Keyla Monterroso Mejia to Star Opposite Keke Palmer & Sza in TriStar’s Untitled Buddy Comedy

Posted on July 29, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Keyla Monterroso Mejia has found her buddies…

The 26-year-old Guatemalan & Mexican American has joined the cast of TriStar’s untitled buddy comedy starring Keke Palmer and four-time Grammy-winning musician Sza.

Monterroso Mejia is among a roster of new cast additions that includes Lil Rel Howery, Janelle James, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Maude Apatow and Katt Williams.

Joshua Neal, Aziza Scott and Patrick Cage will also star.

The logline is being kept under wraps.

Lawrence Lamont is directing with the screenplay written by Syreeta Singleton.

The project came together from the CoCre lab at Sony Pictures, a previous pact between ColorCreative and Sony to source and incubate emerging, diverse screenwriters to develop and write their first studio feature based on original ideas.

Monterroso Mejia is best known for her character Maria Sofia Estrada on Season 11 of HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Upcoming, Monterroso Mejia will star opposite Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon in You’re Cordially Invited for Amazon, written and directed by Nick Stoller.

She’ll star opposite Seth Rogen in The Studio, Apple TV+’s upcoming comedy series from Rogen’s Point Grey, and will also appear in Mindy Kaling’s pro basketball comedy series Running Point for Netflix.

Keyla Monterroso Mejia to Star in Mindy Kaling’s Untitled Comedy Series for Netflix

Posted on February 21, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Keyla Monterroso Mejia is answering the Kal(ing)…

The 25-year-old Guatemalan & Mexican American actress and Curb Your Enthusiasm scene-stealer will star in Mindy Kaling‘s Netflix comedy series, set in the world of pro basketball, lead by Kate Hudson.

Monterroso Mejia is among a roster of cast newcomers that includes Fabrizio Guido, Toby Sandeman, Chet Hanks and Roberto Sanchez, who previously starred in Queen of the South.

In addition to Hudson, they join previously announced cast members Brenda Song, Drew Tarver and.

In the as-yet untitled comedy series, when a scandal forces her brother to resign, Isla Gordon (Hudson) is appointed President of the Los Angeles Waves, one of the most storied professional basketball franchises, and her family business. Ambitious and often overlooked, Isla will have to prove to her skeptical brothers, the board, and the larger sports community that she was the right choice for the job, especially in the unpredictable, male-dominated world of sports.

Guido plays Jackie Moreno, a popcorn vendor at the stadium where the Waves play, Jackie can’t believe it when he is suddenly thrust into the inner circle of his favorite team. Now he has the opportunity to work his way up the organization from the ground floor.

Monterroso Mejia plays Ana Moreno, Jackie’s cousin who is also a personal injury attorney. Ana is smart, ambitious and always looking for an angle.

Sanchez is Stephen Ramirez, the intimidating head of the board who’s been with the Waves through generations of Gordons. He’s old-fashioned, no-nonsense, and a constant reminder of the old guard, making Isla desperate to prove she’s more than just Jack Gordon’s little daughter.

The 10-part series is written and executive-produced by Mindy Kaling, Ike Barinholtz and David Stassen, who serves as showrunner.

Guido’s television credits include the role of Mikey Gutierrez on Mr. Iglesias, a major recurring role on Perry Mason, as well as Welcome To The Family, The Night Shift and Wisdom of the Crowd.

Monterroso Mejia is perhaps best known for her absurdly hilarious role as Maria Sofia on Curb Your Enthusiasm. Her other credits include the major recurring role of Ashley on Abbott Elementary, as well as On My Block spinoff Freeridge and is in post on Amazon Studios’ Will Ferrell & Reese Witherspoon wedding comedy You’re Cordially Invited.

Sanchez will next be seen in a major recurring role on Starz’s BMF and in Apple TV+’s upcoming Palm Royale. His previous credits include Queen of the South and 2 Fast 2 Furious.

Nestor Carbonell Starring in the Indie Drama “Motherland”

Posted on November 8, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Nestor Carbonell is heading to the motherland…

The 55-year-old Cuban American actor will star in Motherland, an indie drama from MPI Original Films that entered production in New York under an interim agreement.

Carbonell, who currently stars on The Morning Show, is starring opposite Miriam Silverman, newcomer Emily Arancio and Holland Taylor.

Silverman leads the cast as Cora, who forms a protective bond with her estranged daughter Zinnia (Arancio) in an alternate present society where parents are forbidden from knowing or raising their children.

Evan Matthews is directing from a script by Nicole Swinford.

Currently starring opposite Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon on Apple TV+’s The Morning Show, which is approaching the end of its third season, Carbonell is otherwise best known for prominent roles on the popular A&E series Bates Motel and ABC’s Lost.

Also coming up for Carbonell is the FX/Hulu series Shōgun, based on the James Clavell bestseller, which premieres in February 2024.

Arancio makes her feature debut in Motherland after earning an MFA in acting from the University of Southern California.

Sara Silva to Star in “Cruel Intentions” Series, an Adaptation of 1999 Cult Film

Posted on June 2, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Sara Silva has set some new intentions…

Amazon has set the main cast for Cruel Intentions, its series adaptation of the 1999 cult film, with the Latina actress among the series regulars.

Silva, known for her work on The Boys, will be joined by Sarah Catherine Hook, Zac Burgess, Myra Molloy, Khobe Clarke, Brooke Lena Johnson, Sean Patrick Thomas and John Harlan Kim.

The series adaptation, set in Washington D.C., hails from writers Phoebe Fisher and Sara Goodman, Sony Pictures Television, Amazon Studios and Original Film.

It’s expected to air on Prime Video.

In this new incarnation of the premise, which is rooted in the novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses by Choderlos de Laclos, two ruthless step-siblings will do anything to stay on top. In this case, of the Greek life hierarchy at an elite Washington, D.C. college. After a brutal hazing incident threatens the entire Panhellenic system, they’ll do whatever’s necessary to preserve their power and reputations — even seduce the daughter of the Vice President of the United States.

Hook will play Caroline Merteuil, the queen of everything – or at least the queen of Delta Phi. Burgess is Lucien, Caroline’s stepbrother. Molloy portrays Annie, a model student and respectable young woman, who also is the daughter of the Vice President of the U.S. Silva portrays Cece, Caroline’s right hand at Delta Phi. Kim plays Blaise, a senior member of Alpha Gamma who knows everything about everyone and will happily use that knowledge to his advantage. Clarke portrays Scott, the son of a congressman and a new recruit for Alpha Gamma. Johnson plays Beatrice, a reporter for the school paper and leader of the anti-Greek movement at the university. Thomas plays Professor Chadwick.

Also set for recurring roles are Laura Benanti as Claudia and John Tenney as Congressman Russell.

Fisher is writing the pilot with Goodman supervising. The duo will write the series together.

The 1999 film, written and directed by Roger Kumble, starred Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, Reese Witherspoon, and Selma Blair. The film is a modern retelling of Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’ 1782 novel Les Liaisons dangereuses, set in New York City among rich high schoolers. It was followed by a prequel in 2000 and sequel in 2004, as well as a jukebox musical in 2015.

Keyla Monterroso Mejia to Star in Amazon’s Wedding Comedy “You’re Cordially Invited”

Posted on May 1, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Keyla Monterroso Mejia has officially made the list…

The 25-year-old Guatemalan & Mexican American actress has joined the cast of Amazon’s Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon wedding comedy, You’re Cordially Invited.

Mejia is among a list of new cast additions that includes Celia Weston, Jimmy Tatro and Leanne Morgan, with Nick Stoller directing the film, which he wrote.

In the film, a woman (Witherspoon) who is planning her sister’s (Meredith Hagner) perfect wedding and the father (Ferrell) of a young bride-to-be (Geraldine Viswanathan) discover that they are double-booked for their destination wedding at a remote resort on an island off the Georgia coast. When both parties decide to share the small venue, chaos ensues and disaster awaits.

Mejia has made a name for herself with her scene-stealing appearances on HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm and Abbott Elementary.

She currently stars in the Netflix comedy series Freeridge, and can next be seen in Suncoast starring Woody Harrelson and Laura Linney.

Her past roles include Growing Fangs, HBO Max’s The 90 Day Plan, #Whitina, Lo Que Construimos, and Aguanta.

Sofia Vergara to Co-Host This Year’s “Stand Up to Cancer” Special

Posted on August 4, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Sofia Vergara is taking a stand…

The 49-year-old Colombian actress and former Modern Family star will serve as a co-host for this year’s the seventh biennial televised fundraising special Stand Up To Cancer.

Vergara will co-host the event alongside Anthony Anderson, Ken Jeong & Tran Ho.

Set to air Saturday, August 21 at 8:00 pm ET, this year’s Stand Up To Cancer event will be broadcast from Los Angeles and air simultaneously on more than 60 participating media platforms across the United States and Canada.

The telecast will also be available to stream live and on-demand on several streaming platforms.

The event, co-executive produced by Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth, will see performances by Common, Brittany Howard and more artists that will be announced at a later date.

Stand Up To Cancer seeks to raise funds to support research and new treatments of cancer, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, which has affected nearly every aspect of cancer care and research.

The live-event is produced by Done + Dusted and Stand Up To Cancer’s production team.

Jonathan Del Arco to Appear on Netflix’s limited series “From Scratch”

Posted on May 5, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Jonathan Del Arco is starting from scratch…

The 55-year-old Uruguayan American actor has joined the cast of Netflix’s limited series From Scratch.

Del Arco joins a roster of cast newcomers that includes Terrell Carter, Medalion Rahimi, Peter Mendoza, Lorenzo Pozzan and Jonathan D. King.

The crew of actors, who will recur in the project form Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine and Zoe Saldana’s Cinestar banners, join previously announced cast members Saldana, Eugenio Mastrandrea, Danielle Deadwyler, Keith David, Kellita Smith, Judith Scott, Lucia Sardo, Paride Benassai and Roberta Rigano.

Rodney Gardiner, Giacomo Gianniotti, Elizabeth Anweis and Kassandra Clementi will guest star throughout the limited series based on Tembi Locke’s 2019 bestselling memoir.

Adapted by Locke’s sister Attica Locke, who serves as showrunner, From Scratch is the story of an African American woman who falls in love with a Sicilian chef while studying abroad in Florence and goes on to build a life with him in Los Angeles, merging two seemingly opposite cultures. When they are faced with his unexpected cancer diagnosis, Amy becomes her husband’s caregiver and the person who brings their two very different families together, creating a new, blended family for her and her daughter after he dies.

Del Arco plays David, a warm and friendly art professor, who is also Amy and Lino’s (Mastrandrea) landlord.

Del Arco’s previous credits include his roles as Hugh the Borg in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Picard, and as medical examiner Dr. Morales in The Closer and Major Crimes.

Mendoza plays Andreas, Lino’s co-worker, who looks after newcomer, and is happy to welcome him to the neighborhood sports bar where their fellow immigrants hang out.

His previous credits include Nathan’s Kingdom, Dead Bullet and Ana Maria in Novella Land.

Rita Moreno Among the “Cast” for This Year’s Academy Awards Show

Posted on April 12, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Rita Moreno has a special date with Oscar…

The producers of this year’s 93rd annual Academy Awards have cast an ensemble of 15 stars to handle all the presenting duties, including the 89-year-old Puerto Rican actress, singer and dancer.

Moreno, one of the few artists to have won all four major annual American entertainment awards: an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony Award, is part of a “cast” that includes last year’s Oscar winners Joaquin Phoenix, Renee Zellweger, Brad Pitt and Laura Dern.

It’s part of the producers’ pledge to do the entire broadcast as if it were a movie itself.

Last year’s Best Director winner, Bong Joon Ho, who made four trips to the stage for Parasite, is also part of this ensemble, presumably to present Best Director.

Other names announced — in alphabetical order — are Angela Bassett, Halle Berry, Don Cheadle, Bryan Cranston, Harrison Ford, Regina King, Marlee Matlin, Reese Witherspoon and Zendaya.

“In keeping with our awards-show-as-a-movie approach, we’ve assembled a truly stellar cast of stars,” said producers Jesse Collins, Stacey Sher and Steven Soderbergh. “There’s so much wattage here, sunglasses may be required.”

This idea of having a set group of presenters rotating in and out of the show is not new. When producer Gower Champion reimagined the 1969 Oscar show, he created what they called “Friends of Oscar,” with 10 stars exclusively serving as presenters (and no host). The format was then repeated successfully the next year, and has been tweaked occasionally over the decades — including for the innovative 2009 show produced by Bill Condon and Laurence Mark, which used combinations of five past winners each to present the acting awards.

Additional talent joining the April 25 live broadcast on ABC will be announced later.

Bobby Cannavale Joins Voice Cast of Illumination/Universal Pictures’ Animated Film “Sing 2”

Posted on December 23, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Bobby Cannavale is getting musical…

The 50-year-old half-Cuban American Emmy-winning actor has joined the voice cast of Sing 2, the Illumination/Universal Pictures sequel to the 2016 animated hit.

Cannavale is among a roster of cast newcomers that includes U2 lead singer Bono, Pharrell Williams, Halsey, Letitia Wright, Eric Andre and Chelsea Peretti.

Reprising stars include Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johannsson, Taron Egerton, Tori Kelly and Nick Kroll.

The film will be ready for theatrical holiday release a year from now.

“Sing 2 transcends the animation genre, immersing audiences in a fully realized world populated by complex characters, each with bold aspirations and relatable challenges,” said Illumination founder/CEO Chris Meledandri. “We are thrilled that the Sing franchise attracts such exceptional talent, and we are delighted to announce this extraordinary cast. The film is a musical celebration of the unrelenting pursuit of one’s dreams, no matter how large the challenges that stand in your way. At its core this movie speaks to the power of optimism and belief.”

In Sing 2, Buster Moon (McConaughey) and his cast of underdogs push their talents beyond their local theater, hoping for a shot to perform at the most prestigious venue in the entertainment capital of the world: The Crystal Tower Theater. To do that, though, they’ll first have to impress the powerful and egotistical entertainment mogul—and likely gangster—wolf Jimmy Crystal (Cannavale) and prove that they are worthy of his stage. Crystal will let them perform, on condition Buster convince the world’s most reclusive rock legend, lion Clay Calloway (Bono) out of self-imposed seclusion after the death of his wife and persuade him to perform in the show.

Williams plays Alfonso, an elephant ice-cream-truck owner who becomes the first crush of shy elephant Meena (Kelly). Halsey voices Jimmy Crystal’s teenage daughter, Porsche; Wright plays a streetwise feline dancer who helps earnest gorilla Johnny (Egerton) regain his confidence while learning his choreography; Andre plays a self-important yak; and Peretti voices Jimmy Crystal’s haughty canine assistant and talent scout. Witherspoon returns as harried mother pig, Rosita; Johansson reprises as rocker porcupine Ash and Kroll returns as the pig artiste, Gunter.

The film is written and directed by Garth Jennings.

Anthony Lee Medina to Star in Season 2 of Apple TV+’s Drama Series “Truth Be Told”

Posted on November 18, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Anthony Lee Medina will be sharing his Truth with the world…

The Latino actor has joined the ensemble cast for season 2 of the Apple TV drama series Truth Be Told.

Medina joins a roster of new cast additions that includes Merle Dandridge, Jason O’Mara, Alona Tal, David Lyons, Christopher Backus, Cranston Johnson, Hale Appleman and Mychala Lee (The Inheritance, Relish) will star alongside Kate Hudson and Octavia Spencer in the second season of the NAACP Image Award-winning series.

Created by Nichelle Tramble Spellman and produced by Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine, Chernin Entertainment and Endeavor Content, Truth Be Told is a quasi-anthology series in the vein of USA drama The Sinner and NBC comedy Trial & Error where there is a central protagonist(s) that carries over as each season focuses on a new story with new characters.

Season 2, provides a glimpse into America’s obsession with true crime podcasts.

Medina will portray Ramon, a personal assistant.

Medina’s previous credits include Hamilton and The First Purge.

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