Benicio del Toro to Voice Swiper in Paramount Pictures’ “Dora the Explorer” Film

Posted on December 16, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Benicio del Toro is taking a big swipe…

The 51-year-old Puerto Rican actor and Oscar winner will voice the villainous fox Swiper in Paramount Pictures’ Dora the Explorer film.

The film has finished shooting in Australia, but del Toro will provide the voice-over to the fox who always tries to undermine the young explorer.

On the animated series, Dora is known to wave Swiper away from his thieving activities by getting the television audience at home to scream “Swiper no swiping.”

The movie follows a high school-bound Dora leading her friends and her sidekick Boots the monkey on a Goonies-type adventure to save her parents and solve the mystery behind a lostIncacivilization.

Isabela Moner from Instant Family stars alongside Michael Pena and Eva Longoria as her parents, as well as Eugenio Derbez, Adriana Barraza, Q’orianka Kilcher and Temuera Morrison.

del Toro’s previous credits include Traffic, Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Sicario.

James Bobin directs the feature live-action take of the classic Nickelodeon cartoon series.

The film hits theaters on August 2, 2019.

Viacom Confirms Sequel of Noah Centineo’s Netflix Hit “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before”

Posted on December 4, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Could there be more Loved in Noah Centineo’s future?

Viacom has confirmed a sequel to the popular Netflix young-adult literary adaptation of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, starring the 22-year-old part-Latino actor and Lana Condor.

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before 2 would be the first title in Paramount Pictures’ multi-picture deal with the streaming giant.

The sequel had been reportedly in the works since early fall, though Jenny Han, who wrote the bestselling To All the Boys books had recently said there was no definitive green light.

AwesomenessTV, acquired by Viacom earlier this year, produced the original and will do likewise for the sequel, which Viacom’s leaders say “might have a sexier title over time.”

Netflix research reportedly shows the original film “is one of the most-viewed films of all time on the platform.” Its success with a cast filled with Asian actors mirrored that of Crazy Rich Asians on the big screen. Condorand creator Han had both recently indicated strong interest in doing a sequel.

No word if Centineo, who portrayed Condor’s love interest Peter Kavinsky in the film, will return for the sequel. But at the end of the film, Centineo’s character had cemented his boyfriend status with Condor’s character. So let’s see…

Salma Hayek to Star in the Comedy “Limited Partners”

Posted on September 29, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

There’s a new partnership in Salma Hayek’s future…

The 52-year-old Mexican actress will star alongside Tiffany Haddish and Rose Byrne in Limited Partners, the Paramount Pictures comedy that Miguel Arteta will direct from a script by Sam Pitman and Adam Cole-Kelly.

Haddish and Byrne play two hard-charging best girlfriends who build a juggernaut company and find their relationship tested when they are made a big buyout offer. Suddenly all the differences that made them the perfect odd-couple partners put them at war, threatening their business and personal relationships.

Hayek plays the executive who makes the buyout offer, and becomes the corporate puppet master pulling the strings in creating acrimony among the partners. That drives the duo into a display of a one-upsmanship fued that gives the comedy shades of Superbad meets Bridesmaids.

It’s a reteaming for Hayek with Arteta, who directed her in the critically acclaimed film Beatriz at Dinner, which earned her an Independent Spirit Awards nomination for Best Female Lead.

Production begins in October.

Hayek, who earned an Academy Award nomination for her starring role in Frida, recently starred in The Hummingbird Project and will reprise her role in The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, the sequel to The Hitman’s Bodyguard.

Miguel Arteta to Direct Tiffany Haddish in The Comedy “Limited Partners”

Posted on July 10, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Miguel Arteta is feeling Limited…

The 53-year-old Peruvian and Spanish director is set to direct Tiffany Haddish in the Paramount Pictures comedy Limited Partners.

Written by Sam Pitman and Adam Cole-Kelly, the film is described as a friendship comedy about two hard charging best girlfriends who build a juggernaut company, and find their relationships tested when they are made a big buyout offer. Suddenly all the differences that made them perfect odd couple partners put them at war, threatening their business and personal relationships.

Production is set to begin in October.

Arteta’s film credits include The Good Girl, Beatriz at Dinner and Cedar Rapids,

John Ortiz to Star in Netflix’s Drama Series “Messiah”

Posted on January 30, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

John Ortiz has landed the king of all projects…

The 49-year-old Puerto Rican actor has joined the cast of Netflix’s drama series Messiah, from writer Michael Petroni and producers Mark Burnett and Roma Downey.

Created by Petroni, the 10-episode Messiah explores the lines among religion, faith and politics. It chronicles the modern world’s reaction to a man who first appears in the Middle East creating a groundswell of followers around him claiming he is the Messiah. Is he sent from God or is he a dangerous fraud bent on dismantling the world’s geopolitical order? The story unfolds from multiple points of view, including a young CIA agent, an Israeli Shin Bet officer, a Latino preacher and his Texan daughter, a Palestinian refugee and the media, among others.

Ortiz plays Felix, smart, humble and unassuming on the outside. Though blessed with a strong faith and a loving family, Felix struggles with his lot in life leading a tiny, uninspired congregation in a border town in Texas where he assumes he will live out the rest of his days. Felix’s life is about to change as he gets swept up into Al-Massih’s world. With growing power comes corruption and Felix must choose between remaining true to himself or going down a darker path.

Ortiz will next be seen on the big screen alongside Hailee Steinfeld and Jon Cena in Paramount Pictures’ Transformers spinoff Bumblebee and in a co-starring role in revenge thriller Peppermint opposite Jennifer Garner.

John Ortiz to Star in Transformers Spinoff “Bumblebee”

Posted on October 27, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

John Ortiz is transforming his resume…

The 49-year-old Puerto Rican actor is set to star opposite Hailee Steinfeld and Jon Cena in Paramount Pictures’ Bumblebee, the first spinoff of the Transformers franchise.

It’s set in 1987, where Bumblebee, who is refuged in a junkyard, is discovered and revived by Charlie (Steinfeld) who, on the cusp of turning 18, is trying to find her place in the world.

The blockbuster film, which will open in theaters on December 21, 2018, has Travis Knight directing from a script by Christina Hodson.

Lorenzo Di Bonaventura, Michael Bay and Steven Spielberg are producing with Hasbro’s Brian Goldner and Stephen Davis.

Ortiz’s upcoming film slate includes Paramount’s God Particle, produced by JJ Abrams and starring David Oyelowo, Replicas opposite Keanu Reeves, and Nostalgia with Jon Hamm.

Ortiz Lands Recurring Role on USA Network’s Drama Series “Shooter”

Posted on April 28, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Jaina Lee Ortiz has landed a new role…

The 30-year-old Latina actress has landed a recurring role opposite Ryan Phillippe on the second season of USA Network’s breakout drama series Shooter.

Based on the best-selling novels by Stephen Hunter and the 2007 Paramount Pictures film starring Mark Wahlberg, Season 2 follows the journey of Bob Lee Swagger (Phillippe), a highly decorated veteran who must confront a nemesis from his past in order to return to a life of normalcy.

Ortiz will play Angela Tio, a Marine and part of Bob Lee’s former unit. Tio holds her own with the guys and is one of the few people who knows Bob Lee well enough to keep him grounded.

Ortiz can currently be seen starring opposite Morris Chestnut in the second season of Rosewood. She previously played one of the lead roles in Amazon pilot The After and also starred in indie features Misfire and Laid Out.

Shooter Season 2 premieres July 18 on USA Network.

Ambrosio to Star in Paramount Pictures’ “Daddy’s Home 2”

Posted on March 30, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Alessandra Ambrosio is returning Home…

Following a cameo appearance in the 2015 comedy Daddy’s Home, the 35-year-old Brazilian supermodel and Victoria’s Secret Angel is set to return in a more prominent role for Paramount Pictures’ upcoming Daddy’s Home 2.

The film will see Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell reprising their roles, as well as new additions Mel Gibson and John Lithgow.

In the sequel, father and stepfather, Dusty (Wahlberg) and Brad (Ferrell), are now working together to give their kids a perfect Christmas, however, upon the arrival of Dusty’s dad (Gibson) and Brad’s dad (Lithgow), their blended family conflicts rise to the surface.

Sean Anders is directing a script he wrote with John Morris.

Ambrosio most recently appeared in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows.

Leto to Make His Feature-Length Scripted Directorial Debut with Paramount Pictures’ “77”

Posted on February 16, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Jared Leto is about to accomplish a new career first…

The 45-year-old part-Spanish American actor/singer is set to direct Wolf Films’ period thriller 77 for Paramount Pictures. The film marks his feature-length scripted directorial debut.

Set in politically charged 1974 Los Angeles, the story centers on two police officers who team up to recover kidnapped heiress Patty Hearst, while simultaneously investigating the brutal murder of a fellow officer. They uncover not only relentless corruption and crime, but a dark and violent conspiracy as well.

David Matthews penned the script from an original screenplay by L.A. Confidential author James Ellroy.

The film will be produced by writer/producer Dick Wolf and Tony Ganz of Wolf Films. Leto also is producing.

Leto’s directing credits include the documentary Artifact, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2012; the documentary short Great Wide Open; and the documentary series Into the Wild and Beyond the Horizon.

As an actor, he won a Supporting Oscar for 2013’s Dallas Buyers Club, played the Joker in last year’s Suicide Squad and next appears in Blade Runner 2049.

Hernandez to Write Paramount Pictures’ “The Villas,” Inspired by Neil Simon’s “Plaza Suite”

Posted on February 4, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Dan Hernandez is livin’ the suite life…

Paramount Pictures has selected the Cuban American writer and Benji Samit to pen The Villas.

The project, produced by Atlas Entertainment, is loosely inspired by Neil Simon’s play and 1971 film Plaza Suite.

Similarly, the film centers on several relationship stories all taking place in a hotel. This time, though, the location is a group of neighboring high-roller villas in Las Vegas, similar to The Mansion at the MGM Grand.

Hernandez and Samit recently wrote and produced on the first season of Netflix’s One Day At A Time, and are currently writing on the ABC/Sony Television pilot Come Together.

The scribes started writing together as undergraduates at Brown University.

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