Jonas Cuaron to Direct Bad Bunny in Sony Pictures’ “El Muerto”

Posted on October 5, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Jonas Cuaron has landed a project to die for…

The 41-year-old Mexican film director, screenwriter, producer, editor and cinematographer will direct Sony Pictures’ El Muerto, starring Bad Bunny.

Cuarón, the son of Oscar winner Alfonso Cuarón, is known for the 2015 thriller film Desierto.

El Muerto is in early development, and Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer is writing the script.

El Muerto is a character within Spider-Man’s universe, and the film would mark the first time a Latino character leads a Marvel live-action film. He is an antihero and the son of a luchador next in line to inherit the ancestral power of “El Muerto.”

“It’s amazing, it’s incredible,” Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito A Martínez Ocasio, said earlier this year at Cinemacon about his involvement in El Muerto. “I love wrestling. I grew up watching wrestling, and I’m a wrestler. I’m a former champion, so this is why I love this character. I think it’s the perfect role to me, and it will be epic.”

Although Bad Bunny is best known for his Grammy-winning music, he has been getting more involved in the acting world.

He had an arc in the Netflix series Narcos: México, playing Arturo “Kitty” Páez. Earlier this year he made his big-screen debut in Bullet Train, where he was directed by David Leitch and shared screen credits with Brad Pitt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Andrew Koji, Michael Shannon and Sandra Bullock, among others.

Sony Pictures is expected to release El Muerto in theaters on January 12, 2024.

Sony Developing “El Muerto” Marvel Character Film with Bad Bunny Attached to Star

Posted on April 26, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Bad Bunny is dying for an exciting new role…

Sony Pictures, looking to continue to expand and diversify its universe of Marvel characters, is developing an El Muerto movie with the 28-year-old Puerto Rican Grammy-winning singer attached to star.

The announcement was made at Cinemacon during Sony’s panel where Bad Bunny made a surprise appearance.

The character of El Muerto, aka Juan Carlos, was a super powered wrestler who originally fought Spider-Man in a charity wrestling match in which he nearly unmasked the webslinger before being stung by Spider-Man with a paralyzing poison. After his oppressor El Dorado came to claim his life, he was saved by Spider-Man, after which the two team up to defeat Dorado.

El Muerto would mark the first Latin superhero to get his own film in the universe of Marvel characters, coming right after Sony recently dated Madame Web, which marked the first female character from the Spider-Man universe to get her own film.

Though El Muerto isn’t as popular as Venom or Kraven the Hunter, Sony’s rush to get this film into development has much to do with Bad Bunny’s persistence in finding that right superhero property for himself.

The superstar is set to make his major studio debut in the highly-anticipated action film Bullet Train on July 29, a project that led to Aaron Taylor-Johnson landing the lead role in Kraven the Hunter.

The same situation looks to have happened with Bad Bunny with executives extremely high on the final Bad Bunny footage from the film.

Following recent meetings to figure out a starring vehicle for him, the multi-hyphenate took matters into his own hands and began mining the Spider-Man library for Latin characters that would suit him, eventually coming across El Muerto. The studio loved the idea and hopes to move quickly on the project given Bad Bunny’s busy touring and acting schedule.

Besides Bullet Train, he was also recently seen in Narcos: Mexico and has Cassandro coming out alongside Gael García Bernal. He also recently wrapped his arena tour El Ultimo Tour Del Mundo.

El Muerto will come out on Jan. 12, 2024.

Benito Antonio Marinez Ocasio (aka Bad Bunny) said working on Bullet Train was “an amazing experience. David (Leitch) is awesome. I loved working with him on my first film and now with this opportunity to bring El Muerto to life. It’s amazing, it’s incredible. I love wrestling. I grew up watching wrestling and I’m a wrestler. I’m a former champion so this is why I love this character. I think it’s the perfect role to me and it will be epic.”

Sony Pictures Releases Trailer for “Bullet Train,” Featuring Bad Bunny in His Big Screen Acting Debut

Posted on March 3, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Bad Bunny is headed to the big screen with a bullet (train)…

Sony Pictures has released the official trailer for Bullet Train, an action film starring the 27-year-old Puerto Rican Grammy-winning rapper, singer and songwriter in his big screen debut. He previously appeared on television in Netflix‘s Narcos: Mexico.

Bad Bunny stars opposite Hollywood heavyweights Brad Pitt, Sandra Bullock, Michael Shannon and more in the film.

In the film, the “Yo Perreo Sola” will play a hitman, part of an ensemble cast of assassins, all with connected, though conflicting objectives. And all of them riding a non-stop bullet train in Japan.

Expect the action to come hard and fast in this slick flick, directed by David Leitch.

Bullet Train is set for release in theaters from July 15, 2022.

Bad Bunny is certainly having his moment in the limelight right now…

Last week, he came out on top at the Premio Lo Nuestro awards show with six honors, and he’s just crashed a record with his YHLQMDLG album, which logged a 59th week atop Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart, passing a market that stood for over 27 years.

YHLQMDLG made history in several ways back in March 2020, when it landed at No. 2 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart, for the highest charting all-Spanish-language album of all time.

Camille Guaty to Star in the Live-Action Film Adaptation of Crockett Johnson’s Children’s Book “Harold and the Purple Crayon”

Posted on March 2, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Camille Guaty is seeing purple…

The 45-year-old Puerto Rican and Cuban American actress is set to star opposite Zachary Levi, Zooey Deschanel, Lil Rel Howery and Ravi Patel in Sony Pictures’ live-action adaptation of Harold and the Purple Crayon.

Hailing from Oscar-nominated director Carlos Saldanha, the film is based on the 1955 children’s book by Crockett Johnson that follows Harold, a curious 4-year-old who, with his purple crayon, has the power to create a world of his own.

David Guion and Michael Handelman handled the screenplay adaptation. John Davis is producing through Davis Entertainment.

The film is slated for release in theaters on January 27, 2023.

Guaty recently wrapped a major recuring role on ABC’s hit series The Rookie. She’s previously appeared in series including The Good Doctor, Daytime Divas, Scorpion and Prison Break, and in such films as David Wain’s National Lampoon biopic A Futile and Stupid Gesture and Haifaa Al-Mansour’s Nappily Ever After for Netflix, and Damiel Barnz’ indie Cake, starring Jennifer Aniston.

Ariana DeBose to Star in Sony Pictures’ Marvel Film “Kraven the Hunter”

Posted on March 1, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Ariana DeBose is ready to Calypso…

The 31-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress/singer/dancer, who made history with her SAG Awards win on Sunday, is set to join Sony Pictures’ Marvel film Kraven the Hunter, starring Aaron Taylor Johnson in the titular role.

Although it’s unconfirmed, sources say DeBose would play Calypso in the movie.

J.C. Chandor is directing the film with Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach producing. Art Marcum and Matt Holloway and Richard Wenk penned the screenplay.

One of Sony Pictures’ universe of Marvel characters, Kraven is among Marvel’s most iconic and notorious antiheroes who has encountered Venom and Black Panther among many others as well as being one of Spider-Man’s best-known and most-formidable enemies. The film will be released theatrically January 13, 2023.

As for Calypso, she is a voodoo priestess who utilizes magic potions, and besides being an adversary of Spider-Man, she is also the occasional partner and lover of Kraven.

Sony is coming off a hot streak, with Spider-Man: No Way Home becoming the biggest film of 2021 with $1.8 billion in worldwide sales after Venom: Let There Be Carnage made more than $500 million worldwide. As for future films, the Jared Leto-starrer Morbius bows in the U.S. in April, and the studio just named Dakota Johnson to lead Madame Web.

DeBose’s stock has been skyrocketing following her scene-stealing role as Anita in Steven Spielberg’s Oscar-nominated West Side Story adaptation. Besides taking home the SAG Award for Supporting Actress, DeBose also has Oscars, BAFTA and Critics Choice nominations in the same category.

She’ll next appear in Matthew Vaughn’s action film Argylle from Apple, starring opposite Henry Cavill, Bryan Cranston, Samuel L. Jackson and Dua Lipa, and will also star in Gabriela Cowperthwaite’s space thriller I.S.S. alongside Chris Messina and Pilou Asbaek.

Sony Pictures Releases Clifton Collins Jr.’s “Jockey” in Three U.S. Theaters Ahead of Wider Release

Posted on December 31, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Clifton Collins Jr. is jockeying into position…

Sony Pictures Entertainment has released Jockey, starring the 51-year-old Mexican American actor, in three theaters in New York and Los Angeles (Film Forum, AMC Lincoln Square, Laemmle Royal).

The release gets the film on the board for a January rollout ahead of the upcoming Oscar nominations.

SPC acquired Jockey out of the Sundance Film Festival, where it won the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury award for star Collins Jr., who portrays an aging rider trying to win one last championship race.

Collins plays Jackson Silvan, who hopes to win one last title for his longtime trainer (Molly Parker), who has acquired what appears to be a championship horse. But years and injuries have taken a toll. The arrival of a young rookie rider (Moises Arias), who claims to be his son and whom he takes under his wing, further complicates the path to fulfilling his dream.

Written by Bentley and Greg Kwedar (who previously teamed with Collins on the 2016 award-winning film Transpecos), the film also stars Logan Cormier and Colleen Hartnett. Bentley’s father was a professional jockey and much of the cast is also comprised of real-life jockeys.

The directorial debut of Clint Bentley will expand nationwide in January following its exclusive debut.

The Oscar hopeful (87% Rotten Tomatoes’ Critics’ score) was one of Deadline critic Todd McCarthy’s top ten picks of the year.

Javier Bardem to Star in Sony Pictures’ Film Adaptation of the Popular Children’s Book “Lyle, Lyle Crocodile”

Posted on July 10, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Javier Bardem is getting animated…

The 52-year-old Spanish Oscar-winning actor will star in Will Speck and Josh Gordon’s Lyle, Lyle Crocodile for Sony Pictures.

Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the Oscar-winning songwriting team behind the music of La La Land and upcoming Dear Evan Hansen film, will reportedly write original songs for the film.

Speck and Gordon will direct with the script, based on the best-selling children’s book by Bernard Waber, being adapted by Will Davies.

First published in 1965, the venerable children’s tale centers on the title reptile, who lives in a house on East 88th Street in New York City. Lyle enjoys helping the Primm family with everyday chores, and playing with the neighborhood kids. He’s the happiest crocodile any home ever had…until one neighbor insists that Lyle belongs in a zoo. Mr. Grumps and his cat, Loretta, don’t like crocodiles, and everything Lyle does to win them over seems to go wrong. It will take all of Lyle’s charm—and courage—to reveal the hero, and friend, behind the big crocodile smile.

The film will debut on July 22, 2022.

For an actor known more for his adult roles like Biutiful and his Oscar-winning work in No Country For Old Men, the film marks his rare trek into the family-friendly genre.

But sources say Waber’s original story was very appealing to Bardem from the moment he was offered the part.

This isn’t his first dive into material meant for all ages. He’s previously played the villain in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales and will play King Triton in Disney’s live action adaptation of its acclaimed animated film The Little Mermaid.

When it comes to adult roles, Bardem’s upcoming slate includes Legendary’s Dune, Fernando León de Aranoa’s The Good Boss (El Buen Patron) and Aaron Sorkin’s Being The Ricardos, where he plays Desi Arnaz, opposite Nicole Kidman’s Lucille Ball.

Amazon to Release Camila Cabello’s Musical Film “Cinderella” Across 240 Countries This Fall

Posted on May 14, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a clean sweep for Camila Cabello…

Amazon’s recent pickup of Sony Pictures’ musical film Cinderella will premiere on the streamer this fall in 240 countries.

The news of the likely landing spot for the filmcame as the streamer released the first looks at the Kay Cannon-directed film.

Sony previously decided to license worldwide (sans China) to Amazon instead of going with a summer theatrical release.

Idina Menzel, Billy Porter, Minnie Driver, Nicholas Galitzine and Pierce Brosnan also star in the film.

“Cinderella is a classic we all know and love, but this time with a modern unique twist and starring the sensational Camila Cabello and an all-star cast. Producer James Corden and the filmmaking team have taken this beloved fairytale and revamped it with a fresh, empowering perspective that will resonate with audiences and families around the world. We couldn’t be more excited for our global customers to sing and dance along to director Kay Cannon’s reimagination of this classic story,” said Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon Studios.

The film was also written by Cannon. Producers are Leo Pearlman, James Corden, Jonathan Kadin and Shannon McIntosh, and EPs are Louise Rosner and Josephine Rose.

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Animated Musical Film “Vivo” Headed to Netflix

Posted on April 27, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Lin-Manuel Miranda is getting animated once again…

Netflix has picked up the streaming rights to Vivo, an animated movie that boasts new music from the 41-year-old Broadway star, actor, lyricist/composer and Hamilton creator.

The family friendly film was initially scheduled to be released in theaters on June 4. But Sony Pictures, the studio that originally backed Vivo, has instead offloaded the project to Netflix. It’s unclear when it will debut on the streaming service.

Sony Pictures will retain all rights in China, along with home entertainment and linear television rights everywhere else, following periods of exclusivity on Netflix.

Netflix recently signed a lucrative deal with Sony, which gives the streamer exclusive U.S. rights to the studio’s theatrical releases in the first pay TV window.

In addition, Netflix has a first-look deal with Sony’s offerings. However, the pact doesn’t commence until 2022 so it doesn’t include the sale of Vivo.

Vivo was directed by The Croods filmmaker Kirk DeMicco and co-directed by Brandon Jeffords. Quiara Alegría Hudes, who wrote the book for Miranda’s In The Heights, has co-written the screenplay with DeMicco.

The animated musical adventure follows a unique kinkajou (a.k.a. a rainforest “honey bear,” voiced by Miranda), who spends his days playing music to the crowds in a lively Havana square with his beloved owner Andrés. Though they may not speak the same language, Vivo and Andrés are the perfect duo through their common love of music. But when tragedy strikes shortly after Andrés receives a letter from the famous Marta Sandoval (Gloria Estefan), inviting her old partner to her farewell concert in Miami with the hope of reconnecting, it’s up to Vivo to deliver a message that Andrés never could: A love letter to Marta, written long ago, in the form of a song. Yet in order to get to the distant shores of Miami, Vivo will need to accept the help of Gabi (newcomer Ynairaly Simo) — an energetic teen who bounces to the beat of her own offbeat drum. The voice cast also includes Zoe Saldana, Brian Tyree Henry and Nicole Byer.

“Bringing Vivo to life has been an incredible artistic journey. I couldn’t ask for better creative partners than Kirk, Quiara, Alex and the entire team at Sony Animation,” Miranda said. “I’m so excited Vivo will have a home at Netflix, where kids of all ages will be able to enjoy the film’s songs and adventures again and again.”

Vivo isn’t the first movie musical from Miranda that skipped theaters in favor of streaming. The live-recorded version of Hamilton was supposed to play on the big screen, but instead debuted on Disney+ last July.

Netflix Releases Trailer for Fred Armisen’s “The Mitchells vs. The Machines”

Posted on April 3, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Fred Armisen is ready for a “robot apocalypse”…

Netflix has released the new trailer for The Mitchells vs. The Machines, featuring the 54-year-old half-Venezuelan American actor/comedian.

The animated film centers on a quirky, dysfunctional but loving clan’s together time that becomes a battle to save the planet. And if these folks are the last hope for humankind, well maybe the inanimates have the upper metal hand.

When Katie Mitchell (Abbi Jacobson), a creative outsider, is accepted into the film school of her dreams, her plans to meet “her people” at college are upended when her nature-loving dad Rick (Danny McBride) determines the whole family should drive Katie to school together and bond as a family one last time. Maya Rudolph voices the mom, and Michael Rianda is the kid brother.

Directed by Mike Rianda from a script he wrote with Jeff Rowe, the film’s voice cast includes Eric Andre, Armisen, Beck Bennett, Chrissy Teigen, John Legend, Charlyne Yi, Blake Griffin, Conan O’Brien, Sasheer Zamata, Elle Mills, Alex Hirsch, Jay Pharoah, Doug the Pug and Olivia Colman as Pal.

Sony Pictures sold worldwide rights to the animated feature to Netflix in January, after it had bounced around the release calendar during the pandemic.

Netflix will debut it as a streaming-only film on April 30.

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