Jencarlos Canela Releases the New Single “Antes y Después”

Posted on July 3, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Jencarlos Canela is celebrating the before and after…

The 34-year-old Cuban-American singer, songwriter and actor has released the new single “Antes y Después.”

Canela releases the single, which featured a powerful message, after going on a journey of self discovery.

His new track is an invitation to heal and come back stronger than ever.

Penned by Canela and produced by the Dominican singer-songwriter Maffio, “Antes y Después” is the artist’s most personal song yet.

The poignant track is a must-listen on this long weekend.

Canela’s acting credits include Grand Hotel, Telenovela and The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia.

Wilmer Valderrama to Headline & Executive Produce Disney’s “Zorro” TV Series

Posted on December 15, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Wilmer Valderrama is zee man…

The 41-year-old Colombian/Venezuelan American actor is developing a television series based on the Disney western Zorro for Disney Branded Television.

Valderrama will executive produce and star as Don Diego de la Vega and his alter ego, the titular masked horseman.

The project is executive produced by former Disney Branded Entertainment president and Chief Creative Officer Gary Marsh under the multiyear production deal for his banner at Disney General Entertainment, and John Gertz of Zorro Productions, Inc.

“We’re reimagining this Disney classic as a compelling period piece, set in Pueblo de Los Angeles, but told in a very modern telenovela style — with richly drawn contemporary characters and relationships set against the action, drama, suspense, and humor of the original, iconic Zorro,” said Ayo Davis, President of Disney Branded Television. “Wilmer shares our commitment to reflect the interesting and rich diversity of the human experience and we look forward to delivering a culturally relevant and entertaining story with definitional characters that will connect with our viewers for generations to come.”

Valderrama said he is excited to add to the legacy of the masked avenger while representing the Latino community, especially the younger generation that will grow up feeling represented as he did.

“Growing up, Zorro was the one character that made me, as a Latino, feel like I could be a hero. As an adult and a storyteller, I have a responsibility for the stories that I help bring to life,” he said. “To partner with Gary and Disney to bring Zorro back into the family after 60 years and be a part of the legacy for other children to know they too can be the heroes of their own stories is a dream come true.”

Most recently, Valderrama voiced the character, Agustin, in Disney’s Encanto, and continues to portray NCIS Special Agent Nicholas Torres in CBS’ NCIS.

José Moreno Brooks to Appear on ABC’s New Musical Drama Series “Queens”

Posted on November 11, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

José Moreno Brooks will soon be in the presence of royalty…

The 36-year-old half-Mexican American actor and former Telenovela scene stealer has landed a key recurring role opposite Brandy, Eve, Naturi Naughton and Nadine Velazquez on ABC’s new musical drama series Queens.

From Zahir McGhee, Sabrina Wind and ABC Signature, the series centers on four estranged and out-of-touch women in their 40s — Naomi (Brandy), Jill (Naughton), Brianna (Eve) and Valeria (Velazquez), who reunite for a chance to recapture their fame and regain the swagger they had as their ’90s group that made them legends in the hip-hop world.

Brooks will play Rodrigo, gorgeous, sexy, and the most in-demand music video director currently working.

The series is written by McGhee and directed by Tim Story.

Brooks’ previous credits include Telenovela opposite Eva Longoria and 9-1-1.

Camila Cabello Releases New Single “Don’t Go Yet”

Posted on July 23, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Camila Cabello is on the go…

The 24-year-old Cuban & Mexican singer/songwriter has released her new single “Don’t Go Yet.”

Cabello teased the song earlier this week and later debuted two Easter egg-filled trailers of the music video, where she’s seen driving a vintage car while changing the radio station and getting whisked away in a joy ride before the video zooms out and reveals the miniature, tropical set in a claymation-style edit.

The second clip picks up where the first one left off, where Cabello rings the doorbell to a pink mansion on top of the hill.

A poster of what looked like a telenovela promoting the single reads, “Bienvenidos a la Familia.”

“Don’t Go Yet” is the first new music from Cabello since the release of her 2019 sophomore album Romance, which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200.

Jesse Garcia to Star in the Eva Longoria-Directed “Flamin’ Hot” Film

Posted on May 4, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a flamin’ hot time for Jesse Garcia.

The 38-year-old Mexican American actor and former Quinceañera star has landed the lead role in Eva Longoria’s feature directorial debut Flamin’ Hot from Searchlight Pictures and Franklin Entertainment.

Garcia will play Richard Montanez, the architect of the Flamin’ Hot Cheeto, while Annie Gonzalez of Gentefied will portray his wife, Judy.

Flamin’ Hot tells the true life story of Richard Montanez, the Frito Lay janitor who took inspiration from his Mexican American heritage to create Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, the snack that disrupted the food industry and became a pop culture phenomenon.

Desperate Housewives actress and Telenovela, Grand Hotel, and Devious Maids EP Longoria beat out several directors for the job after impressing Franklin and Searchlight with her authentic approach to the project.

“It has been my biggest priority to make sure we are telling Richard Montañez’s story authentically,” said Longoria in a statement. “I am so happy to have two extremely talented and fellow Mexican-Americans on board in these pivotal roles. Jesse and Annie have a deep understanding of our community and will be able to help tell this story of great importance for our culture.”

Also new to Flamin’ Hot is scribe Linda Yvette Chavez who has come aboard for revisions on the Lewis Colick-penned screenplay. Chavez is the creator of Netflix’s Gentefied and she’s also adapting I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter at the streamer for America Ferrera’s upcoming directorial debut.

Garcia appears in the Searchlight Pictures title Under the Same Moon, alongside Kate del Castillo and Ferrera. He has been widely recognized for his role in the highly acclaimed Quinceañera winner of the Audience Award and the Grand Jury Prize at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival. For his performance as Carlos, Garcia was nominated and won the prestigious ALMA Award (American Latino Media Arts) as Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture in 2007. Garcia can also be seen in The Avengers.

Gonzalez is a Chicana actress and East Los Angeles native. She grew up singing with the band Quetzal, (which has been a noted force in the Chicano movement), was one of the original dancers on Jamm X Kids for the WB and has been appearing on TV since the age of 10. She is most known for her roles in Gentefied, Vida, Shameless, and Legion. She was recently cast in the ABC pilot, Bucktown starring opposite Jane Lynch and Nicole Richie. Gonzalez also has a YouTube page with videos dedicated to her thoughts on spirituality, self-love, peace, positivity and living life as a Latina.

Eva Longoria to Direct & Executive Produce HBO Max’s “The Gordita Chronicles” Pilot

Posted on March 4, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Eva Longoria has lined up her next directorial project…

The 45-year-old Mexican American actress/producer will direct and executive produce The Gordita Chronicles pilot at HBO Max.

The single-camera family comedy hails from Josh Berman’s Osprey Productions, Zoe Saldana’s Cinestar Pictures, and Sony Pictures Television, where Berman’s Osprey Prods is under a deal.

Written by Claudia Forestier, The Gordita Chronicles centers on a willful, chubby, 12-year-old Dominican who struggles to fit into hedonistic 1980s Miami as her family pursues the American Dream.

Brigitte Munoz Liebowitz serves as executive producer and showrunner. Longoria executive produces via her UnbeliEVAble Entertainment. Zoe Saldana, Mariel Saldana and Cisely Saldana executive produce for Cinestar Pictures.

Sony Pictures Television is the studio.

Longoria will be making her film directorial debut with Searchlight’s Flamin’ Hot, an inspiring biopic about the janitor turned executive who created the flaming hot Cheetos snack. She’ll also direct the workplace comedy 24/7 and star alongside Kerry Washington for Universal and direct the action comedy Spa Day for Sony.

The former Desperate Housewives star made her television directing debut on Devious Maids in 2014. Her television producing/directing credits also include ESPN 30 for 30 documentary Versus, and episodes of Black-ish, The Mick and Telenovela.

Longoria made her pilot directing debut with the CW’s Glorious.

Jencarlos Canela to Star Opposite Kevin Hart in the Action Comedy “Man From Toronto”

Posted on October 16, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Jencarlos Canela is the Man of the moment…

The 32-year-old Cuban American actor-singer will join the ensemble cast of the Sony Pictures’ action comedy Man From Toronto, starring Kevin Hart and Woody Harrelson.

Kaley Cuoco and Melanie Liburd also star.

The film revolves around a case of mistaken identity after the world’s deadliest assassin, known as the “man from Toronto,” and a stranger, played by Hart, run into each other at an Airbnb. Chaos soon ensues as the assassin’s world comes crashing down on Hart.

Patrick Hughes, who directed Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson’s 2017 action-comedy The Hitman’s Bodyguard, is on board to helm.

Robbie Fox and Chris Bremner wrote the script from a story he conceived with Jason Blumenthal.

The film will open in theaters on September 17, 2021.

Canela most recently starred in Netflix’s The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia. His other credits include NBC’s comedy Telenovela, starring Eva Longoria, The Grand Hotel, also starring Longoria, and the live musical The Passion, which aired on FOX.

Anahi & Her RBD Band Mates Set Date for Reunion & Virtual Concert

Posted on October 1, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Anahí and the gang are getting back together again…

It’s been 12 years since the 37-year-old Mexican singer/actress and her fellow RBD members’ last concert. And after rumors of a band gathering in the works, the Mexican group has officially set a date for their highly anticipated reunion.

On December 26, four of the six RBD members — Anahí, Maite Perroni, Christian Chávez, and Christopher Von Uckermann — will come together for virtual event dubbed “Ser o Parecer.”

It kicks off at 11:00 am ET with a “marathon tribute” to the Rebelde generation, where fans from all over the world will be able to be part of the marathon by submitting their own tribute videos here.

“After 12 years, we’ll finally be together again,” the participating artists posted on their social media while inviting fans to purchase tickets for the 7:00 pm ET livestream concert that will wrap up the virtual event. Tickets to the livestream concert go on sale October 4.

The virtual reunion announcement comes just weeks after RBD’s catalog was made available on all digital streaming platforms.

The band, inspired by the hit telenovela Rebelde (2004-2006), became an unstoppable force, performing sold-out shows around the world. On the Billboard charts, RBD had a total of seven entries on the Billboard 200 chart including Rebelde, Celestial and Nuestro Amor, and eight entries on Top Latin Albums with six hitting the top 10. Over on Hot Latin Songs, the band had 10 total entries and out of those, five hit top 10.

Dulce Maria to Make Big Debut on Upcoming Season Two of Telemundo’s “Falsa Identidad”

Posted on September 21, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Dulce María is ready for her close-up…

The 34-year-old Mexican singer and actress is making her grand debut on Telemundo‘s Falsa Identidad, now in its second season, which will premiere on September 22.

The RBD alum joins the suspenseful, drama series as Victoria Llamas, a passionate and fearless woman who will fight for justice – a characteristic she can relate to.

“Victoria is very much about doing things the right way to seek justice for others, and she’s very passionate about defending the people she loves. That’s me 100 percent,” says Dulce María, who began acting at age 5 and starred in the hit telenovela Rebelde, which led to the formation of chart-topping band RBD.

Falsa Identidad is based on a story of two complete strangers forced to flee their home state of Sonora, México and adopt false identities to escape their traumatic past.

“I’ve been watching what they do for a while now and all their series/telenovelas have been great and different to what others are doing,” says Dulce Maria about joining Telemundo. “I had been wanting to work with them for a while so I’m very happy.”

So what can you expect in the second season?

“Like the first season, it’ll hook you from day one,” says Dulce Maria. “Everything can happen on season two and this time around we’re exploring really important and timely topics that are actually happening in real life.”

Sandra Cisneros’ Iconic “The House on Mango Street” to be Adapted into a TV Drama

Posted on January 24, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Sandra Cisneros’ iconic novel is headed to the small screen…

The 65-year-old Mexican-American author’s coming-of-age novel The House on Mango Street will be adapted into a television drama by Gaumont, the producer behind the Netflix hit Narcos.

The House on Mango Street is made up of a series of vignettes about the characters that populate a blue-collar Chicago neighborhood, seen through the eyes of a Mexican-American teenager, who acts as narrator for the reader.

Regarded as a classic in Chicana literature, the 1984 book has been described as a telenovela of sorts by The New York Timesand has made its way on to the curriculum in some U.S. schools and colleges.

Cisneros has previously declined offers to adapt the book for film and television, according to Gaumont, but she changed her mind amid the explosion in streaming services and the ongoing dialogue about immigration in America.

“I write because the world we live in is a house on fire, and the people we love are burning,” she said. “Television has grown up in the last 20 years and now is the time to tell our stories.”

Cisneros will serve as an executive producer on the show, if commissioned. The project will be overseen by Alexandra Hunter, Gaumont’s senior vice president of creative affairs, and Tely Morrison, manager of creative affairs.

Gene Stein, Gaumont’s president of U.S. Television, said: “The House on Mango Street is a timeless story that captures the struggles, dreams, and spirit of a young woman who epitomizes the experience of many young women coming of age in America today. It’s an inspiring and uplifting story that speaks to the challenges faced by so many trying to find their place in society.”

Hispanically Yours

Celebrating the Latino Influence

Tag Archives: Telenovela