Vertigo Releasing Acquires “Your Monster,” Starring Melissa Barrera

Posted on June 21, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Melissa Barrera’s monster hit is going global…

Vertigo Releasing has acquired Your Monster, starring the 33-year-old Mexican actress, from Bankside Films.

The debut feature from writer-director Caroline Lindy blends romantic musical elements with comedy-horror.

In addition to Barrera, the film also stars Meghann Fahy, Tommy Dewey, Kayla Foster and Edmund Donovan.

The story centers on Laura (Barrera), an actress who, after battling illness and a breakup, returns to her childhood home. There, she discovers a monster (Dewey) living in her closet. As they bond, the monster helps Laura confront her ex and reclaim a promised Broadway role. Their relationship evolves as Laura rediscovers her voice and embraces her inner strength.

Your Monster premiered in the Midnight section at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year and won the Audience Favorite Award at the festival’s London edition.

Vertigo Releasing will distribute the film in the U.K. and Ireland in the fall.

Vertigo head of acquisitions and business development, Ed Caffrey, said: “We fell in love with Your Monster during Sundance so it was very exciting to see the Sundance London audience connect so strongly with the film. We can’t wait to bring it to U.K. cinemas.”

Your Monster is a Bombo and Merman Films production, in association with Gentile Entertainment Group, with international sales represented by Bankside Films.

Barrera’s previous credits include Abigail, Carmen and Scream 6.

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

Posted on April 4, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

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.

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.

Jennifer Lopez is Most Searched Latina Actress on Roku

Posted on December 20, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Jennifer Lopez is popular on Roku…

The streaming network has released its list of the top-searched movies, television series, actors and actresses in 2023 on its devices — compiled from more than 1.2 billion total searches in the U.S., with the 54-year-old Puerto Rican superstar the most searched Latinx actress.

Lopez comes in at No. 4 on the list of Top-Searched Actresses behind Melissa McCarthy, Sandra Bullock and Julia Roberts.

J.Lo most recently starred in Netflix’s action/thriller The Mother and Amazon Prime Video’s Shotgun Wedding.

But Lopez isn’t the only Latinx artist to make the list.

Jenna Ortega comes in right behind J.Lo at No. 5.

The 21-year-old Mexican American actress starred in Scream VI this year, as well as the crime thriller drama Finestkind.

Here’s a look at Roku’s list of most-searched movies, TV shows and people:

Top-Searched Movies
The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
Avatar: The Way of Water
M3GAN
The Little Mermaid
Top Gun: Maverick
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts
The Secret Life of Pets
Twilight

Top-Searched TV Shows
Yellowstone
SpongeBob SquarePants
PAW Patrol
South Park
Bluey
The Simpsons
The Chosen
Gunsmoke
Young Sheldon
Peppa Pig

Top-Searched Actresses
Melissa McCarthy
Sandra Bullock
Julia Roberts
Jennifer Lopez
Jenna Ortega
Doris Day
Jennifer Lawrence
Jennifer Aniston
Reese Witherspoon
Anne Hathaway

Top-Searched Actors
Adam Sandler
John Wayne
Tom Hanks
Denzel Washington
Clint Eastwood
Jason Statham
Nicolas Cage
Kevin Hart
Dwayne Johnson
Tom Cruise

HanWay Films Boards Melissa Barrera’s Erotic Thriller “The One”

Posted on May 9, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Melissa Barrera’s latest project has more support…

HanWay Films has boarded The One, an erotic thriller starring the 32-year-old Mexican actress and Nicholas Hoult and will launch sales at the Cannes Film Festival.

The project comes from writer-director team Kevin Armento and Jaki Bradley and is billed as “a nightmarish horror about the romantic and psychological warfare waged by our beloved popular entertainment — and also begs the question… are we, the viewers, complicit?”

Barrera, who’s coming off box office horror hit Scream VI, leads the cast opposite Hoult.

Barrera plays Taylor, whose last-ditch effort to find love by becoming a contestant on a reality dating show begins to feel terrifyingly real as she becomes a finalist. Amidst an opulent beachfront setting, fairy-tale dates and champagne, “pursuit turns into obsession and rivalry turns into treachery as reality itself blurs.”

HanWay Films is handling worldwide sales, with WME Independent and UTA co-repping the film for North America. Hoult also produces alongside Whitaker Lader via their production company Dead Duck Films.

Riley Keough will also produce with Gina Gammell via their production company Felix Culpa.

Barrera can be seen next in Your Monster and Anthony McCarten’s The Collaboration, based on the play of the same name.

Her other credits include appearing in Carmen opposite Paul Mescal, Netflix’s Keep Breathing, All the World is Sleeping, Vida and Warner Bros. In the Heights.

Lana Condor is also starring.

“We’ve been dreaming up this project for years, and are thrilled to now bring it to life with our actual dream team,” said Armento and Bradley in a statement. “Nick, Melissa, Riley, and Lana are some of the most exciting talents around, and their passion for this film – shared by our incredible producing partners – has us even more eager to make this nightmare a reality.”

Josh Segarra Wants to Form Pro Wrestling Tag Team With Bad Bunny

Posted on April 23, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Josh Segarra is hoping to enter the wrestling ring…

The 36-year-old Puerto Rican actor says he’s ready to put his decades-long fandom of professional wrestling into practice.

The Scream VI and The Other Two actor is hoping to join other celebrities who’ve taken to the ring throughout WWE’s history, most recently including Logan Paul and Bad Bunny.

In an interview with E! Online, Segarra revealed that he’s waiting on a call from WWE.

“I’m ready. I’ve got promos I can cut right now on whoever they need me to. You want me to go face or heel? You want me to take bumps? I’ll go over the top rope in the Royal Rumble!”

He even already has a story in mind, wanting to team up with fellow celebrity wrestler Bad Bunny, saying:

“Let me tag up with my boy Bad Bunny.”

Bad Bunny is set to host the upcoming WWE Backlash event in Puerto Rico, with him likely set to wrestle on the show, teaming with Rey Mysterio against Damien Priest and Dominik Mysterio.

Segarra has long been connected to the world of wrestling himself, even supporting the corner of his Arrow co-star Stephen Amell during his match at All Elite Wrestling‘s All In in 2018.

Melissa Barrera to Star in Radio Silence’s Untitled Monster Thriller

Posted on April 15, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Melissa Barrera has reportedly landed a monster role…

The 32-year-old Mexican actress has been cast in Radio Silence’s Untitled Monster Thriller at Universal.

Radio Silence’s Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett, who directed the recent Scream films that Barrera has starred in, will helm the project with Scream producer Chad Villella serving as producer alongside William Sherak, Paul Neinstein and James Vanderbilt at Project X Entertainment.

The script was written by Stephen Shields, with revisions by Guy Busick.

Universal Monster films are rooted in the horror genre, with no restrictions on budget, rating or genre. They are not part of a shared interconnected universe, which allows each film to stand on its own. This new direction is filmmaker-driven, inviting innovative filmmakers with original, bold ideas for these characters to develop the stories and pitch them.

Radio Silence has been loosely developing the project since last year following the success of their first Scream pic, but given the success of that film, Paramount moved fast to get Scream VI up and running. While they began meeting with other talent, it became evident pretty quickly that Barrera was the perfect fit for the role following two successful shoots with the rising star and offered her the part.

Barrera is in theaters as the lead of Scream VI, which is the highest-grossing film of the franchise. She next will be seen this spring in the modern musical reimagining of Carmen, opposite Paul Mescal for Sony Pictures Classics.

Also upcoming for Barrera is God’s Country, directed by Egor Abramenko as his American directorial debut; Your Monster from Merman Productions; and The Collaboration written by four-time Oscar nominee Anthony McCarten (Bohemian Rhapsody), based off the acclaimed play.

She most recently was seen in the independent film All the World Is Sleeping as well as Netflix’s global hit Keep Breathing and STX’s supernatural thriller Bed Rest, which was also Barrera’s producorial debut.

Melissa Barrera & Jenna Ortega’s “Scream VI” Breaks Franchise Record with $44.5 Million Opening Weekend

Posted on March 12, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega are officially Scream queens…

The 32-year-old Mexican actress and singer and her 20-year-old Puerto Rican and Mexican American’s Scream VI collected $44.5 million in its opening weekend, a great start for Paramount and Spyglass Media’s long-running slasher film series.

The ticket sales were enough to top domestic box office charts over two newcomers, Sony’s prehistoric sci-fi thriller 65 and Focus Features’ heartwarming comedy Champions, as well as last weekend’s victor Creed III.

The initial haul for Scream VI is frighteningly strong for the sixth installment in a franchise. Not only did it greatly improve upon the start of last year’s hit reboot Scream, which scored with $30 million, but it crushed the series’ opening weekend record, previously set by 2000’s Scream 3 with $34 million. Scream VI cost $35 million, so it’ll easily turn a profit in its theatrical run.

“It’s extraordinary to have this type of result after six films,” says Chris Aronson, Paramount’s president of domestic distribution. “We blew away the opening of the last ‘Scream.’ That doesn’t happen.”

The R-rated “Scream VI” added another $22.6 million from 53 international markets, bringing its global tally to $67.1 million.

“Reviews and audience scores are very good, and international business should be solid,” says David A. Gross, who runs the film consulting firm Franchise Entertainment Research. “27 years after launching in 1996, the franchise is healthier than ever.”

Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, Scream VI follows survivors of Ghostface’s murders as they leave Woodsboro behind for a fresh start in New York City. Courteney Cox, Barrera, Ortega and Hayden Panettiere return for the film, which is the first installment without Neve Campbell’s Sidney Prescott. The actor departed the film because she felt “the offer that was presented to me did not equate to the value I have brought to the franchise.

”Opening weekend audience members skewed slightly male (51%), while 71% were between the ages of 18-24.

Jenna Ortega In Talks to Star in Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice” Sequel

Posted on March 10, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Jenna Ortega could be juicing for her next role…

20-year-old Puerto Rican and Mexican American Golden Globe-nominated actress and Wednesday star may be reuniting with Tim Burton on his next project as Hollywood insiders report Ortega is in early talks to reunite with the Wednesday creator on Beetlejuice 2 at Warner Bros.

Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder are reportedly expected to reprise their roles with Burton directing.

Production is expected to start in late May or early June in London, but the film’s budget hasn’t been set, resulting in some back and forth.

If a deal is made, sources say Ortega would play the daughter of Lydia, the character played by Ryder in the Burton-helmed original.

Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Jeffrey Jones and Catherine O’Hara also starred in the original film, which grossed $80 million on a $15 million budget. It also scored a Best Makeup Oscar at the 1989 Academy Awards.

Ortega has been on a roll as of late, led by her record-breaking Addams Family series Wednesday. The show has smashed Netflix viewing records and has been renewed for a second season. She’s hosting Saturday Night Live on March 11 and is appearing on in Scream VI.

Jenna Ortega Doesn’t Flinch During Appearance on Sean Evans’ “Hot Ones” Show

Posted on March 3, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Jenna Ortega isn’t afraid of a little spice…

The 20-year-old Puerto Rican and Mexican American actress appeared on Hot Ones, the series from host Sean Evans, who interviews celebrities as they eat progressively spicier chicken wings.

While he’s shared wings with the likes of Lizzo, Kevin Bacon, the Wednesday star may just be the bravest celebrity he’s met thus far.

“I’m feeling pretty confident, honestly,” Ortega said at the start of the interview. “Typically I can handle my stuff, so I’m curious.”

And Ortega did manage to handle her stuff, taking on all ten wings without breaking a sweat. All while fielding questions from Evans about Wednesday, Scream VI, and when she knew she liked to “scare people” (“From a very early age.”)

But Ortega admits that one thing has gotten her down, and that was missing certified Bob Ross instructor David Arquette‘s painting class on the set of the fifth installment of Scream.

“David Arquette in, like, the first week sat us all down in this common room we had in the hotel where we played all the board games, and he taught us how to paint like Bob Ross,” Jack Quaid recalled from the Scream reboot set.

“I think I was actually working when people took that class,” Ortega said between bites of a level three hot wing. “There have been very few times when I’ve felt completely defeated. And that is one of them.”

Ortega, however, was not defeated by even the hottest hot sauce or by Evans attempting to win a staring contest with someone who doesn’t blink for a living.

Demi Lovato Offers Sneak Peak at “Still Alive,” Her New Single for the “Scream VI” Soundtrack

Posted on February 17, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Demi Lovato is a scream queen…

The 30-year-old half-Mexican American actress/singer has offered her followers on TikTok a sneak peek of “Still Alive,” her new single for the Scream VI soundtrack.

To tease the song, Lovato appears with her back to the camera, slowly circling to reveal that she’s holding the famous Ghostface mask in front of her face.

As she lowers the shroud, Lovato’s voice can be heard singing, “Alive, I don’t want to just survive/ Give me something to sink my teeth in” before the song abruptly cuts out.

Naturally, Lovatics were clamoring to hear the entire track, which will be released on March 3.

“Demi Lovato is coming for blood,” one fan predicted in the comments, punctuating the sentiment with a single drop of blood emoji. Another wrote, “I’m so here for this era…keep slayinggggg,” while a third amusingly commented, “I work in a cinema and when I tell you this better be the end credit song so I can hear it 5 times a day when I’m cleaning I swear.”

“Still Alive” will serve as Lovato’s first taste of new music since releasing her seventh studio album, Holy Fvck, back in 2022.

The pop-punk fueled full-length contained collaborations with Yungblud, Royal & the Serpent and Dead Sara and ultimately topped three separate Billboard tallies: Top Rock & Alternative Albums, Top Rock Albums and Top Alternative Albums.

https://www.tiktok.com/@ddlovato/video/7200847315257593134

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