Raini Rodriquez to Star in the Holiday Film “Rekindling Christmas”

Posted on December 24, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a special Christmas for Raini Rodriquez…

The 26-year-old Mexican actress is set to star in the upcoming holiday film Rekindling Christmas, alongside Ashley Atwood and Christian Ganiere.

The feature comes from Rio Vista Universal and is set to begin filming next month in Bryan, Texas.

Best-selling author and screenwriter Rebekah R. Ganierewrote the screenplay based on her romance novel of the same name.

Her husband, James Ganiere, is producing and directing the film.

Rodriquez has been cast as Carrie in the film.

Her previous film credits include Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2, Girl in Progress and Prom.

Daniella Alonso to Replace Ana Brenda Contreras on the CW’s “Dynasty” Reboot

Posted on July 30, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Daniella Alonso is part of a dramatic dynasty…

The CW’s has recast the role of Cristal Jennings in its Dynasty reboot with the 40-year-old half-Puerto Rican and part-Peruvian actress.

Ana Brenda Contreras — who played Cristal in Season 2 — is leaving, and Alonso is now poised to step into her stilettos.

“Unfortunately, Ana Brenda Contreras will not be returning for the third season of Dynasty due to personal reasons,” executive producer/showrunner Josh Reims said. “We’d like to thank her for her contributions to the show and wish her all the best. We’re excited to welcome Daniella Alonso who will step into the role of Cristal.”

Alonso’s previous credits include Revolution, The Night Shift, The Resident, Criminal Minds, Animal Kingdom, Being Mary Jane, and the film Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2.

Dynasty has gone through a series of casting changes over the past two seasons. One of the original leads, Nathalie Kelley, departed at the end of Season 1. In addition, Elizabeth Gilliestook over the role of Alexis from Nicollette Sheridan.

Season 3 of Dynasty is set to premiere on Friday, October 11 at 9:00 pm ET.

Alonso to Star in TNT’s Drama Pilot “Animal Kingdom”

Posted on August 24, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Daniella Alonso is expanding her kingdom…

The 36-year-old Puerto Rican and Peruvian-American actress has landed a series regular role opposite Scott Speedman in TNT’s drama pilot Animal Kingdom.

The pilot centers on 17-year-old Joshua “J” Cody (Finn Cole), who moves in with his wild, freewheeling grandmother (Ellen Barkin) and uncles in their Southern California beach town after his mother overdoses.

He is pulled into their life of indulgence and excess and soon discovers that it’s all being funded by the bank robberies they commit.

Alonso, who starred on NBC’s sci-fi series Revolution, will portray Catherine, Baz’s (Speedman) de facto wife, and the mother of their 3-year- old daughter, Lena.

She most recently starred on the big screen opposite Kevin James in Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2.

The As the World Turns alum’s television credits include The Night Shift, Covert Affairs and Private Practice.

Trailer Released for Kevin James’ “Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2,” Co-Starring Verastegui

Posted on November 13, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Eduardo Verastegui is Wynning in his latest role…

The first official trailer has been released for Kevin James’ Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2, with the 40-year-old Mexican actor appearing in the sequel to the 2009 film.

Filmed at the Wynn Las Vegas, the film sees James’ title character pratfalling, getting hit by cars, punching old ladies and getting his clocked cleaned by a large featured beast.

This time he’s in Las Vegas for a Security Guard Expo with his teenage daughter (Raini Rodriguez) before she leaves for college. He happens upon a casino heist, and the hijinks ensue

Verastegui portrays Eduardo in the film, which also stars Daniella Alonso, David Henrie, Neal McDonough and Loni Love.

The sequel was directed by Andy Fickman from a script by James and Nick Bakay.

Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 will open in theaters on April 17.

Universal Pictures to Release Rodriguez’s “Fast & Furious 7” Next April

Posted on July 3, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Michelle Rodriguez will be getting fast and furious next Easter…

Universal Pictures has moved up the release date of Fast & Furious 7, starring the 35-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican American actress, ahead to Easter weekend.

The franchise sequel originally had an April 10 release date, but Fast & Furious 7 is now set to hit theaters on April 3.

The move gives the film an extra weekend of play before the April 17 debut of Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2.

James Wan is directing this latest installment of the blockbuster series, which again stars Vin Diesel, Paul Walker — in his last film — Dwayne Johnson, Jordana Brewster and others, including franchise rookies Jason Statham, Djimon Hounsou and Kurt Russell.

Rodriguez is set to reprise her role as Leticia “Letty” Ortiz, a role that earned her Fandango Cine’s Latino Performance of the Year at the Premios Tu Mundo in 2013.

Open Road Films to Release Verastegui’s “Little Boy” Next February

Posted on July 2, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Eduardo Verastegui will be performing the duties of a man of the cloth early next year.

Open Road Films has set a February 27, 2015 release date for Little Boy, the inspirational family film starring the 40-year-old Mexican actor-model-singer as Fr. Crispin.

Directed by Mexican filmmaker Alejandro Monteverde and executive produced by Roma Downey and Mark Burnett, the film centers on a 7-year-old boy willing to do whatever it takes to end World War II so he can bring his father home.

In addition to Versategui, the film also stars Emily Watson, Tom Wilkinson, Kevin James, Ben Chaplin, Michael Rapaport, Cary Tagawa, Ted Levine, David Henrie and Jakob Salvati.

Pepe Portillo and Monteverde wrote the script.

Open Road Films acquired the U.S. distribution rights to the film last month.

Open Road Films to Distribute “Little Boy,” Starring Verastegui,” in the U.S.

Posted on June 20, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Eduardo Verástegui‘s latest little project will be heading to American theaters…

Open Road Films has acquired the U.S. distribution rights to Little Boy, a new family film featuring the 40-year-old Mexican actor-model-singer as Fr. Crispin.

Executive produced by Roma Downey and Mark Burnett, the film stars Emily Watson and Tom Wilkinson and centers on a 7-year-old boy who is willing to do whatever it takes to end World War II and bring his father home.

In addition to Verástegui, Watson and Wilkinson, the cast also includes David Henrie, Kevin James, Ben Chaplin, Michael Rapaport, Cary Tagawa, Ted Levine and 7-year-old newcomer Jakob Salvati.

It was directed by Mexican filmmaker Alejandro Monteverde and written by Pepe Portillo and Monteverde.

“Little Boy is a truly uplifting movie that resonates with family audiences, and we are thrilled to add it to our slate,” Open Road CEO Tom Ortenberg said as he made the announcement with Burnett.

Verastegui, who will soon appear in Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2, earned a Grace Award in 2008 for Most Inspirational Movie Acting for his role in the critically acclaimed film Bella.

Alonso to Star Opposite Kevin James in “Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2”

Posted on April 9, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Daniella Alonso is about to find her love match on the big screen…

The 34-year-old half-Puerto Rican and part-Peruvian actress has been cast as Kevin James’ love interest in Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2, according to TheWrap.

The Andy Fickman-directed sequel finds Blart attending a Security Guard Expo in Las Vegas, where he takes on a group of dangerous art thieves.

Alonso will portray Divina Martinez, the general manager of the Wynn Hotel, who is completely perplexed when Blart presumes that she’s hitting on him. Flustered yet determined to clarify the situation, she reaches out to Blart several times, only to reinforce his original theory.

In addition to James and Alonso, Eduardo Verastegui, Selena Gomez’s Wizards of Waverly Place co-star David Henrie and Raini Rodriguez.

Alonso, who next stars on NBC‘s upcoming summer series The Night Shift, recently played fan favorite Nora Clayton on the network’s hit series Revolution.

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.

Hispanically Yours

Celebrating the Latino Influence

Tag Archives: Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2