Marc Menchaca to Star in Apple TV+’s Limited Series “The Big Cigar”

Marc Menchaca is going undercover…

The 46-year-old half-Mexican American actor has joined the cast of Apple TV+’s six-episode limited series The Big Cigar, which is centered on Black Panther leader Huey P. Newton.

Marc MenchacaMenchaca, who most recently starred on Netflix’s Ozark, will star alongside André Holland, Don Cheadle, Alessandro Nivola and Tiffany Boone in the project.

Based on the eponymous Playboy magazine article by Joshuah Bearman, the series tells the extraordinary, hilarious, almost-too-good-to-be-true story of how Newton relied on his best friend, Bert Schneider (Nivola), the Hollywood producer behind Easy Rider, to elude a nationwide manhunt and escape to Cuba while being pursued into exile by the FBI.

Menchaca will portray Agent Sydney Clark. A former lawyer and Vietnam vet from Oklahoma, Clark lives undercover as a dirty hippie while pursuing Newton, who is wanted on charges of killing a teenage prostitute.

NAACP Image Award winner Janine Sherman Barrois is serving as The Big Cigar‘s showrunner. Jim Hecht wrote the show’s first episode, with Cheadle directing and executive producing the first two.

The show hails from Warner Bros. Television, where Barrois and her Folding Chair Productions are under an overall deal. Barrois and Hecht are executive producing alongside Bearman, Joshua Davis and Arthur Spector through their production company Epic, a division of Vox Media Studios.

Menchaca is best known for his scene-stealing turns as Jack Hoskins on HBO’s hit series The Outsider, and as Russ Langmore on the Emmy-winning Netflix drama series Ozark.

He will next be seen in Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, HBO’s miniseries The White House Plumbers, John Hyams’ thriller Sick and Gareth Edwards’ sci-fi pic True Love for New Regency.

 

His additional television credits include Black MirrorHomelandMacGyverBlue BloodsChicago P.D.Sleepy HollowThe Blacklist, Law & Order: SVU, CSI and Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

Elena Sanchez to Star in the Genre-Bending Film “Open”

It’s open season for Elena Sanchez.

The half-Spanish actress will star in Miles Doleac’s genre-bender Open, which will begin production in Hattiesburg, MS next week.

Elena SanchezThe film will also star William Forsythe, Yohance MylesJeremy London, Lindsay Anne Williams and Doleac.

The film, written by Doleac and Williams, tells the story of a woman in a troubled marriage who falls for a former television star, all the while hallucinating that she’s the frontwoman of an ’80s new wave band, populated by the major players in her personal life.

The film will contain 10 original songs, inspired by the ’80s post punk/new wave era.

Miles Doleac and Williams are producing, with John Lawrence Doleac serving as executive producer.

Sanchez’s previous credits include television appearances on NCIS: New Orleans, The Walking Dead and Sleepy Hollow.

Marc Menchaca to Star in Gareth Edwards’ New Film “True Love”

Marc Menchaca has found true love

The 46-year-old Mexican American actor has joined the cast of Gareth Edwards’ New Regency film True Love, which has entered production in Thailand.

Marc MenchacaMenchaca, who has starred in Ozark and The Outsider, will star alongside John David Washington, Gemma Chan, Allison Janney, Benedict Wong and Sturgill Simpson in the film.

The latest film written and directed by Edwards is billed as an original sci-fi story set in the near future. Specifics as to its plot are currently undisclosed.

Edwards is producing the film with his Rogue One collaborator Kiri Hart and New Regency, which has provided the film’s financing.

Menchaca is perhaps best known for his scene-stealing turns as Jack Hoskins in HBO’s hit series The Outsider, and as Russ Langmore in the Emmy-winning Netflix drama series Ozark.

The actor most recently wrapped production on the Netflix feature No One Gets Out Alive, and the action-thriller Gypsy Moon alongside Lena Headey and Sam Worthington.

He made a recent appearance on HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm and will soon be featured in its upcoming series The White House Plumbers, as well as an upcoming episode of Amazon Prime’s Jack Ryan. His additional television credits include Black MirrorHomeland, MacGyverBlue BloodsChicago P.D.Sleepy HollowThe Blacklist, Law & Order: SVU, CSI and Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

Roberto Orci Bringing Galaga Arcade Game to Television

Roberto Orci is helping bring the popular arcade game Galaga to the small scree…

The 45-year-old Mexican film and television screenwriter and producerand Emmy-winning animation studio ShadowMachine have joined the effort by digital studio The Nuttery Entertainment to bring to life the animated sci-fi saga Galaga Chronicles, a story based on Bandai Namco’s classic arcade game.

Roberto Orci 

The Nuttery announced the project at last year’s San Diego Comic-Con. The animated re-imagining of the iconic game is planned for a 12-episode inaugural season. The series is being shopped for distribution but anticipates a late 2019/early 2020 premiere.

Long before the days of Call of Duty and Mario Kart, Galaga, was the arcade video game to play. In the retro video game similar to Space Invadersthe player controlled a starfighter and the objective was to destroy insect-like alien creatures to rack up as many points as possible.

Orci will work with The Nuttery to shape the vast and sprawling Galaga Chronicles universe and also will serve as an executive producer. Known for the films Transformers, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Star Trek and creator of the television shows Sleepy Hollow and ScorpionOrci also will serve as an executive producer.

“Galaga is one of the games I played growing up,” Orci said. “I have fond memories of the quarters and hours upon hours I spent playing the game. I look forward to working with The Nuttery and to capture that magic in an exciting new format.”

ShadowMachine, producer of television shows BoJack Horseman, Robot Chicken and Final Spacewill be the animation production company. “This is by far one of the best video game adaptations I’ve ever read or been a part of. It is an absolute playground for animation.” ShadowMachine founder and CEO Alexander Bulkley said.

“We couldn’t be more stoked to have this level of creativity and craftsmanship on board our space adventure,” said Magnus Jansson, CEO of The Nuttery. “Roberto’s incredible sense of story and science fiction mastery and ShadowMachine’s excellent animation and design chops have already elevated the project to the next level. I think we are sitting on an amazing origin story for Galaga that will not disappoint.”

Jessica Camacho to Star on Season Two of NBC’s Drama “Taken”

Jessica Camacho has taken on a new role…

The 34-year-old Latina actress has signed on as a series regular for the second season of NBC’s drama series Taken.

Jessica Camacho 

Camacho will play Santana, a scary-smart, rule-breaking former Army captain who possesses an acerbic wit and calculated bravado, according to TVLine, which first reported the casting.

Due to a change in creative direction, Camacho joins a revamped Season 2 that will have a very different look. Only series regulars Clive Standen (Bryan Mills), and Jennifer Beals (Christina Hart) will return for the second season.

Camacho’s credits include roles on The Flash, Frequency, Sleepy Hollow and Minority Report.

Orci Signs with ICM Partners

Roberto Orci has a new Partner in crime…

The 43-year-old Mexican film and television writer, producer and director has signed with talent and literary agency ICM Partners.

Roberto Orci

Orci’s writing and producing credits include some of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters, including credits two Transformers and Star Trek films and Mission: Impossible III.

Orci, longtime partner of Alex Kurtzman, is also an Emmy-winning television writer-producer, who co-created Fox’s Fringe and Sleepy Hollow. He has also been a writer-producer on Alias and Hawaii Five-O, among other shows.

Orci had previously been at Creative Artists Agency, and he continues to be lawyered by Michael Gendler.

Gonzalez to Star in Fox’s Comic Book Drama Pilot “Lucifer”

Nicholas Gonzalez has landed a devil of a role…

The 39-year-old Mexican American actor has landed a series regular role in Fox’s comic book drama pilot Lucifer, written by Tom Kapinos and directed by Len Wiseman for Warner Bros. Television and Jerry Bruckheimer Television.

Nicholas Gonzalez

Based on the characters from the DC Entertainment’s Vertigo, the series centers on Lucifer (portrayed by Tom Ellis) who, bored and unhappy as the Lord of Hell, resigns his throne and abandons his kingdom for the gorgeous, shimmering insanity of Los Angeles, where he gets his kicks helping the Los Angeles Police Department punish criminals.

Gonzalez will play Dan, a gruff LAPD homicide detective, who is wary of Lucifer’s (Ellis) involvement with his wife and daughter.

Gonzalez’s previous television credits include appearances on Jane the Virgin, Sleepy Hollow, The Flash, Modern Family and Witches of East End.

Gonzalez to Guest Star on the CW’s “The Flash”

Nicolas Gonzalez is ready to flash television audiences…

The 38-year-old Mexican American actor has landed a role on the CW’s superhero series The Flash, based on the fictional comic book superhero from the DC Comics universe.

Nicolas Gonzalez

Gonzalez, who appeared in a recurring role on Fox’s Sleepy Hollow, will portray Cisco Ramon’s (Carlos Valdes) older charming and savvy brother, Dante, according to TVLine. Dante is the family favorite child, but always secretly resented Cisco’s success.

Gonzalez will make his debut on The Flash in episode 16, which is entitled “Rogue Time.”

Gonzalez recently guest starred on CW’s Jane The Virgin. He also had a recurring role on the network’s 2009 Melrose Place remake, as well as appeared on Ugly Betty, Modern Family, Off The Map, True Blood and CSI: Miami.

“The Flash” returns to the CW on January 20.

Orci Reportedly In Talks to Helm the Next “Star Trek” Film

Roberto Orci may boldly go where J.J. Abrams has gone before…

The 40-year-old Mexican American film and television writer and producer is reportedly the clear frontrunner to replace J.J. Abrams as the director of the third installment of Paramount’s Star Trek series.

Roberto Orci

Following what it calls “an aggressive lobbying campaign,” Deadline.com reports that Orci and Paramount Pictures are in talks.

Orci was a co-writer and producer on 2009’s Star Trek and it’s 2013 sequel Star Trek Into Darkness.

The news comes after Orci parted company with longtime partner Alex Kurtzman on film projects; they still continue to work on television projects together, including Sleepy Hollow and El Rey Network’s upcoming series El Matador.

It would Orci’s first time in the director’s chair, although he has plenty of experience on massive projects beyond Star Trek, including The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Ender’s Game and Cowboys & Aliens.

Abrams had helmed the first two Star Trek films, but surprised Paramount officlas by agreeing to relaunch the Star Wars franchise and direct the first film at Disney.

Cuarón Takes Home Two Academy Awards for “Gravity”

Alfonso Cuarón has matching Oscars to place on his mantel…

The 52-year-old Mexican filmmaker, a three-time nominee at this year’s Academy Awards, took home two prizes during the awards show.

Alfonso Cuarón

Cuarón was named Best Director for helming the 3D space thriller, Gravity, making him the first Mexican to win the award in that category.

During his acceptance speech, Cuarón paid special tribute to the film’s star Sandra Bullock.

“Sandy, you are Gravity, you are the soul and heart of the film. You are an amazing collaborator and one of the best people I have ever met,” he said.

Moments after Cuarón’s name was read, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto tweeted: “Extraordinary work. Congratulations!”

Speaking backstage after collecting his Oscar, Cuarón said he hoped his win would help shine a light on the work of other Mexican filmmakers, and Mexican culture.

“I don’t think there is enough attention paid to Mexican culture and what is happening in Mexico,” Cuaron said.

Cuarón had been predicted to win the best director award, having swept the category in other awards ceremonies before Sunday’s Oscars, including the Directors Guild of America’s top prize.

In addition, Cuarón took home another award, winning the Best Film Editing Oscar alongside Mark Sanger for his hands-on work on Gravity.

Meanwhile, Gravity’s lenser Emmanuel Lubezki followed up his American Society of Cinematographers Award win with the Academy Award for Best Cinematography.

It was the Mexican cinematographer’s first win in six nominations. He previously earned nods for lensing 1995’s A Little Princess, 1999’s Sleepy Hollow, 2005’s A New World, 2006’s Children of Men and 2011’s The Tree of Life. three of Lubezki’s nominations were for his work on Cuarón films.

In all, Gravity was the night’s big winner, taking home seven awards.

But Cuarón and Lubezki weren’t the only Latinos to take home their first Oscars…

Jared Leto, a first-time nominee, took home the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his critically acclaimed performance as male-to-female transgender character Rayon in Dallas Buyers Club. It’s a role the 42-year-old part-Spanish American actor discusses in a featurette from the film’s distributor Focus Features.

Here’s a complete look at this year’s Oscar winners:

Best picture
12 Years a Slave

Best actor
Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club

Best actress
Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine

Best supporting actor
Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club

Best supporting actress
Lupita Nyong’o, 12 Years a Slave

Best director
Alfonso Cuarón, Gravity

Best animated feature film
Frozen

Best foreign film
The Great Beauty

Best original screenplay
Her, Spike Jonze

Best adapted screenplay
12 Years a Slave, John Ridley

Best original score
Gravity

Best original song
Let It Go, from Frozen

Best cinematography
Gravity

Best costume design
The Great Gatsby

Best documentary feature
20 Feet From Stardom

Best documentary short subject
The Lady in Number 6

Best film editing
Gravity

Best makeup and hairstyling
Dallas Buyers Club

Best production design
The Great Gatsby

Best animated short film
Mr. Hublot

Best live-action short film
Helium

Best sound editing
Gravity

Best sound mixing
Gravity

Best visual effects
Gravity