Jennifer Lopez to Star Opposite Brett Goldstein in Netflix Rom-Com “Office Romance”

Posted on September 17, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Jennifer Lopez is having an office romance…

The 55-year-old Puerto Rican superstar will star opposite Ted Lasso’s Brett Goldstein in Netflix’s irreverent romantic comedy Office Romance.

Lopez has previously delivered two hit movies for the streamer… The Mother and Atlas.

There was a hot bidding war for the forthcoming feature, which Netflix won.

Goldstein and Joe Kelly are co-writing the rom-com.

The producers on Office Romance are Aaron Ryder and Andrew Swett for Ryder Picture Company; Goldstein and Kelly; as well as Lopez, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas and Benny Medina for Nuyorican Films.

Nuyorican Productions has a multiyear first-look deal with Netflix spanning feature films, TV series and unscripted content, with an emphasis on projects that support diverse female actors, writers and filmmakers.

Lopez and Goldstein recently had films at the Toronto Film Festival. Lopez was at TIFF with the Amazon MGM Studios sports drama Unstoppable, about championship wrestler Anthony Robles, who was born with one leg; the movie has 74% fresh reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.

Goldstein world premiered the MRC feature drama All of You, which he co-wrote and starred in with Imogen Poots. That film stands at 85% fresh reviews on RT.

Lopez’s top two movies on Netflix, The Mother and Atlas, clocked 136.4 million global views and 73 million global views, respectively. The Mother is among the streamer’s 10 most-watched movies of all time and was Netflix’s most-watched movie of 2023. Atlas also hit the top 10 in 93 countries.

Netflix Options Emily Henry’s Novel “Happy Place” for Jennifer Lopez’s Nuyorican Productions

Posted on June 25, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Jennifer Lopez’s production company has set its sights on a happy project…

Netflix has reportedly optioned Emily Henry’s novel Happy Place for the 54-year-old Puerto Rican superstar’s Nuyorican Productions.

Plans to adapt the novel as a series are underway, and producers and streaming executives are reportedly currently meeting with writers.

The news arrives as Lopez’s Netflix film Atlas clears 72.7M global views, another high for the actress and producer after her 2023 movie with the streamer, The Mother, which is the ninth-most-watched movie on Netflix with 136.4M.

The multi-hyphenate’s Nuyorican Productions inked a multi-year first-look deal with Netflix spanning feature films, television series and unscripted content back in 2021, with an emphasis on projects that support diverse female actors, writers and filmmakers.

Henry is a No. 1 New York Times and No. 1 Sunday Times bestselling author whose novels include Book Lovers, People We Meet on Vacation, and Beach Read.

The Berkley published Happy Place follows Harriet and Wyn, who’ve been a perfect couple since they met in college — they go together like salt and pepper, honey and tea, lobster and rolls. Except now, for reasons they’re still not discussing, they don’t. They broke up five months ago, and they still haven’t told their best friends. They find themselves sharing a bedroom at the Maine cottage that has been their friend group’s yearly getaway for the past decade, and continue to lie through their teeth to their friends about their relationship status.

Natalie Haack Flores, VP Development at Nuyorican, reportedly brought the projects to the producers. Series producers will be Nuyorican’s Lopez, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas and Benny Medina.

Anthony Ramos to Star in Animated, Feature Film Based on “Bob the Builder” Series

Posted on January 25, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Anthony Ramos is building up his resume…

The 32-year-old Puerto Rican actor/singer will star in and produce an animated, feature-length film based on Bob the Builder, the long-running and beloved animated children’s series.

Ramos will deleop the project alongside Mattel Films, ShadowMachine and Jennifer Lopez’s Nuyorican Productions.

The film is being imagined as an inventive international story for today’s audiences.

Felipe Vargas is attached to write. The film will be overseen by Kevin McKeon, Ivan Sanchez and Arturo Thur De Koós for Mattel and Natalie Haack Flores for Nuyorican.

The film follows Roberto aka Bob (Ramos), who travels to the enchanting Island of Puerto Rico for a major construction job, takes on issues affecting the island and digs deeper into what it means to build. Bob’s journey will celebrate the vibrant and colorful textures of the Caribbean Latin nations and their people.

The popular Bob the Builder television series, centered on Bob the building contractor and his friends, was created with “little builders” (preschool/early elementary school-age children) in mind through stories empowering them to work as a team with imagination, positivity and the right tools. The worldwide syndicated show ran successfully for 12 seasons (1999-2011) and is especially known for Bob’s cheerful catchphrase: “Can we fix it? Yes, we can!”

Bob the Builder joins other Mattel Films in development including American Girl, Barney, Hot Wheels, Magic 8 Ball, Major Matt Mason, Masters of the Universe, Matchbox, Polly Pocket, Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots, Thomas & Friends, Uno, View-Master and Wishbone. Mattel Films also is developing Christmas Balloon, a holiday family drama based on all-new IP.

Ramos previously starred in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts and In The Heights.

Jennifer Lopez to Release “This Is Me…Now” Album with Companion Film in February 2024

Posted on November 28, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Jennifer Lopez is celebrating Valentine’s Day in a special way…

The 54-year-old Puerto Rican superstar’s first studio album in a decade, This Is Me…Now, has been set for release on February 16, 2024.

Additionally, there will also be a movie “inspired by the music” released on the same date. Amazon MGM Studios has acquired and will release Nuyorican Productions’ This Is Me…Now: The Film on Prime Video worldwide.

The release of This Is Me…Now celebrates the anniversary of its sister album, This is Me…Then, which was released 20 years ago.

The new album, written and executive-produced by Lopez and Rogét Chayed, along with Angel Lopez, Jeff “Gitty” Gitelman, HitBoy, Tay Keith and INK among others, will combine R&B, pop, hip-hop and Lopez’s vocals.

This is Me…Now: The Film is described as “a narrative driven, intimate, reflective, sexy, funny, fantastical musical and visual reimagining of [Lopez’s] publicly scrutinized love life”.

The official press release for the launch describes the project as follows: “Along with Director Dave Meyers, Lopez creates a genre-redefining immersive cinematic experience: an extravagant visual and sonic feast with impressive choreography, star studded cameos, costumes, sets and blockbuster-worthy visuals. Although an astonishing vivid spectacle, the film is ultimately a heartfelt ode to JL’s journey of self-healing and everlasting belief in fairytale endings. Audiences will be captivated and leave hopeful that true love can be more than a dream.”

Can’t Get Enough, the first single from This Is Me…Now: The Album, will be released on Wednesday, January 10, 2024.

Cristela Alonzo Partnering with Dan Bucatinsky to Develop “She Gets It From Me” for CBS

Posted on October 28, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Cristela Alonzo gets it…

The 43-year-old Mexican American comedian, actress, writer and producer will partner with Dan Bucatinsky to develop the series She Gets It From Me for CBS.

The semi-autobiographical single-camera comedy is inspired by Bucatinsky’s journey as an adoptive parent.

Alonzo, the first Latina woman to create, produce, write and star in her own US primetime comedy, will star in, co-write and executive produce the project.

The intention is for Bucatinsky to also star, but there isn’t an acting deal for him at this time, according to Deadline. Jennifer Lopez’s Nuyorican and Ryan Seacrest Prods. are producing for ABC Signature.

She Gets It From Me centers on what happens when the teenaged, adopted daughter of two hyper-devoted, straight-laced, suburban gay dads seeks out a relationship with her uniquely bold, take-no-prisoners, Latin birth mom (Alonzo). The series examines a contemporary blended family, a poignant and hilarious exploration of the shotgun marriage of not only the birth mom and the adoptive parents, but also the complications and joys of blending both of their big, noisy, multiethnic and multigenerational families.

She Gets It From Me draws on parenthood experiences Bucatinsky chronicled in his 2012 bestselling comedic memoir Does This Baby Make Me Look Straight?: Confessions of a Gay Dad. He’s reuniting with Lopez on the CBS comedy after appearing opposite her in the romantic comedy film Second Act.

Alonzo broke ground in 2014 with her ABC comedy Cristela. Her other television credits include HBO’s His Dark Materials, and Nickelodeon’s The Casagrandes and Legends of the Hidden Temple.

Alonzo has done two stand-up comedy specials for Netflix: 2017’s Lower Classy and 2022’s Middle Classy.

Jennifer Lopez’s Nuyorican Productions Developing Limited Series Based on Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “Cinderella”

Posted on May 11, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Jennifer Lopez is taking on a classic tale…

The 52-year-old Puerto Rican superstar’s Nuyorican Productions is teaming up with Skydance Television and Concord Originals to develop a limited series based on Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella.

The project, an original take on the musical, will be written by Rachel Shukert, who will also executive produce and serve as showrunner.

This marks the first project under the previously announced deal between the companies to develop a slate of original projects based on Concord’s vast catalog of musicals.

Lopez, along with partners Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas and Benny Medina, will executive produce for Nuyorican Productions.

David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Bill Bost will executive produce for Skydance, alongside Sophia Dilley, Senior Vice President of Development and Production at Concord Originals, and Concord CEO Scott Pascucci.

“The story of Cinderella is as timeless now as ever,” said Bill Bost, President of Skydance Television. “This aspirational story of romance, unconventional families, and the surprising power of wishes has inspired audiences around the world for centuries, and we are thrilled to be working with Jennifer, Rachel, Concord, and The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization to bring our fresh take to the screen.”

“Rodgers & Hammerstein elevated the already magical story of Cinderella with their iconic music that has attracted legends of screen and stage throughout its many beloved, award-winning iterations over the years,” added Dilley. “Our partnership with Skydance and Nuyorican on this project is the first step of many towards our collective goal of championing timeless classics for a new generation and Rachel is the perfect voice to expand upon this story in a contemporary way.”

One of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s most popular titles, Cinderella was originally written for television, debuting in 1957 starring Julie Andrews, who was nominated for an Emmy Award for her performance.

More than 100 million viewers saw the broadcast, more people than any other program in the history of television at the time.

Cinderella was re-made for TV in 1965 starring Lesley Ann Warren in the title role (photo above), Ginger Rogers and Walter Pidgeon as the King and Queen, and Celeste Holm as the Fairy Godmother. A further television remake followed in 1997 with Brandy as Cinderella, Whitney Houston as the Fairy Godmother, Bernadette Peters as the Stepmother, Whoopi Goldberg as the Queen, and Jason Alexander as Lionel.

Amazon Acquires Jennifer Lopez-Produced Skydance TV Series “Backwards in Heels”

Posted on March 29, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a moment of heels-ing for Jennifer Lopez.

Amazon has acquired the Skydance TV series Backwards in Heels, produced by the 52-year-old Puerto Rican superstar, off the table.

The series will be written and directed by Richard LaGravenese and follows the aspirational and timeless story about the glamorous women living at the Barbizon Hotel in post-WWII New York City.

Lopez, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, and Benny Medina will produce under their Nuyorican Productions. Julie Goldstein is also producing.

The Barbizon Hotel, located at 140 East 63rd St. on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, was for several decades a female-only residential hotel for young women who came to NYC for professional opportunities.

Built in 1927, the 23-story hotel was a blend of Italian Renaissance and late Gothic revival and Islamic decorative elements.

No men were allowed above the ground floor, and strict dress and conduct rules were enforced. Men began to be admitted as guests in 1981.

Famous guests and residents throughout its history included Lauren Bacall, Betty Buckley, Joan Crawford, Rita Hayworth and Grace Kelly, among several others.

Lopez was honored with the Icon Award at the iHeartRadio Music Awards last week. She recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of her breakout movie Selena, in which she played the Tejano legend.

The actress’ recent romantic comedy feature Marry Me was one of the most viewed movies ever on NBCUniversal’s Peacock streaming service, approaching 6M accounts. Before the pandemic, her crime caper feature Hustlers ranked as her highest-grossing live-action movie of her career at the domestic B.O. with $105M, and her biggest opening ever with $33M.

Lopez and her Nuyorican Productions are teaming with Skydance and Concord to develop a slate of original projects based on the latter’s catalog of musicals, which includes the works of Broadway icons Rodgers & Hammerstein.

She next is starring and producing the Netflix movies The Mother and Atlas.

Jesse Garcia to Star Opposite Jennifer Lopez in the Action Film “The Mother”

Posted on October 14, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Jesse Garcia has landed a Mother of a role…

The 38-year-old Latino actors has joined the cast of The Mother, the action film, emerging from a newly announced creative partnership between Netflix and Jennifer Lopez’s Nuyorican Productions.

Garcia will star opposite Lopez, Joseph Fiennes, Omari Hardwick, Gael García Bernal, Paul Raci, Yvonne Senat Jones and Lucy Paez in the film, which will be directed by Niki Caro.

The Mother centers on a deadly female assassin who comes out of hiding to protect the daughter that she gave up years before, while on the run from dangerous men.

Lovecraft Country creator Misha Green penned the original screenplay, with Peter Craig handling the most recent revisions.

Lopez and Elaine Goldsmith Thomas are producing for Nuyorican Productions with Roy Lee and Miri Yoon for Vertigo, along with Green, Benny Medina, and Marc Evans. Molly Allen is executive producing.

Garcia can currently seen in Ted Melfi’s Netflix film The Starling, starring Melissa McCarthy and Chris O’Dowd. He’ll next appear in Michael Bay’s action thriller Ambulance, and star alongside Annie Gonzales in Flamin’ Hot, the film about Flamin’ Hot Cheetos creator Richard Montanez that Eva Longoria is helming for Searchlight Pictures, in her feature debut.

The actor has starred on the TV side in From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series, finding recurring roles in Narcos: Mexico and Snowfall. He has also appeared in shows including The Last Ship, Sons of Anarchy and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, along with films including Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day and The Avengers.

Jennifer Lopez Looking to Develop Original Projects Based on Concord’s Catalog of Musicals, Including Works by Rodgers & Hammerstein

Posted on July 12, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Jennifer Lopez could be singing and dancing on the big screen in the near future…

The 51-year-old Puerto Rican superstar and her Nuyorican Productions are collaborating with Skydance and Concord to develop a slate of original projects based on Concord’s catalog of musicals, which includes the works of Broadway icons Rodgers & Hammerstein.

Lopez, along with partners Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas and Benny Medina, will executive produce for Nuyorican Productions with an option to star in at least one of the projects.

“Musicals were a part of the tapestry of my childhood. We’re so excited to begin our association with Skydance and Concord in reinterpreting some of the most classic musicals and bringing them to life in new ways for a new generation,” said J.Lo.

“Jennifer Lopez is an international icon in every sense of the word, and we are thrilled to expand our relationship with Concord to partner with such a creative powerhouse,” said Bill Bost, President, Skydance Television. “Skydance aims to create stories that appeal to audiences around the globe, and Jennifer is the perfect partner to reimagine these beloved, classic musicals for a twenty-first century audience.”

“It is an honor to join forces with Jennifer Lopez and Nuyorican, while broadening our partnership with Skydance,” said Sophia Dilley, SVP, Film & TV Development and Production, Concord. “We are excited to collaborate with this impressive team as we continue to champion creative opportunities for the authors and works we represent, together with the copyrights we own.”

This deal expands Skydance Television’s previously announced partnership with Concord, which includes co-developing the first-ever television series based on one of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s hit musicals, a modern-day adaptation of Oklahoma! from John Lee Hancock and Bekah Brunstetter.

Jennifer Lopez to Star in Netflix’s Sci-Fi Thriller “Atlas”

Posted on June 15, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Jennifer Lopez will be fighting to save the world…

The 51-year-old Puerto Rican superstar will star in and produce the Netflix sci-fi thriller Atlas.

The film will be directed by Brad Peyton, with Aron Eli Coleite is writing the most recent draft of the script based off Leo Sardarian’s original script.

Joby Harold and Tory Tunnell will produce for Safehouse Pictures along with Peyton and Jeff Fierson for ASAP Entertainment, as well as Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas and Benny Medina joining Lopez to produce through Nuyorican Productions.

The film follows Atlas, a woman fighting for humanity in a future where an AI soldier has determined the only way to end war is to end humanity. To outthink this rogue AI, Atlas must work with the one thing she fears most — another AI.

“I’m so honored to be working with Jennifer, Elaine and the rest of the team at Nuyorican Productions along with our partners Joby and Tory at Safehouse,” Peyton said. “Having the chance to direct Jennifer in the title role of this movie is a dream come true, as I know she’ll bring the incredible strength, depth and authenticity we’ve all come to admire from her work. Furthermore, Jeff and I are so excited to be back working with Scott, Ori and the entire team at Netflix. They have been nothing short of amazing to work with and we are blessed to have the opportunity to make another movie on the service.”

The film falls under the newly announced creative partnership between Lopez’s Nuyorican Productions and Netflix where Lopez, producing partner Goldsmith-Thomas and longtime manager Medina will produce a slate of films, television series, scripted and unscripted content, with an emphasis on projects that support diverse female actors, writers and filmmakers.

The first two announced projects both starring Lopez include The Mother, which is directed by Niki Carpo, and The Cipher, based on the novel by Isabella Maldonado.

Lopez can be seen next in the Universal rom com Marry Me opposite Owen Wilson and also has the Lionsgate action comedy Shotgun Wedding. Both films come out in 2022.

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