Tag Archives: Orange is the New Black

Dascha Polanco to Appear on Season Two of “The Walking Dead: Dead City”

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Dascha Polanco has entered a Dead zone…

The 41-year-old Dominican actress and Orange Is the New Black and Poker Face star is among four new actors joining the action for season two of The Walking Dead: Dead City in 2025.

Dascha PolancoExecutive producer Eli Jorné revealed the cast additions at the AMC show’s Hall H panel on Friday at San Diego Comic-Con.

In addition to Polamco, who will portray Major Lucia Narvaez, new cast additions include Keir Gilchrist, Jake Weary and Pooya Mohseni.

The Walking Dead: Dead City follows Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) as they travel into a post-apocalyptic Manhattan, long ago cut off from the mainland. The crumbling city is filled with the dead and denizens who have made New York City their own world full of anarchy, danger, beauty, and terror. In season two, in the growing war for control of Manhattan, Maggie and Negan find themselves trapped on opposite sides. As their paths intertwine, they come to see that the way out for both is more complicated and harrowing than they ever imagined.

Josh Segarra Joins Cast of Netflix’s Dark Comedy Series “Sirens”

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Josh Segarra can’t resist the siren call…

The 38-year-old Puerto Rican actor has joined the cast of Netflix’s dark comedy series Sirens.

Josh SegarraSegarra is among a roster of new cast additions that includes Felix Solis, Trevor Salter, Britne Oldford, Lauren Weedman, Jenn Lyon, Erin Neufer and Emily Borromeo.

They join the previously announced cast of Julianne Moore, Meghann Fahy, Milly Alcock, Glenn Howerton and Kevin Bacon.

Production is currently underway in New York.

From creator and showrunner Molly Smith Metzler and based on her play Elemeno Pea, Sirens follows Devon (Fahy), who thinks her sister Simone (Alcock) has a really creepy relationship with her new boss, the enigmatic socialite Michaela Kell (Moore). Michaela’s cult-ish life of luxury is like a drug to Simone and Devon has decided it’s time for an intervention. When Devon tracks her sister down to say WTF, she has no idea what a formidable opponent Michaela will be. The show is told throughout one explosive weekend at The Kells’ lavish beach estate.

Segarra plays Raymond, the proud manager of a restaurant franchise in Buffalo. He’s been Devon’s long-time, on-and-off, toxic boyfriend.

Solis plays Jose, who plays the role of a humble gardener but he’s actually the overall manager of The Cliff House, the head of security, the puppet master of the estate’s vast surveillance system and Peter Kell’s right-hand man.

Metzler executive produces for Quiet Coyote under her deal with Netflix.

Nicole Kassell is the executive producer and director.

Segarra’s previous credits include Abbott Elementary, Scream 6, The Other Two, AJ and the Queen, Orange Is the New Black and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.

Solis’ previous credits include New York Undercover, NYPD Blue, Third Watch and the film Empire.

Olga Merediz to Star in A24’s Rom-Com “Eternity”

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Olga Merediz isn’t waiting an eternity to lock in her next project.

The 68-year-old Cuban actress and singer has joined the cast alongside John Early of A24’s Eternity.

Olga MeredizThe romantic comedy, in which people must decide who they want to spend eternity with, also stars Miles Teller, Elizabeth Olsen, Callum Turner and Da’Vine Joy Randolph.

David Freyne is directing the movie; Pat Cunnane wrote the script, which appeared on the 2022 Black List.

A24 is financing and distributing the rom-com, as well as producing with Star Thrower Entertainment and its founders Trevor White and Tim White. The film is currently in production.

Merediz is best known for originating the role of Abuela Claudia in the Broadway musical In the Heights. She was nominated for a Tony Award for her performance, and she reprised the role in Jon M. Chu’s film adaptation.

Merediz also voiced a role in Disney’s animated musical hit Encanto, and her television credits include Orange Is the New Black and Shades of Blue.

Apple TV+ Releases Trailer for Second Season of Josh Segarra-Starrer “The Big Door Prize”

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Josh Segarra is back at the door…

Apple TV+ has released the trailer for the second season of The Big Door Prize, the critically acclaimed and character-driven comedy starring the 37-year-old Puerto Rican actor.

Josh Segarra

From Emmy-winning creator David West Read, the 10-episode second season will premiere globally on Apple TV+ on Wednesday, April 24, with three episodes, followed by one new episode every Wednesday through June 12, 2024.

Based on M.O. Walsh’s novel, season two of The Big Door Prize follows the residents of Deerfield as the Morpho machine readies them for the mysterious “next stage.” As everyone’s potentials are exchanged for visions, new relationships form and new questions are asked.

Dusty (Chris O’dowd) and Cass (Gabrielle Dennis) decide to take time apart while Trina (Djouliet Amara) and Jacob (Sammy Fourlas) learn that they can shed their old labels. Giorgio (Segarra) and Izzy (Crystal Fox) each find romance while Hana (Ally Maki) and Father Reuben (Damon Gupton) attempt to discover the purpose of the machine. The small town is once again left questioning what they thought they knew about their lives, relationships, potential and about the Morpho itself.

The Big Door Prize is produced by Skydance Television and CJ ENM/Studio Dragon.

Season two welcomes new and returning guest stars including Justine Lupe, Aaron Roman Weiner, Mary Holland, Patrick Kerr, Cocoa Brown, Carrie Barrett, Elizabeth Hunter, Jim Meskimen, Matt Dellapina and Melissa Ponzio.

Following its global debut on Apple TV+ last year, The Big Door Prize quickly rose to Rotten Tomatoes Certified Fresh status during its first season, and has been hailed as “thought-provoking,” “hilarious” and “one of the best comedy debuts in years.”

Segarra’s previous television credits include Abbott Elementary, Chicago P.D., The Other Two, AJ and the Queen, Orange Is the New Black and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.

His other theatrical credits include the musicals Lysistrata Jones and Dogfight, while his film credits include the slasher horror film Scream VI.

Isabella Ferreira Signs With Innovative Artists

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Isabella Ferreira is officially innovating…

The 20-year-old Latina actress, one of the young stars of Hulu’s teen dramedy Love, Victor, has signed with Innovative Artists for representation.

Isabella FerreiraSet in the same universe as the hit 20th Century Fox film Love, Simon, based on the novel Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli, Love, Victor wrapped up a three-season run on the streamer last summer. Created by Love, Simon scribes Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger, who also served as showrunners, the show follows the journey of Victor, a high school student coming to terms with his sexuality while navigating the ups and downs of love, family, and friendships.

Starring alongside Michael Cimino as Victor, as well as Ana Ortiz, James Martinez, Rachel Naomi Hilson and others, Ferreira played the role of Pilar, Victor’s sullen younger sister in the throws of teenage angst.

The Philadelphia native also recently starred alongside Rowan Blanchard and Auli’i Cravalho in Crush, the coming-of-age rom-com marking the directorial debut of Sammi Cohen, which was produced for Hulu by companies including American High. In the film released in April of last year, a young aspiring artist is forced to join her high school track team, using it as an opportunity to pursue the girl she’s been harboring a long-time crush on. But she soon finds herself falling for an unexpected teammate and discovers what real love feels like.

Ferreira previously appeared in Jenji Kohan’s Emmy-winning series Orange Is the New Black, as well as the pandemic-inspired anthology series Social Distance, on which Kohan was an EP, both of which were for Netflix.

She’ll next be seen starring alongside Kaitlin Olson, Bobby Cannavale, Scott MacArthur, Mason Thames and more in the upcoming Spyglass film Incoming, a comedy from filmmakers John and Dave Chernin that watches as four freshmen navigate the terrors of adolescence at their first-ever high school party.

Jackie Cruz Replaces Stephanie Beatriz in the Horror-Thriller “History of Evil”

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Jackie Cruz is embracing a new history…

The 35-year-old Dominican-American actress, singer, former model and Orange is The New Black star is replacing Stephanie Beatriz as co-lead in the horror-thriller film History of Evil, which recently wrapped production.

Jackie CruzPaul Wesley co-stars in the feature, which was pre-bought by AMC’s genre streamer Shudder for release in North America, the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.

Beatriz reportedly had to switch out before the film’s early May start due to scheduling conflicts.

Written and directed by Iranian-American filmmaker Bo Mirhosseni, the film is being produced by genre specialists XYZ Films, Under the Shadow outfit Two & Two Pictures and Jake Siegel.

In History Of Evil, a family on the run from a corrupt state takes refuge in a safe house with an evil past — a terrifying last stop on a near-future Underground Railroad.

The film is the first project under a pact between XYZ Films and Two & Two Pictures to make films from first- and second-time genre directors from under-represented demographics.

The pact is set to produce two to three pictures a year initially and was hatched as a result of XYZ Films partnering with Two & Two on Babak Anvari’s Under the Shadow, which went on to win a BAFTA for Outstanding Debut. The companies most recently collaborated on Anvari’s third feature film, I Came By, which is currently in post-production for Netflix.

Cruz is best known for starring in Netflix’s hit series Orange Is The New Black. Her recent features include the Bruce Willis actioner Midnight In The Switchgrass and the thriller Panama with Mel Gibson and Cole Hauser.

Elizabeth Rodriguez to Star Opposite Jimmy Smits in CBS’ Police Drama Pilot “East New York”

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Elizabeth Rodriguez is hittin’ the beat…

The 41-year-old Puerto Rican actress and former Orange is the New Black star will star opposite Jimmy Smits and Amanda Warren in the CBS police drama pilot East New York.

Elizabeth RodriguezCo-written by William Finkelstein and Mike Flynn and directed by Mike Robin, the project centers on Regina Haywood (Warren), the newly promoted deputy inspector of East New York, an impoverished, working-class neighborhood at the eastern edge of Brooklyn. She leads a diverse group of officers and detectives, some of whom are reluctant to deploy her creative methods of serving and protecting during the midst of social upheaval and the early seeds of gentrification.

Rodriguez will portray Crystal Morales, an intuitive detective who is not easily intimidated. She closely guards her private life, making her an object of endless speculation.

In addition to Warren and Smits, they join previously announced series regulars Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Richard Kind, Lavel Schley and Olivia Luccardi.

Warner Bros. Television is the studio.

Rodriguez played Aleida Diaz on Netflix’s Orange Is the New Black, for which she received three consecutive SAG Awards. She was a series regular on AMC’s Fear the Walking Dead, NBC’s Prime Suspect and Cinemax’s Blanco.

Rodriguez most recently completed a starring role in the feature film Allswell, which she also co-wrote and co-produced.

Bleecker Street Acquires U.S. Rights to Dramatic Thriller “892,” Starring Selenis Leyva

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Things are looking pretty Bleecker for Selenis Leyva.

Bleecker Street has acquired the U.S. distribution rights to the dramatic thriller 892, starring the 49-year-old Cuban and Dominican American actress and former Orange Is the New Black star.

Selenis Leyva

Leyva is among a cast that includes John Boyega, the late Michael Kenneth Williams, Nicole Beharie Olivia Washington, Connie Britton, London Covington and Jeffrey Donovan.

The film recently made its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in U.S. Dramatic Competition, where it won its Special Jury Award for Ensemble Cast.

Based on a true story, the feature directorial debut of Abi Damaris Corbin picks up with former U.S. Marine Brian Brown-Easley (Boyega) as his disability check from Veterans Affairs fails to materialize, watching as he finds himself on the brink of poverty. Desperate and with no other options, he walks into a Wells Fargo Bank and says, “I’ve got a bomb.” What ensues is an edge-of-your-seat narrative that reminds us of the social responsibility we have to our soldiers, our colleagues, our families as well as to strangers.

Corbin penned 892 with Kwame Kwei-Armah, who serves as artistic director for the Young Vic in London.

Salman Al-Rashid and Sam Frohman produced the film for Salmira Productions with Ashley Levinson and Kevin Turen of Little Lamb Productions and Mackenzie Fargo of Epic.

Boyega executive produced.

“We put our hearts and souls into the honest telling of Brian’s story,” said Corbin, “and it is a joy to partner with the team at Bleecker Street, knowing they are committed to do the same.”

“Abi’s depiction of Brian’s story is an absolutely essential film that we feel deserves the widest possible audience in theaters. It thrillingly delivers an important message and features an incredible performance from John Boyega in addition to the rest of the cast,” added Bleecker Street’s co-founder and CEO Andrew Karpen. “We look forward to sharing this with audiences across the country.”

Bleecker Street is planning a late-summer release in theaters nationwide.

K.D. Davila Wins Sundance Film Festival’s Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award for Dark Comedy Short “Emergency”

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K.D. Davila has a big reason to (sun)dance…

Sundance Film Festival organizers have revealed the award winners for its 2022 edition, with the Mexican-American screenwriter among the honorees.

K.D. Davila

Davila was awarded the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award for penning the dark comedy short Emergency.

The 12-minute film centers on a group of college students who must weigh the pros and cons of calling the police when faced with an unusual emergency.

Selenis Leyva was among the winners of the Special Jury Award: Ensemble Cast.

The 49-year-old Cuban and Dominican American actress and former Orange Is the New Black star won her award, alongside John Boyega, Nicole Beharie, Connie Britton, Olivia Washington, London Covington and Michael K Williams for their work in 892, the real-life thriller drama film written and directed by Abi Damaris Corbin and co-written by Kwame Kwei-Armah.

There were several Latinx winners in the World Cinema Dramatic competition…

The Grand Jury Prize went to Alejandro Loayza Grisi’s feature debut, the Bolivian film Utama.

Teresa Sánchez picked up the Special Jury Award: Acting for her work in the Mexican film Dos Estaciones. 

Zélia Duncan, Bruna Linzmeyer, Camila Rocha, Clarissa Ribeiro and Lorre Motta won the Special Jury Award: Ensemble Cast for their work in Brazil’s A wild patience has taken me here from director-writer Érica Sarmet.

Due to the recent Omicron surge, the Sundance Film Festival revealed the award winners via Twitter, with honors spread around across the diverse lineup unlike last year.

Here’s the full list of winners:

FESTIVAL FAVORITE AWARD
Navalny
Director: Daniel Roher

U.S. DRAMATIC COMPETITION

Audience Award
Cha Cha Real Smooth
Director-Writer: Cooper Raiff

Grand Jury Award
Nanny
Director-Writer: Nikyatu Jusu

Directing
Jamie Dack
Palm Trees and Power Lines

Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award
K.D. Dávila
Emergency

Special Jury Award: Ensemble Cast
John Boyega, Nicole Beharie, Selenis Leyva, Connie Britton, Olivia Washington, London Covington and Michael K Williams
892

Special Jury Award: Uncompromising Artistic Vision
Bradley Rust Gray
blood

U.S. DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION

Audience Award
Navalny
Director: Daniel Roher

Grand Jury Prize
The Exiles (U.S.)
Directors: Ben Klein, Violet Columbus

Directing
Reid Davenport
I Didn’t See You There

Jonathan Oppenheim Editing Award
Erin Casper and Jocelyne Chaput
Fire Of Love

Special Jury Award: Impact for Change
Aftershock
Directors: Paula Eiselt, Tonya Lewis Lee

Special Jury Award: Creative Vision
Descendant
Director: Margaret Brown

WORLD CINEMA DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION

Audience Award
The Territory (Brazil/Denmark/U.S.)

Grand Jury Prize
All That Breathes (India/UK)
Director: Shaunak Sen

Directing
Simon Lereng Wilmont
A House Made Of Splinters (Denmark)

Special Jury Award: Documentary Craft
The Territory (Brazil/Denmark/U.S.)
Director: Alex Pritz

Special Jury Award: Excellence In Verité Filmmaking
Midwives (Myanmar)
Director: Snow Hnin Ei Hlaing

WORLD CINEMA DRAMATIC COMPETITION

Audience Award
Girl Picture (Finland)
Director: Alli Haapasalo

Grand Jury Prize
Utama (Bolvia/Uruguay/France)
Director-Writer: Alejandro Loayza Grisi

Directing
Maryna Er Gorbach
Klondike (Ukraine/Turkey)

Special Jury Award: Innovative Spirit
Leonor Will Never Die (Philippines)
Director-Writer: Martika Ramirez Escobar

Special Jury Award: Acting
Teresa Sánchez
Dos Estaciones (Mexico)

NEXT

Audience Award
Framing Agnes (Canada/U.S.)
Director: Chase Joynt

SHORT FILMS AWARDS

Grand Jury Prize
The Headhunter’s Daughter (Philippines)
Director-Writer: Don Josephus Raphael Eblahan

Jury Award: U.S. Fiction
If I Go Will They Miss Me (U.S.)
Director-writer: Walter Thompson-Hernández

Jury Award: International Fiction
Warsha (France/Lebanon)
Director-writer: Dania Bdeir

Jury Award: Nonfiction
Displaced (Kosovo)
Director-writer: Samir Karahoda

Jury Award: Animation
Night Bus (Taiwan)
Director-writer: Joe Hsieh

Special Jury Award: Ensemble Cast
Zélia Duncan, Bruna Linzmeyer, Camila Rocha, Clarissa Ribeiro and Lorre Motta
A wild patience has taken me here (Brazil)
Director-writer: Érica Sarmet

Special Jury Award: Screenwriting
Sara Driver
Stranger Than Rotterdam with Sara Driver (U.S.)
Directors: Lewie Kloster, Noah Kloster; Writer: Sara Driver

Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize
After Yang

Sundance Institute | Amazon Studios Producers Award for Nonfiction
Su Kim, Free Chol Soo Lee (U.S. Documentary Competition)

Sundance Institute | Amazon Studios Producers Award for Fiction
Amanda Marshall, God’s Country (Premieres)

Sundance Institute | Adobe Mentorship Award for Editing Nonfiction
Toby Shimin

Sundance Institute | Adobe Mentorship Award for Editing Fiction
Dody Dorn

Sundance Institute | NHK Award
Hasan Hadi, The President’s Cake