Peacock Releases Teaser Trailer for Melissa De Sousa’s New Limited Series “The Best Man: The Final Chapters”

Posted on October 29, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

It’s the final chapter(s) for Melissa De Sousa.

Peacock has released the teaser trailer for its upcoming series The Best Man: The Final Chapters, starring the 55-year-old Panamanian American actress.

The limited series will premiere all eight episodes on December 22.

Based upon the eponymous Universal film franchise written and directed by Malcolm D. Lee, the series will catch up with Harper, Robyn, Jordan, Lance, Quentin, Shelby, Candace, and Murch as relationships evolve and past grievances resurface in the unpredictable stages of midlife crisis meets midlife renaissance.

In addition to De Sousa, the cast of The Best Man: The Final Chapters includes Morris Chestnut, Taye Diggs, Regina Hall, Terrence Howard, Sanaa Lathan, Nia Long and Harold Perrineau.

The Peacock original was filmed on locations like New York City, New Jersey and Dominican Republic. Malcom D. Lee of Blackmaled Productions is the creator of the Best Man franchise, which he co-developed, wrote, executive-produced, directed and served as a co-showrunner. Dayna Lynne North of Loud Sis Productions also co-developed, wrote, executive-produced and served as co-showrunner.

Directors for the series include Malcom D. Lee for four episodes, Charles Stone III, Robert Townsend and Stacey Muhammad.

La La Anthony to Star Opposite Jonah Hill in New Untitled Netflix Comedy Film

Posted on October 29, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

La La Anthony is preparing to bring the funny…

The 39-year-old Puerto Rican television personality, author, businesswoman, producer and actress has been cast in a new untitled Netflix comedy starring Jonah Hill, with Kenya Barris directing.

Anthony is among a list of new cast additions that includes Travis Bennett, Andrea Savage, Rhea Perlman and Deon Cole.

They join an ensemble that already includes Lauren London, Eddie Murphy, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Sam Jay, Molly Gordon, David Duchovny and Nia Long.

The film follows a new couple (Hill and London) and their families, who find themselves examining modern love and family dynamics amidst clashing cultures, societal expectations and generational differences.

Anthony’s previous credits include Two Can Play That Game, You Got Served, Think Like a Man and Think Like a Man 2.

Jhené Aiko Teams Up with Big Sean to Reenact 90s Black Rom-Coms in “Body Language” Music Video

Posted on December 21, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Jhené Aiko has a new body of work…

The 32-year-old part-Spanish and part-Dominican American singer – who earned three Grammy nominations, including Album of the Year for her latest studio album Chilombo – has joined voices with Big Sean and Ty Dolla $ign for the cinematic music video to their single “Body Language.”

The mini-film shows the real-life couple (Aiko & Big Sean) taking on the roles of iconic onscreen duos from ’90s Black romantic comedies, from Tupac and Janet Jackson in Poetic Justice (1993) to Larenz Tate and Nia Long in Love Jones (1997). Aiko also serves big Angela Bassett energy from Waiting to Exhale (1995) when she burns her ex’s car with his clothes inside. And of course, the featurette has pop and R&B music’s favorite featured star Ty Dolla $ign popping up in each scene while he narrates the chorus.

“Big homage paying to a few of my favorite flicks growin up,” Big Sean wrote on Instagram about the movies he referenced in his music video.

Seems like Aiko did Jackson justice after the pop icon shared a still of the R&B singer’s portrayal of her Poetic Justice character on her Instagram Story with a heart emoji. “Thank you legend!!” Big Sean wrote back while resharing her IG Story with a goat emoji to symbolize that she’s the greatest of all time, or the G.O.A.T.

And the Chilombo singer’s nod to Waiting to Exhale came right around the time of the film’s 25th anniversary on Tuesday, December 22, which Bassett celebrated by posting a still from the same fiery scene on Instagram coincidentally on the same day of the music video’s release. “I didn’t plan that! Wow!” Big Sean mused on his own IG Story while resharing the actress’ post. “We did this scene in the video n dropped the same day! God will do it!”

“Body Language” is off the Detroit rapper’s fifth studio album Detroit 2, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in September.

Davi Santos to Star in “47 Meters Down – Uncaged”

Posted on December 11, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Davi Santos is diving into a new role…

The 28-year-old Brazilian actor will star in 47 Meters Down – Uncaged, the sequel to box office breakout 47 Meters Down.

Santos, best known for playing Sir Ivan, The Gold Rangeron the television series Power Rangers Dino Charge, joins a cast that includes Sophie Nélisse, John Corbett, Nia Long, Corinne Foxx, Sistine Stallone, Brianne Tjuand Khylin Rhambo.

Principal photography is underway in the Dominican Republic with Byron Allen’s ESMP U.S. release in 3,500+ screens set for June 28, 2019. Johannes Roberts returns to direct the sequel from a script he co-wrote with his 47 Meters Down co-writer, Ernest Riera. Foxx and Stallone, the daughters of Jamie Foxxand Sylvester Stallone, respectively, will be making their film debuts.

The film will tell the story of four teens diving in a ruined underwater city, who quickly find themselves in a watery hell as their adventure turns to horror when they learn they are not alone in the submerged caves. As they swim deeper into the claustrophobic labyrinth of caves they enter the territory of the deadliest shark species in the ocean.

The breakout original earned almost $60M globally off a $5.5M budget.

“The sequel 47 Meters Down – Uncaged is well-positioned to be a big summer event movie,” said Byron Allen, CEO of Entertainment Studios. “The shark-filled psychological horror/thriller will once again have moviegoers overwhelmed and on the edge of their seats being terrorized by the world’s greatest predators!”

Esai Morales Lands Recurring Role on CBS’ “NCIS: Los Angeles”

Posted on August 21, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Esai Morales is getting deputized…

The 55-year-old Puerto Rican actor has landed a recurring role on the upcoming tenth season of CBS’NCIS: Los Angeles.

Morales will play Deputy Director Gaines. Smart, authoritative, polished and trustworthy, Gaines accompanies a special prosecutor from the Department of Defense who is investigating the NCIS office and its employees. He is there to protect his people and advise them on how to navigate the prosecutor’s interviews. The character will be introduced in a late October episode.

“Following the rescue mission in Mexico from last season’s finale and this season’s premiere, our NCIS: Los Angelesteam will face challenging repercussions but they will have a new ally in the Deputy Director,” said executive producer R. Scott Gemmill. “We are thrilled that the talented Esai Morales has signed on to this recurring role.”

Starring Chris O’Donnell, LL Cool J, Linda Hunt, Daniela Ruah, Eric Christian Olsen, Barrett Foa, Renée Felice Smith and Nia Long, NCIS: Los Angelesis produced by CBS Television Studios and executive produced by Gemmill, John P. Kousakis and Frank Military.

Morales, who rose to acclaim in the 1987 biopic La Bamba,was most recently seen in a major arc on Netflix’s Ozark and as a recurring on Nat Geo’s Mars. On the big screen, Morales’ credits include Sony Pictures’ Superfly.

Season 10 of NCIS: Los Angelespremieres Sunday, September 30 at 9 PM on CBS.

First Trailer Released Featuring Longoria on Fox’s “Empire”

Posted on March 24, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Here’s a first look inside Eva Longoria’s Empire…

Empire is back from its winter hiatus and the battle between Lucious and Cookie explodes into their biggest war yet.

After the hit Fox series’ return Wednesday night, a teaser was unveiled that features the first look at the characters played by the 42-year-old Mexican American actress and Desperate Housewives star, Demi Moore and Nia Long.

The second half of Season 3 finds Lucious (Terrence Howard) announcing his new music project, Inferno, and putting everyone on notice – especially Cookie (Taraji P. Henson), who then vows to knock him off his throne for good.

Longoria guest stars as Charlotte Frost, the formidable director of Nevada’s all-powerful state gaming commission. Charlotte has the power to make or break Lucious’ dreams of expanding Empire’s reach to Las Vegas, and beneath her alluring façade lies a force of darkness and corruption. Her episode is slated to air this spring.

Additional actors and musicians who will appear on Empire this spring include Rumer Willis, Taye Diggs and Phylicia Rashad.

Longoria to Appear on Fox’s Drama Series “Empire”

Posted on January 31, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Eva Longoria is heading to a new empire…

The 41-year-old Mexican American actress will guest star on Fox’s hit drama series Empire.

The former Desperate Housewives star will play Charlotte Frost, the formidable director of the all-powerful state gaming commission. Charlotte has the power to make-or-break Lucious’ (Terrence Howard) dreams of expanding Empire’s reach to Las Vegas and beneath her alluring facade, lies a force of darkness and corruption. Her episode is slated to air this spring.

The second half of Season 3 picks up on March 22 when the battle between Lucious (Howard) and Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) explodes into their biggest war yet. After launching a deadly missile at Angelo, Lucious announces his new music project, Inferno, and puts everyone on notice – especially Cookie, who then vows to knock him off his throne for good.

Longoria joins previously announced actors and musicians who appear on Empire this spring, including Taye Diggs, Phylicia Rashad, Rumer Willis and Nia Long.

Golden Globe-nominated for her role as Gabrielle Solis in Desperate Housewives, Longoria stars in the in the upcoming feature film Lowriders, slated for release on May 12. She’s also featured in the British miniseries Decline and Fall, opposite UK comedy star Jack Whitehall, which premieres this spring.

De Sousa Returning for the Third “Best Man” Film, “The Best Man Wedding”

Posted on July 22, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Melissa De Sousa is returning for Best Man duty…

The 46-year-old Panamanian American actress, who starred as Shelby in 1999’s The Best Man and 2013’s The Best Man Holiday, is returning as part of the ensemble cast for the next installment in the franchise.

Written and directed by Malcolm D. Lee, the third film in the series will be titled The Best Man Wedding and feature the group getting back together for a most unexpected nuptials.

The film, from Universal Pictures, is slated for release on April 15, 2016.

The previous film in the franchise, $17 million sequel The Best Man Holiday, was a hit right out of the gate, with a $30 million opening in November. It was the fifth-largest bow for an R-rated romantic comedy, the second-highest for an urban romantic comedy and the sixth-biggest for an urban-themed film overall.

In addition to De Sousa, who was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Film at the NAACP Image Awards for her performance in the first film, Morris Chestnut, Taye Diggs, Regina Hall, Terrence Howard, Sanaa Lathan, Nia Long, Harold Perrineau and Monica Calhoun also starred in Best Man Holiday and The Best Man.

De Sousa Reprising Her Star-Making Role in “The Best Man” Sequel

Posted on July 11, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

She earned rave reviews for her performance in 1999’s The Best Man… And now Melissa De Sousa is back to impress audiences all over again in the film’s upcoming sequel.

The 45-year-old Afro-Latina actress of Panamanian descent stars in The Best Man Holiday, the highly anticipated follow-up to The Best Man, which saw its trailer released recently.

De Sousa is back as Shelby – a role that earned her an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture in 2000 – in the sequel, which also sees Taye Diggs, Nia Long, Morris Chestnut, Harold Perrineau, Terrence Howard, Sanaa Lathan, Monica Calhoun and Regina Hall all reprise the roles that helped propel their careers 14 years ago.

Writer-director Malcolm D. Lee made his debut with The Best Man and returns for the Christmas-set follow-up.

The Best Man Holiday will hit theaters on November 15.

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