Trailer Released for Selena Gomez’s “Hotel Transylvania: Transformania”

Posted on July 5, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Selena Gomez is transform(ania)ing…

The first trailer has been released for the 28-year-old Mexican American actress/singer’s Hotel Transylvania: Transformania, the fourth and final film in the franchise that has bitten off $1.36 billion worldwide — thus far — with each of the three films grossing more than its predecessor.

Since the original film hit theaters in 2012, the Fang gang has expanded their lodging to include humans and welcomed a baby (2015’s Hotel Transylvania 2) and took a decidedly unrelaxing sea cruise (2018’s Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation).

Fast-forward to 2021, and Van Helsing (Jim Gaffigan) has perfected his mysterious invention that allows humans to become monsters. But the Monsterfication Ray goes haywire, and Drac (Brian Hull, replacing Adam Sandler) and his monster pals are all transformed into humans, and Johnny (Andy Samberg) becomes a monster. In their new mismatched bodies, Drac — now stripped of his powers, sporting a “dad bod” and making dad jokes — and his exuberant son-in-law Johnny, who’s loving life as a monster, must team up and race across the globe to find a cure before it’s too late. With help from Mavis (Gomez) and the human Drac Pack, the heat is on to find a way to switch themselves back before their transformations become permanent.

Kathryn Hahn, Keegan-Michael Key, Steve Buscemi, David Spade, Asher Blinkoff, Brad Abrell, Fran Drescher and Molly Shannon also lend their voices to the film from first-time feature helmers Jennifer Kluska and Derek Drymon. Amos Vernon and Nunzio Randazzo and Genndy Tartakovsky penned the screenplay.

“In Hotel Transylvania: Transformania we wrap up the franchise with a bang as we see our familiar, beloved cast of monster characters in a hilarious new light when they accidentally transform themselves into humans,” helmers Kluska and Drymon said. “The bond between the mismatched comic pair of human Drac and monster Johnny is put to the test on a ridiculous road trip to South America while Mavis leads the humanized Drac Pack on an adventure to find the cure. At their heart, the Hotel Transylvania movies are about family – monster style. We think the final chapter will bring the story full circle in a thrilling fun theater experience for the whole family.”

After a few pandemic-forced release-date moves, the toon from Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation hits theaters Friday, October 1.

Aubrey Plaza to Star in the Indie Comedy “Spin Me Round”

Posted on May 6, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Aubrey Plaza is going for a Spin…

The 36-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress will star in Spin Me Round, an indie comedy directed by Jeff Baena from a script he wrote with Alison Brie, who will also star.

In addition to Plaza, best known for her work on NBC’s Parks and Recreation, and Brie, the cast also includes Alessandro Nivola, Molly Shannon and Lil Rel Howery.

The film will be produced by the Duplass Brothers Productions and Limelight, the latter of which is fully financing the picture. Production begins next month in Italy.

Tim Heidecker, Ben Sinclair, Fred Armisen, Ayden Mayeri, Debby Ryan, Zach Woods, Ego Nwodim, Lauren Weedman, and Jake Picking round out the cast.

Brie plays the manager of the Bakersfield, California franchise of the Italian chain eatery Tuscan Grove. She wins an all-expenses trip to the company’s gorgeous “institute” outside of Florence, Italy, and the chance to meet the restaurant chain’s wealthy and charismatic owner (Nivola). Along with a mismatched group of local American franchise managers, Amber finds a far different adventure than the romantic fantasy she had imagined.

Desmin Borges to Appear on Fox’s Series “This Country”

Posted on December 7, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Desmin Borges is heading to this country…

The 36-year-old half-Puerto Rican actor has landed a recurring role in Fox’s This Country, Jenny Bicks’ and Paul Feig’s remake of the BBC comedy.

In the half-hour series, a documentary crew goes to a small town to study young adults and their current concerns. Their focus is the daily lives of cousins Kelly (Chelsea Holmes) and Shrub Mallet (Sam Straley) and their idiosyncratic surroundings.

Seann William Scott, Aya Cash, Taylor Ortega, YouTuber Krystal Smith and Justin Linville also star.

Borges will play Jimmy Jameson, the rival editor to Cheryl (Cash) in the town next to Flatch. Borges will join the series, currently filming in North Carolina, beginning in Episode 2. Feig is directing the series’ first three episodes.

This Country is based on the eponymous BBC Three series, which ran on the British public broadcaster’s youth-skewing network for three seasons from 2017-20. The BAFTA-winning series, which was written by and starred Daisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper, was set in the Cotswolds in rural England.

The role reunites Borges with Cash, his former You’re the Worst co-star. Borges portrayed Edgar Quintero on five seasons of the FX comedy-drama. He also stars as Dan on the Netflix limited series Living with Yourself opposite Paul Rudd, as well as in films like Private Life, alongside Paul Giamatti, Kathryn Hahn, Molly Shannon, John Carroll Lynch and Denis O’Hare. Borges most recently can be seen as Wilson Wilson in Amazon’s Utopia, co-starring John Cusack and Rainn Wilson.

This Country is produced by Lionsgate, BBC Studios, Fox Entertainment and Feigco Entertainment.

Gunpowder & Sky Releases Redband Trailer for Plaza’s Comedy “The Little Hours”

Posted on April 19, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

It’s nun of your business what Aubrey Plaza does… Or is it?

Gunpowder & Sky has unveiled the first NSFW redband trailer for the comedy The Little Hours, starring the 32-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress and former Parks and Recreation star, Alison Brie and Dave Franco.

The Little Hours follows medieval nuns gone wild Alessandra (Brie), Fernanda (Plaza) and Ginevra (Kate Micucci).

Per the film’s description, their days are spent chafing at monastic routine, spying on one another, and berating the estate’s day laborer. After a particularly vicious insult session drives the peasant away, Father Tommasso (John C. Reilly) brings on new hired hand, Massetto (Franco), a virile young servant forced into hiding by his angry lord. Introduced to the sisters as a deaf mute to discourage temptation, Massetto struggles to maintain his cover as the repressed nunnery erupts in a whirlwind of pansexual horniness, substance abuse and wicked revelry.

Molly Shannon, Fred Armisen, Jemima Kirke, Nick Offerman and Adam Pally co-star.

Produced by Liz Destro and Plaza, the Jeff Baena-written and -directed comedy will open in theaters on June 30.

First Trailer Released for Gomez’s “Hotel Transylvania 2”

Posted on June 18, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Selena Gomez is sinking her teeth into motherhood…

Sony Pictures Animation has released the first trailer for the 22-year-old half-Mexican American actress/singer’s Hotel Transylvania 2, the ghoulish sequel to the 2012 animated film.

Much has changed since the first film. Hotel Transylvania now allows human guests as well as beasties, and there’s a new little monster toddling around — but is he really a vampire?

Drac (Adam Sandler) is the proud new grandpa of the surprisingly redheaded boy of Mavis and Johnny (Gomez, Andy Samberg). When they threaten to move from Transylvania to California, the fang gang goes to work on stopping such nonsense.

Mel Brooks joins the cast as Vlad, Drac’s old-school father who is none too pleased about the goings-on. Also back for another killing are voice stars including Steve Buscemi, David Spade, Kevin James, Fran Drescher and Molly Shannon.

Hotel Transylvania 2 opens in theaters on September 25.

Trailer Released for Plaza’s Zombie-Themed Comedy “Life After Beth”

Posted on June 27, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Aubrey Plaza is a dead girl(friend) walking…

The first trailer for Life After Beth has been released, starring the 30-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress/comedian as a zombie girlfriend.

Dane DeHaan stars as a teen named Zach, who is heartbroken when his girlfriend Beth (portrayed by Plaza) unexpectedly dies. He gets a second chance to do what he wants when Beth is resurrected using the Old Testament.

Things don’t quite work the way he wants it, as evidenced in the trailer, which shows Beth and Zach dealing with the fact that she;s a zombie and looking less human each time. She destroys a lifeguard tower and even devours a man.

“What do you want from me Zach, I’m a zombie!” Beth yells.

Directed by Jeff Baena, Life After Beth also stars John C. Reilly, Molly Shannon, Anna Kendrick and Matthew Gray Gubler.

The comedy premieres on DirecTV on July 17 and will get a limited theatrical release starting August 15.

The film will also hit NEXT Fest, which takes place in Los Angeles from August 7-10.

Verastegui to Star in Kevin James’ Comedy “Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2”

Posted on February 24, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Eduardo Verastegui is heading to Sin City for his latest project…

The 39-year-old Mexican actor has signed on to star in Kevin James’ Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2.

The sequel to the hit comedy will see James’ title character attending a security guard expo in Las Vegas with his daughter, where he’s mocked by casino security until he helps them take on a group of dangerous art thieves.

Verastegui, a former telenovela star in his native Mexico, will portray a Vegas hotelier whose hotel becomes a heist target.

In addition to James and Verastegui, the sequel will also star Selena Gomez’s Wizards of Waverly Place co-star David Henrie as Lane, a charming valet attendant whom Blart’s daughter Maya develops a crush on.

Meantime, Raini Rodriguez is in negotiations to reprise her role as Maya and Molly Shannon is in talks to co-star.

Nicholas Turturro has been cast as one of Blart’s security guard rivals. And James’ brother, comedian Gary ValenVerastegui tine, is set to play a sympathetic fellow security guard.

Andy Fickman is directing Mall Cop 2 from a script by James and Nick Bakay, who wrote the first film.

Plaza Shooting Next Film “Life After Beth” in Los Angeles

Posted on July 17, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Death becomes Aubrey Plaza…

The 29-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress is starring in Life After Beth, which has begun filming in Los Angeles.

The directorial debut from Jeff Baena, who penned the script for I Heart Huckabees, centers on a guy mourning the death of his girlfriend (portrayed by Plaza). But when Beth comes back to life, he tries to live their relationship to the fullest — until things take a turn for the worse.

In addition to the Parks and Recreation star with the dry sense of humor, the film will star Anna Kendrick, Molly Shannon and Cheryl Hines.

Armisen to Appear on NBC’s Game Show “Hollywood Game Night”

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Fred Armisen is about to get his game on…

The 46-year-old half-Venezuelan actor and former Saturday Night Live star has signed on to appear on NBC’s new game show series Hollywood Game Night.

Executive produced by Will & Grace’s Sean Hayes and hosted by Glee’s Jane Lynch, features celebrities hanging out and playing games with fun-loving non-celebrity contestants in a cocktail party atmosphere.

Along with Armisen, other celebrities set to appear on the game show include Amy Poehler, Matthew Perry, Jason Bateman, Kristin Bell and fiance Dax Shephard, Maya Rudolph, Minnie Driver, Kristen Chenoweth, Cheryl Hines, Molly Shannon and Max Greenfield, with more stars expected to join.

The series, which has an eight-episode order, is based on Hayes’ real-life game nights. In each episode, two contestants will be treated to a night of fun and celebration where they get to rub shoulders with the celebrity crowd. At the end, one of the contestants will walk away with a cash prize and a night of stories and memories.

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