Bobby Cannavale to Star in A24’s Horror Film “MaXXXine”

Posted on April 8, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Bobby Cannavale is Maxxximizing his time…

The 52-year-old half-Cuban American actor will star in Ti West’s Mia Goth-led A24 horror film MaXXXine.

Cannavale joins an all-star cast that includes Elizabeth Debicki, Moses Sumney, Michelle Monaghan, Lily Collins, Halsey, Giancarlo Esposito and Kevin Bacon.

MaXXXine is the third title in A24’s first major horror franchise, on the heels of West’s films X and Pearl, both of which were released to much acclaim last year.

The ’70s-set X had Goth pulling double duty as Maxine, who sees her pornography-shooting friends violently murdered in Texas, and one of their elderly assailants, Pearl. The latter film, set in 1918, meanwhile, served up an origin story for the latter villain character.

MaXXXine reverses the franchise’s trajectory through time to pick with Maxine after the violent events of X, as their sole survivor continues her journey towards fame, setting out to make it as an actress in 1980s Los Angeles.

The film heads into production this month.

Two-time Emmy winner Cannavale stars opposite Naomi Watts in Ryan Murphy’s hit Netflix series The Watcher, which has been renewed for a second season.

His other notable television credits include Nine Perfect Strangers, Homecoming, Mr. Robot, Angie Tribeca, Will & Grace, Vinyl and Nurse Jackie.

The actor recently appearing in films like Blonde will also soon be seen in comedian Bill Burr’s directorial debut Old Dads, Tony Goldwyn’s comedy Inappropriate Behavior and more.

John Ortiz to Appear on Apple TV+’s Drama Series “Bad Monkey”

Posted on June 16, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

John Ortiz will be monkeying around soon…

The 54-year-old Puerto Rican actor has landed a key recurring role opposite Vince Vaughn in the Apple TV+ drama series Bad Monkey.

Ortiz replaces Arturo Luis Soria, who had been originally cast in the role.

Written and executive produced by Bill Lawrence, the series is based on Carl Hiaasen’s popular 2013 novel.

Bad Monkey tells the story of Andrew Yancy (Vaughn), a one-time detective demoted to restaurant inspector in Southern Florida. A severed arm found by a tourist out fishing pulls Yancy into the world of greed and corruption that decimates the land and environment in both Florida and the Bahamas. And yes, there’s a monkey.

Ortiz will play Rogelio, a good Key West police detective who comes to his best friend and ex-partner, Andrew Yancy, with a life-changing assignment. It further complicates things that Rogelio’s husband is also Yancy’s attorney.

The cast also includes Michelle Monaghan, Jodie Turner-Smith, Meredith Hagner, Rob Delaney, Natalie Martinez, L. Scott Caldwell, Ronald Peet, Charlotte Lawrence and Alex Moffat.

Lawrence executive-produces through his Doozer Productions alongside Matt Tarses and Doozer’s Jeff Ingold. Marcos Siega directs the first episode and serves as executive producer. Doozer’s Liza Katzer serves as co-executive producer. Warner Bros Television is the studio.

Ortiz most recently starred as Joe Sandoval in drama series Promised Land, which aired for one season on ABC.

On the film side, he most recently wrapped filming The Mothership opposite Halle Berry. He also can be seen in the feature film The Fallout, which premiered at SXSW. He also starred on the series Messiah opposite Monaghan and in the feature Horse Girl with Allison Brie.

Natalie Martinez to Star Opposite Vince Vaughn in Apple TV+ Drama Series “Bad Monkey”

Posted on March 17, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Natalie Martinez is monkeying around…

The 37-year-old Cuban-American actress has been cast as a series regular opposite Vince Vaughn in the Apple TV+ drama series Bad Monkey.

The news comes only days after Martinez became available following the cancellation of NBC’s Ordinary Joe.

Martinez replaces Ana Villafañe, who had originally been cast in the role.

The series, written and executive produced by Ted Lasso co-creator Bill Lawrence, based on Carl Hiaasen’s popular 2013 novel of the same name.

Bad Monkey tells the story of Andrew Yancy (Vaughn), a onetime detective demoted to restaurant inspector in Southern Florida. A severed arm found by a tourist out fishing pulls Yancy into the world of greed and corruption that decimates the land and environment in both Florida and the Bahamas. And yes, there’s a monkey.

Martinez plays Rosa, a Miami medical examiner who is starting to realize she may not be cut out for her job, so is happy to ditch work and help Yancy try to figure out the story of the severed arm he brings into her lab.

In addition to Vaughn, Martinez joins Michelle Monaghan, Jodie Turner-Smith, Meredith Hagner, Rob Delaney and Arturo Luis Soria in the cast. Alex Moffat guest stars.

Lawrence executive produces through his Doozer Productions alongside Matt Tarses and Doozer’s Jeff Ingold. Marcos Siega directs the first episode and serves as executive producer. Doozer’s Liza Katzer serves as co-executive producer. Warner Bros Television is the studio.

Martinez starred as Amy Kindelán opposite James Wolk in Ordinary Joe. She previously starred in the series Kingdom, The Crossing, Under the Dome and Secrets and Lies.

Ana Villafañe to Star in Apple’s Drama “Bad Monkey”

Posted on January 11, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Ana Villafañe isn’t afraid to monkey around…

The 32-year-old Cuban and Salvadoran American actress/singer has joined the cast of Apple’s drama Bad Monkey, written and executive produced Bill Lawrence.

Villafañe, best known for her portrayal of Latina icon Gloria Estefan in the Broadway musical On Your Feet!, joins an ensemble cast that Rob Delaney, newcomer Ahmed Elhaj and Arturo Luis Soria as series regulars, joining Vince Vaughn, who also serves as executive producer, Michelle Monaghan, Jodie Turner-Smith and Meredith Hagner.

Based on Carl Hiaasen’s popular 2013 novel, Bad Monkey tells the story of Andrew Yancy (Vaughn), a one-time detective demoted to restaurant inspector in Southern Florida. A severed arm found by a tourist out fishing pulls Yancy into the world of greed and corruption that decimates the land and environment in both Florida and the Bahamas. And yes, there’s a monkey.

Villafañe plays Rosa, a Miami medical examiner who is starting to realize she may not be cut out for her job, so is happy to ditch work and help Yancy try to figure out the story of the severed arm he brings into her lab.

Soria portrays Rogelio, a good Key West police detective who comes to his best friend and ex-partner, Andrew Yancy, with a life-changing assignment. It further complicates things that Rogelio’s husband is also Yancy’s attorney.

Villafañe was most recently seen in a recurring role on the final season of Younger. Her other previous credits include a heavily recurring role on NBC’s New Amsterdam. She was most recently seen in a starring role in the Broadway production of Chicago.

Soria’s guest star/recurring roles include Insatiable and The Blacklist.

Rosanny Zayas to Star in Netflix’s Psychological Thriller Limited Series “Echoes”

Posted on August 12, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Rosanny Zayas is making (sound) waves…

The Afro-Latina actress will star as a series regular in Echoes, Netflix’s psychological thriller limited series from 13 Reasons Why showrunner Brian Yorkey.

Zayas joins a cast that includes Tony Award winner Ali Stroker, Karen Robinson, Michelle Monaghan, Matt Bomer and Daniel Sunjata.

Created and written by Vanessa Gazy, Echoes is a mystery thriller about identical twins Leni and Gina, both portrayed by Monaghan, who share a dangerous secret. Since they were children, Leni and Gina secretly have swapped lives, culminating in a double life as adults: They share two homes, two husbands and a child, but everything in their perfectly choreographed world is thrown into disarray when one of the sisters goes missing.

Zayas is Deputy Paula Martinez. She has enjoyed her first year working in the sleepy town of Mt. Echo where the crimes are as mild as the weather. But when her new friend Leni disappears, the true character of Mt. Echo reveals itself—and she finds herself caught in the middle.

Zayas currently stars on Season 2 of Showtime’s The L Word: Generation Q. She will next be seen in Sam Esmail’s limited series Angelyne for Peacock and UCP. She previously recurred on Orange Is The New Black, Modern Persuasion, The Code and Instinct.

Netflix Releases Trailer for John Ortiz’s Geo-Political Thriller Series “Messiah”

Posted on December 5, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

John Ortizis ready to preach…

Netflix has set January 1 for the premiere of Messiah, starring the 51-year-old Puerto Rican actor.

The suspense geo-political thriller series, which has teased with the release of a new trailer, also stars Michelle Monaghan, Mehdi Dehbi, Tomer Sisley, Melinda Page Hamilton, Stefania LaVie Owen, Sayyid El Alami, Jane Adams, Wil Traval, Fares Landoulsi,Dermot Mulroneyand Beau Bridges.

“He’s come out of nowhere and we don’t know who he is.” So begins the trailer for Messiah, which lays out CIA officer Eva Geller’s (Monaghan) quest to determine the identity of this mysterious man, whose followers believe he’s performing miracles. Geller must race to determine whether he really is a divine entity or a deceptive con artist capable of dismantling the world’s geopolitical order. As the story unfolds, multiple perspectives are interwoven including that of an Israeli intelligence officer (Sisley), a Texas preacher (Ortiz) and his daughter (Owen), a Palestinian refugee (El Alami) and the journalist (Adams) who covers the story.

Messiah is created by Michael Petroni, directed by James McTeigueand Kate Woods, and executive produced by Petroni, McTeigue, Andrew Deane, Mark Burnettand Roma Downey.Ortiz’s recent credits include the films Ad Astra, Bumblebee and Peppermint, as well as television appearances on Mayans MC, The Guest

Blue Fox Entertainment Secures Worldwide Rights to Alfred Molina’s “Saint Judy”

Posted on September 5, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Alfred Molina’s Saintwill go marching in around the world…

Blue Fox Entertainment has secured the worldwide rights to Saint Judy, a biopic centered on immigration attorney Judy Wood starring the 65-year-old half-Spanish actor.

Directed by Sean Hanish, the film stars Michelle Monaghan, Leem Lubany, Common, Molina, Alfre Woodard, Peter Krause, Gabriel Bateman, Ben Schnetzer, Mykelti Williamson, Waleed Zuaiter, Kevin Chapman and Aimee Garcia.

The film follows Judy, a single mother in her mid-30’s, who single-handedly changed the U.S. law of asylum. In a landmark case, Ms. Wood represented an Afghan woman who fled her home country after being persecuted by the Taliban for opening a school for girls. Against all odds, Ms. Wood fought a tenacious battle both in and out of court, which culminated in arguments before the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. By winning the case, she changed the Law of Asylum nationwide, allowing women to be designated a protected class – saving the lives of not only her client but thousands of other female refugees.

Blue Fox will launch international sales at the Toronto Film Festivaland will release the film domestically early next year.

Dmitry Portnoy wrote the original screenplay.

The film was produced by Cannonball Production, with Molina serving as an executive producer.

Demi Lovato to Serve as Co-Host at This Year’s Global Citizen Festival

Posted on September 10, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Demi Lovato is celebrating her global citizenship…

Global Citizen has announced several guest appearances for its annual Global Citizen Festival on September 23, including the 25-year-old part-Mexican American actress/singer.

Lovato will serve as a co-host, alongside Aaron Paul, Priyanka Chopra, Kal Penn, Lupita Nyong’o, Nashville‘s Connie Britton and many more.

Hugh Jackman and actor/producer Deborra-lee Furness will serve as lead hosts.

Dianna Agron, Freida Pinto, Wendy Williams, Mark Cuban, Bridget Moynahan, Daymond John, Camren Bicondova, Elaine Welteroth, Erin Richards, Latina supermodel Joan Smalls, Malin Akerman, Rachel Brosnahan, Michelle Monaghan and Serge Ibaka will also serve as hosts for this year’s festival, taking place in New York City’s Central Park.

The social advocacy group hosts the free festival each year to raise awareness of its goal to end extreme poverty by 2030.

Fans can earn their tickets by taking part in Action Journeys, a series of challenges designed to promote social activism.

This year’s headliners include Stevie Wonder, Green Day, The Killers and The Lumineers, with featured performances by The Chainsmokers, Pharrell Williams, Big Sean, Andra Day and Alessia Cara.

The one-day festival will also be broadcast live from Central Park on YouTube, Twitter and MSNBC.

To hear more from this year’s hosts and learn more about the festival, visit Global Citizen’s official site.

Plaza to Star in “The Driftless Area”

Posted on May 25, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Aubrey Plaza is driftless in Hollywood…

The 29-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress/comedian and Parks and Recreation star has joined the cast of The Driftless Area, starring Anton Yelchin, Zooey Deschanel, John Hawkes and Frank Langella.

The film centers on the young love between a bartender and a mysterious woman. Their relationship is threatened after the bartender, Pierre, gets mixed up with a dangerous crook and his bag of stolen cash.

The Driftless Area, an adaptation of Tom Drury‘s novel of the same name, is currently shooting in Vancouver.

Zachary Sluser, who co-wrote the screenplay with Drury, is directing.

Plaza, who starred in 2012’s Safety Not Guaranteed, which earned her the Breakthrough Performer of the Year award at CinemaCon,and 2013’s The To-Do List, can next be seen in the upcoming A Many Splintered Thing opposite Chris Evans and Michelle Monaghan and Lionsgate’s Mortdecai, co-starring Johnny Depp, Ewan McGregor and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Both films are in postproduction.

Rodriguez’s “Fort Bliss” to be Released in U.S. Theaters in the Fall

Posted on May 17, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Freddy Rodriguez’s latest project is headed to the big screen this fall…

Phase 4 Films has acquired the North American distribution rights to Fort Bliss, starring the 39-year-old Puerto Rican actor and former Six Feet Under star.

The Claudia Myers-directed drama tells the story of a decorated U.S. Army medic and single mother who returns home after an extended tour of duty in Afghanistan to discover the bond with her 5-year-old son has been broken.

While struggling to reclaim her son’s affection, she must also reintegrate into life after war, haunted by harrowing memories from Afghanistan.

Fort Bliss not only explores the incredible sacrifices made every day by men and women in the armed services, but the price that’s paid by their families as well.

In addition to Rodriguez, who portrays Garver, the film, which was written by Myers, also stars Michelle Monaghan, Ron Livingston, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Gbenga Akkinagbe, Pablo Schreiber and John Savage.

Fort Bliss will be released in the fall.

Hispanically Yours

Celebrating the Latino Influence

Tag Archives: Michelle Monaghan