading to the annihilation of an empire and tragic downfall of a civilization that took centuries to build, but less than two years to destroy.

Oscarwinner Bardem was announced in the role of Cortés last year and will also serve as an executive producer on the project.

Huerta will play Moctezuma, the Emperor of the Aztecs. Escárrega will play Marina, strategic partner, translator and consort to Hernán Cortés.

From Amazon Studios and Amblin Television, the limited series is created for television and written by Academy Award-winner Steven Zaillian and based on the screenplay by Dalton Trumbo. The series is directed by Ciro Guerraand Cristina Gallego.

Bardem will executive produce alongside Zaillian, Gael García Bernal, Diego Luna and more.

Huerta recently wrapped filming a starring role in the Blumhousefeature film, Borderline, the latest installment in the Purge franchise. He’s known for his role as the infamous Rafael Caro Quintero in Netflix’s Narcos: Mexico, opposite Diego Luna and Michael Pena. He also appeared in a key role in the Paul Weitz-directed Bel Canto, which starred Julianne Mooreand Ken Watanabe.

Escárrega is a film and theater actress born in Mazatlán, Sinaloa and a graduate of Escuela Nacional de Arte Teatral. Her latest work in television includes notable roles in Aquí en la Tierra directed by Gael García Bernal for Fox Premium Latinoaméricaand Dani Who for Paramount Channel Latinoamérica. She recently worked in films with acclaimed directors Alonso Ruiz Palaciosand Ximena Montemayor.

Miguel to Perform for the First-Time at the Latin Grammys

Posted on November 12, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Miguel is preparing for Latin music’s biggest night…

The 34-year-old Mexican American R&B singer, songwriter, who released the Spanish EP Te Lo Dije earlier this year, is set to perform at this year’s Latin Grammys, according to The Latin Recording Academy.

Miguel is part ofthe final wave of performers and presenters joining the star-studded 2019 Latin Grammys lineup.

In addition to Miguel, who performed “Remember Me” with Natalia Lafourcade on the soundtrack to Disney’s Dia de los Muertos-themed animated film Coco, new additions to the performers roster include Alicia Keys, Farruko, Ozuna, Residente, Beto Cuevas, Calibre 50, Leonel García, Fito Páez, Milly Quezada, Tony Succar, Carlos Rivera, and Prince Royce.

Plus, Ángela Aguilar, Eduardo “Visitante” Cabra,Sofia Carson, Emilio Estefan, Mon Laferte, William Levy, Rudy Mancuso,,Luis Gerardo Méndez, Michael Peña, and Dayanara Torres join as presenters.

Nominees Camilo, De La Ghetto, Paula Fernandes, Kany García, Christian Nodal and Tommy Torres were previously announced as presenters.

Coined as “the biggest night in Latin Music,” the awards show will kick off with a never-before-seen tribute honoring the 20th Anniversary of the Latin Grammys. A group of 20 artists, who’ll perform together for the first time, will interpret multiple iconic songs spanning various genres of Latin music while commemorating the past 20 years of excellence.

The final roster of performers join already confirmed artists Aitana, Anitta, Pedro Capó, Julio Reyes Copello, Darell, Dimelo Flow, Fonseca, Luis Fonsi, Greeicy, Intocable, Nella, Reik, Rosalía, and Alejandro Sanz, who’s this year’s top nominee.

The awards show will also include performances by Pepe Aguilar and Los Angeles Azules, Paula Arenas, Bad Bunny, Alessia Cara, Draco Rosa, Ximena Sariñana, Sech, Sebastián Yatra, Natalia Jiménez, Olga Tañón and Juanes, who as the 2019 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year will perform a medley of his biggest hits.

Vicente, Alejandro, and Alex Fernandezwill also take the stage, becoming the first time all three generations of the Fernandez family will perform at the show. They’ll be joined by Mariachi Sol de Mexico.

The 20th annual Latin Grammys, which will be co-hosted by Ricky Martin and actresses Roselyn Sánchez and Paz Vega, will air live Nov. 14 from the MGM Grand Garden Arenain Las Vegas via Univision.

First Trailer Released for Isabela Moner’s “Dora and the Lost City of Gold”

Posted on March 25, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Welcome to the jungle, Isabela Moner…

Paramount Pictures has released the first trailer for Dora and the Lost City of Gold, starring the 17-year-old Peruvian-American actress.

The live-action film is based on the popular Nickelodeonanimated series, Dora the Explorer.

In addition to Moner as the title character, the film also Eva Longoria, Michael Peña and Eugenio Derbez.

After spending most of her life exploring the jungle with her parents, Dora prepares to leap into her most challenging adventure yet – high school. Always the explorer, she quickly finds herself leading Boots (her best friend, a monkey), Diego (half-Dominican American actor Jeffrey Wahlberg), a mysterious jungle inhabitant (Derbez), and a rag-tag group of teens on a live-action adventure to save her parents and solve the mystery behind a lost city of gold.

The film is directed by James Bobin. The screenplay is written by Nicholas Stollerand Matthew Robinson, from a story by Tom Wheeler.

Dora and the Lost City of Gold arrives in theaters on August 2.

Moner’s previous credits include the films Instant Family, Sicario: Day of the Soldadoand Transformers: The Last Knight.

Benicio del Toro to Voice Swiper in Paramount Pictures’ “Dora the Explorer” Film

Posted on December 16, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Benicio del Toro is taking a big swipe…

The 51-year-old Puerto Rican actor and Oscar winner will voice the villainous fox Swiper in Paramount Pictures’ Dora the Explorer film.

The film has finished shooting in Australia, but del Toro will provide the voice-over to the fox who always tries to undermine the young explorer.

On the animated series, Dora is known to wave Swiper away from his thieving activities by getting the television audience at home to scream “Swiper no swiping.”

The movie follows a high school-bound Dora leading her friends and her sidekick Boots the monkey on a Goonies-type adventure to save her parents and solve the mystery behind a lostIncacivilization.

Isabela Moner from Instant Family stars alongside Michael Pena and Eva Longoria as her parents, as well as Eugenio Derbez, Adriana Barraza, Q’orianka Kilcher and Temuera Morrison.

del Toro’s previous credits include Traffic, Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Sicario.

James Bobin directs the feature live-action take of the classic Nickelodeon cartoon series.

The film hits theaters on August 2, 2019.

Diego Luna Set to Return for Season 2 of Netflix’s “Narcos: Mexico”

Posted on December 14, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

It’s official… Diego Luna is heading back to the cartel.

The 38-year-old Mexican actor is set to return alongside Scoot McNairy to the forthcoming season of Netflix’s Narcos: Mexico, which is currently in production in Mexico City.

The second season will be produced by Gaumont Television for Netflix with Eric Newman as executive producer and showrunner. José Padilha, Doug Miro, Carlo Bernard and Andrés Baiz are executive producers.

Narcos: Mexico recently received a WGA nomination in the Episodic Drama category for the “Camelot” episode written by Eric Newman and Clayton Trussell. Luna also received recognition for his role as Félix Gallardo in the first season of the Netflix drama, landing a Critics’ Choice Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series.

Scoot McNairy served as the unseen mysterious, all-knowing narrator for the first season of Narcos: Mexico and it wasn’t until the last scene of the final episode where his identity was revealed as an agent who will lead a task force to indict those responsible for DEA Agent Kiki Camarena’s (Michael Peña) death — which set up the plot for season 2.

The series premiered November 16 with Eric Newman serving as executive producer and showrunner. The series is a companion to its predecessor Narcos which ran for three seasons.

Narcos: Mexico explores the origins of the modern drug war by going back to its roots, beginning at a time when the Mexican trafficking world was a loose and disorganized confederation of independent growers and dealers. Witness the rise of the Guadalajara Cartel in the 1980s as Félix Gallardo (Luna) takes the helm, unifying traffickers in order to build an empire. When DEA agent Kiki Camarena (Peña) moves his wife and young son from California to Guadalajara to take on a new post, he quickly learns that his assignment will be more challenging than he ever could have imagined. As Kiki garners intelligence on Félix and becomes more entangled in his mission, a tragic chain of events unfold, affecting the drug trade and the war against it for years to come.

Netflix Renews Diego Luna’s “Narcos: Mexico” for Second Season

Posted on December 6, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

There’s more trafficking in Diego Luna’s future…

Netflix has renewed its the drug trafficking drama, starring the 38-year-old Mexican actor, director and producer, for a second season.

Narcos: Mexico explores the origins of the modern drug war by going back to its roots, beginning at a time when the Mexican trafficking world was a loose and disorganized confederation of independent growers and dealers. Witness the rise of the Guadalajara Cartel in the 1980s as Félix Gallardo (Luna) takes the helm, unifying traffickers in order to build an empire. When DEA agent Kiki Camarena (Michael Peña) moves his wife and young son from California to Guadalajara to take on a new post, he quickly learns that his assignment will be more challenging than he ever could have imagined. As Kiki garners intelligence on Félix and becomes more entangled in his mission, a tragic chain of events unfold, affecting the drug trade and the war against it for years to come.

The series premiered on November 16 with Eric Newman serving as executive producer and showrunner.

The series is a companion to its predecessor Narcos, which ran for three seasons.

Narcos: Mexico is produced by Gaumont Television for Netflix. José Padilha, Doug Miro and Carlo Bernard are executive producers.

Jesse Garcia to Star on Netflix’s “Narcos: Mexico”

Posted on November 15, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Jesse Garcia is joining the drug war…

The 36-year-old Latino actor has landed a series regular role opposite Diego Luna and Michael Peña on Narcos: Mexico, the upcoming fourth season of Netflix’s drug trafficking drama series.

After three seasons in Colombia in the pre- and post-Pablo Escobar world, Narcos has moved to Mexico, where it explores the origins of the modern drug war by going back to its roots, beginning at a time when the Mexican trafficking world was a loose and disorganized confederation of independent growers and dealers.

The new installment follows the rise of the Guadalajara Cartel in the 1980s as Félix Gallardo (Luna) takes the helm, unifying traffickers in order to build an empire. When DEA agent Kiki Camarena (Peña) moves his wife and young son from California to Guadalajara to take on a new post, he quickly learns that his assignment will be more challenging than he ever could have imagined. As Kiki garners intelligence on Félix and becomes more entangled in his mission, a tragic chain of events unfold, affecting the drug trade and the war against it for years to come.

Garciawill reportedly portray a DEA agent who volunteers for a dangerous assignment in Mexico.

Garcia played Ranger Freddie Gonzalez in the El Rey Network’s From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series and stars in the upcoming feature film Collision. Best known for his award-winning film Quinceañera, Garcia’s television work also includes Edward James Olmos’ HBO movie Walkout and recurring roles on Sons of Anarchy, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and The Shield.

Narcos: Mexico premieres November 16 on Netflix.

Michael Peña to Star in the Film Adaptation of the Classic Television Series “Fantasy Island”

Posted on October 9, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a sweet, sweet fantasy project for Michael Peña…

The 42-year-old Mexican American actor has been tapped to portray the iconic Mr. Roarke in the Sony Pictures and Blumhouse-produced Fantasy Island film adaptation from director Jeff Wadlow.

Peña will take on a role that was originated by Ricardo Montalban when the television series, from Aaron Spelling, launched in 1978 on ABC.

Mr. Roarke, joined by his sidekick, Tattoo (Hervé Villechaize), was the mysterious overseer of the island who granted the fantasies of visitors for a price. Created by Gene Levitt, the series dealt with dark themes and the supernatural as visitors come to the island to live out their fantasy wishes.

Wadlow co-wrote the screenplay with Truth or Dare scribes Chris Roach and Jillian Jacobs.

Sony holds the rights to property and will distribute.

Peña has had a solid 2018 lineup appearing in blockbusters like A Wrinkle in Time and Ant-Man and the Wasp. Up next, he co-stars opposite Clint Eastwood and Bradley Cooper in The Mule at WB, and is part of the main cast of the upcoming fourth season of Netflix’s Narcos.

Peña is also currently in production on Paramount’s Dora The Explorer live-action film.

Warner Bros. Releases Trailer for Michael Peña’s War Drama “12 Strong”

Posted on November 23, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Michael Peña is going strong…

Warner Bros. has released the trailer for the war drama 12 Strong, starring the 41-year-old Mexican American actor.

“The most important thing a man can take into combat is a reason why,” says the trailer. In this case, it’s the thousands of tons of rubble that once was the Twin Towers. “Nineteen men attacked our country,” an officer says. “The 12 of you will be the first ones to fight back.”

The film stars Peña, Chris Hemsworth and Michael Shannon as three of the U.S. Special Forces dirty dozen who are tasked with going into the rugged mountains of Afghanistan. Once there, they must persuade Northern Alliance General Dostum (Navid Negahban) to join forces with them to fight their common adversary.

Along with overcoming mutual distrust and a cultural chasm, the Americans — accustomed to state-of-the-art warfare — must adopt the rudimentary tactics of the Afghan horse soldiers. But despite their uneasy bond, the new allies face overwhelming odds: outnumbered and outgunned by a ruthless enemy that does not take prisoners.

Nicolai Fuglsig directs the war drama from Alcon Entertainment, Black Label Media and Jerry Bruckheimer Films. Ted Tally and Peter Craig wrote the script based on Doug Stanton’s bestseller.

Warner Bros. will release 12 Strong on January 19.

Cruz Attached to Star in Todd Solondz’s New Project “Love Child”

Posted on February 2, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Penélope Cruz is getting ready for Child’s play…

The 42-year-old Spanish actress is attached to star in Todd Solondz’s new project Love Child.

Cruz would star opposite Edgar Ramírez, who starred in the Roberto Duran boxing biopic Hands of Stone.

Solondz, the man behind Wiener Dog and Welcome To The Dollhouse, writes and directs the project, which is described as a dark and hilarious twist on the classic Oedipal theme.

The story follows 11-year-old Junior, a delusional aspiring Broadway star with an inappropriate obsession with his mother Immaculada. After orchestrating an accident that nearly kills his abusive father, he encourages Nacho, the handsome man living in the family’s guesthouse, to court his mother and become his new dad. But when the two fall in love, Junior becomes so jealous that he is no longer the subject of his mother’s attention that he hatches a plan to frame Nacho for his father’s murder.

The film is currently in pre-production.

Cruz recently joined the cast of Kenneth Branagh’s Murder On The Orient Express, based on Agatha Christie’s beloved murder mystery novel. She’ll join an ensemble cast including Michael Peña, Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo and Judi Dench. She’s also in Escobar with husband Javier Bardem in a film that examines the love affair between drug lord Pablo Escobar and Colombian journalist Virginia Vallejo.

Ramirez recently starred alongside Emily Blunt in The Girl On The Train, adapted from Paula Hawkins’ bestselling book, and Gold with Matthew McConaughey, the adventure mining story. He’s also got a role in Netflix’s sci-fi pic Bright with Will Smith and Noomi Rapace.

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