Arturo Castro to Star in 20th Century’s Buddy Action Comedy “Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice”

Posted on September 17, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Arturo Castro is buddying up for his next role…

The 38-year-old Guatemalan actor has been cast in the 20th Century feature Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice, a buddy action comedy set in the criminal underworld from writer and director BenDavid Grabinsk.

Castro joins Vince Vaughn, James Marsden, Eiza Gonzalez and Jimmy Tatro as part of the ensemble playing Tatro’s friend. Character names and descriptions have yet to be revealed.

Castro’s breakout role was portraying Jaime in the Comedy Central series Broad City which ran for five seasons. He followed that up with the comedy sketch series Alternatino for Comedy Central, which he created, executive produced and starred in.

Most recently, he starred in Mark Mylod’s The Menu for Searchlight, produced by Adam McKay; Amazon’s Road House, a remake of the 1989 film opposite Jake Gyllenhaal; and Michael Liwak’s feature Molli and Max in the Future.

His additional credits include the Joseph Gordon-Levitt Apple series Mr. Corman produced by A24 and Antoine Fuqua’s Amazon series The Terminal List.

He can also be seen in Netflix’s Narcos Season 2, where he played the menacing son and tyrant of a Colombian drug lord.

Roadside Attractions Acquires Rights to John Leguizamo-Starrer “Bob Trevino Likes It”

Posted on August 16, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

John Leguizamo’s latest project is getting Roadside attention…

Roadside Attractions has acquired rights to Bob Trevino Likes It, an indie drama starring the 64-year-old Colombian actor.

The film, which also stars 27-year-old Brazilian American actress Barbie Ferreira, won the Audience Award and Grand Jury Award.

Bob Trevino Likes It was written and directed by Tracie Laymon and also stars French Stewart, Lauren “Lolo” Spencer and Rachel Bay Jones.

Roadside is aiming for an early 2025 theatrical release.

Inspired by the true story of a friendship Laymon struck with a stranger when looking for her father online, the film centers on Lily (Ferreira), who longs for a familial connection, having been abandoned by her mother as a child and then by her father in her 20s. A Facebook message to a stranger named Bob (Leguizamo) turns into a friendship that becomes a source of healing in both their lives.

Ferreira, Leguizamo, Carl Effenson, Mike Sobiloff, Peter Sobiloff, Kirk D’Amico and Kevin D. Forester are executive producers.

Presented by Myriad Pictures, Bob Trevino Like It is a Laymon’s Terms and Five By Eight production in association with Purple Intuition, Artimage, BondIt Media Capital, Daydream Studios, Seasick Studios, Myriad and Off Media.

“Tracie Laymon’s beautiful film is about finding family and community where you least expect it, and has revelatory performances from Barbie Ferreira and John Leguizamo,” Roadside’s co-president Eric d’Arbeloff said. “We think it will be a special communal experience when people see it in theatres.”

Leguizamo last appeared on the big screen in Violent Night and The Menu.

Ferreira last starred in the film Nope.

John Leguizamo to Star in Apple‘s Upcoming Drama Series “Firebug”

Posted on March 27, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

John Leguizamo is buggin’…

The 63-year-old Colombian Emmy– & Tony Award-winning actor will star alongside Taron Egerton in Apple‘s upcoming drama series Firebug.

Hailing from Apple Studios and creator Dennis Lehane, the series will be directed and executive-produced by Kari Skogland.

Written by Lehane and loosely inspired by true events, Firebug will follow a troubled detective and an enigmatic arson investigator (Egerton) as they pursue the trails of two serial arsonists.

Leguizamo with play Esposito, a former policeman with a lot of bad habits and a lot of good instincts.

Jurnee Smollett will also star in the series.

In addition to starring, Egerton will serve as executive producer alongside Richard Plepler through Eden Productions, Dan Friedkin and Bradley Thomas through Imperative Entertainment and Kary Antholis.

Leguizamo is host and executive producer of MSNBC’s hit travel show, Leguizamo Does America, which is currently in production on its second season.

He recently starred in Amazon series The Power, alongside Toni Collette, in Showtime’s five-part drama series Waco: The Aftermath, and in Mark Mylod’s horror comedy The Menu.

Leguizamo stars in the independent film Bob Trevino Likes It, which recently premiered at SXSW, winning the SXSW Grand Jury Award and the Audience Award in the Narrative Feature category.

He also stars as federal agent Gordon Rogers in The Green Veil drama series, which he produced alongside director Aram Rappaport.

Upcoming, he hosts the PBS documentary series American Historia: The Untold History of Latinos, a project he co-created with director Ben De Jesus. He’ll also be seen in the upcoming thriller feature Tin Soldier, opposite Robert Di Niro, Jamie Foxx and Rita Ora.

Arturo Castro to Star in Rotten Science’s “Operation Taco Gary’s”

Posted on June 28, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Arturo Castro has joined a new operation…

The 37-year-old Guatemalan actor has joined the cast of Operation Taco Gary’s.

Castro joins a roster of new cast additions that includes Dustin Milligan, Brenda Song, Tony Cavalero, Jason Biggs and Doug Jones.

They join previously announced cast member Simon Rex.

Written and directed by Michael Kvamme, the film from Rotten Science tells the story of Danny (Rex), an off-the-grid conspiracy theorist takes his estranged brother, Luke (Milligan), on a road trip with a secret agenda. Details as to the characters to be played by our other new cast members haven’t been disclosed.

“We’re so lucky to have Dustin joining our film to play Luke,” said writer-director Kvamme. “He’s compelling to watch and someone whom the audience will certainly relate with. We’ve been able to assemble a remarkable ensemble who we think will yield the best possible version of Operation Taco Gary’s.”

Castro has appeared on series like Mr. Corman, Broad City and Narcos, and in films like The Menu, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, Yes Day and Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, to name a few. He’ll next appear in Prime Video’s Road House reimagining with Jake Gyllenhaal, among other projects.

Part of the cast of HBO’s televangelist family comedy series The Righteous Gemstones, which just recently returned for its third season, Calavero has also been seen on The Conners, Miracle Workers and more. His credits in film include The Binge and sequel It’s A Wonderful Binge, as well as Netflix’s Mötley Crüe film The Dirt, which had him playing Ozzy Osbourne.

John Leguizamo to Receive Impact Award at This Year’s Miami Film Festival

Posted on February 25, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

John Leguizamo is being honored for his impact…

The 62-year-old Colombian actor, comedian and film producer will receive the Miami Film Festival‘s Impact Award on March 11.

Leguizamo’s new MSNBC series Leguizamo Does America will screen ahead of the award presentation. The festival’s upcoming 40th edition runs from March 3-12.

Leguizamo has more than 75 film, theater and television credits, including Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge!, Summer of Sam and as the voice of Bruno on Encanto. Most recently, he co-starred in Mark Mylod’s film The Menu.

The Emmy winner is next set to star alongside Toni Collette in Prime Video’s The Power.

Following his MFF Impact award, Leguizamo will premiere his directorial debut, Critical Thinking, at the 2023 SXSW Film Festival. In addition to his Emmy award, Leguizamo has received a Drama Desk award and a special Tony award for his one-man show, Latin History for Morons.

Leguizamo Does America follows the actor as he travels from San Juan, Puerto Rico to East Los Angeles while making a few surprising stops along the way. In addition to celebrating and honoring Latino history, culture and food, Leguizamo will speak with Latino actors, the Latino immigrants who transformed the city of Chicago, as well as the indigenous people of Puerto Rico. Leguizamo Does America will premiere on MSNBC on April 16 at 10 p.m.

In addition to Leguizamo, the Miami Film Festival will honor Nicolas Cage with the Variety Legend & Groundbreaker Award, Diego Luna with the Variety Virtuoso Award and Nicholas Britell with Art of Light Composer Award, presented by Alacran Group.

The complete Miami Film Festival program is available at miamifilmfestival.com.

Aimee Carrero to Star in the Buddy Action-Comedy “Code 3”

Posted on January 30, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Aimee Carrero has broken the code…

The 34-year-old Dominican actress will star in the buddy action-comedy Code 3 opposite Rainn Wilson and Lil Rel Howery.

Production is set to begin in February.

She’ll portray Jessica, a newbie paramedic who is eager to learn is well-trained, and is superb under pressure. In the 24-hour shift where she’s training to replace Randy (Wilson), she’s in for an incredible day of surprises and realizations.

The film, by director Christopher Leone, follows a day in the life of two overworked, underpaid, and nearly burnt-out paramedics. One EMT is so burnt-out by the job that he’s forcing himself to resign, though he first must embark on one last 24-hour shift to train his replacement. Everything that could happen on the job, from the mundane to the extreme, then happens on this final, exhilarating day.

The script for Code 3 hails from Leone and former paramedic Patrick Pianezza. Angela Cardon will oversee the project for Wayfarer Studios and will serve as its sole financier.

Producers are Justin Baldoni and Andrew Calof for Wayfarer, Lawrence Mattis of Circle of Confusion, Matt Smith of Electro Corduroy Entertainment, and Paul “Pizza” Pianezza of Realdream.

Carrero’s breakout role was in Season 2 of FX’s The Americans playing the character of Lucia.

She can currently be seen in the Fox Searchlight film The Menu starring Ralph Fiennes and Anya Taylor-Joy, streaming now via HBO Max.

Additionally, she co-starred in the Apple TV+ holiday film Spirited opposite Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell.

Up next, she’ll appear as a series regular in Amazon’s The Consultant opposite Christoph Waltz in the role of Patti.

Anya Taylor-Joy to Star in Skydance’s “The Gorge”

Posted on October 14, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Anya Taylor-Joy is preparing for a Gorge-ous role…

The 26-year-old Argentine American actress will star opposite Miles Teller in Skydance’s The Gorge.

In addition, Apple Original Films has boarded the genre-bending love story.

Scott Derrickson will direct with Zach Dean penning the script, which he sold on spec to Skydance last year.

In addition to starring, Teller will serve as executive producer on the film.

Plot details are being kept under wraps other then it being described as a high-action, genre-bending love story.

The project gained some serious momentum this summer when Teller began eyeing it as his next film following the global success of his summer tentpole Top Gun: Maverick. Derrickson had been previously attached but was also weighing other projects following the success of one of the years biggest horror films The Black Phone but once Teller committed to the film, Derrickson was quick to name it his next directing job and the project was fast-tracked by Skydance.

Given Apple and Skydance’s first-look partnership, the studio looked to be in pole position to land the film and once Taylor-Joy signed on, Apple was quick to make it official.

Taylor-Joy, a SAG Award and Golden Globe winner, currently appears in David O. Russell’s Amsterdam.

The Queen’s Gambit star will next appear in the dark comedy The Menu, which also stars Ralph Fiennes and Nicholas Hoult.

She recently wrapped production on the highly-anticipated Furiosa, a spin-off film from George Miller, which is based on the character from Mad Max: Fury Road. She is also set to voice Princess Peach in Universal and Illumination’s Super Mario Bros. movie.

Searchlight Pictures Releases Trailer for Anya Taylor-Joy’s Darkly Comic Horror Film “The Menu”

Posted on June 1, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Anya Taylor-Joy’s plate is full… But of what?

Searchlight Pictures has released the first teaser for its darkly comic horror film The Menu, starring the 26-year-old Argentine American actress, Ralph Fiennes and Nicholas Hoult.

Hailing from director Mark Mylod, the film sees a couple (Taylor-Joy and Hoult) travel to a coastal island to eat at an exclusive restaurant where Chef Slowik (Fiennes) has prepared a lavish menu, with some shocking surprises.

The trailer shows Slowik welcome guests to a restaurant named Hawthorne.

“It’ll be our pleasure to feed you,” he says. “Over the next few hours, you will ingest fat, salt, protein and at times, entire ecosystems.”

It sounds fair enough, until Hawthorne’s dark side is quickly revealed, with the Chef warning Taylor-Joy’s Margot that she shouldn’t be there.

“You, my dear guests, are not the common man. Isn’t that right?” he later says. “What happens inside this room is meaningless compared to what happens outside. We are but a frightened nanosecond; nature is timeless.”

While it hasn’t been explicitly stated what “shocking surprises” await those heading to Hawthorne, it seems probable that cannibalism plays some role in this tale.

The Menu‘s cast also includes Hong Chau, Janet McTeer, Judith Light, Reed Birney, Paul Adelstein, Aimee Carrero, Arturo Castro, Mark St. Cyr, Rob Yang and John Leguizamo.

Seth Reiss and Will Tracy wrote the script, with Hyperobject Industries’ Betsy Koch and Adam McKay producing, Michael Sledd executive producing, and Hyperobject’s Jenna Go serving as associate producer.

The film is slated for release in theaters on November 18.

Arturo Castro to Star in the Gourmet Dark Satire “The Menu”

Posted on October 6, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Arturo Castro is ordering off The Menu…

The 35-year-old Guatemalan actor has been cast in Searchlight Pictures’ gourmet dark satire The Menu, which is currently filming in Savannah, GA.

Castro joins a roster of new cast additions that includes Paul Adelstein, Rob Yang, Mark St. Cyr, Rebecca Koon, Peter Grosz and Christina Brucato.

They join the previously announced line-up of the Mark Mylod-directed feature: Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Fiennes, Nicholas Hoult, Hong Chau (Elsa), Janet McTeer (Lillian Bloom), John Leguizamo (as Movie Star), Aimee Carrero (Felicity), Reed Birney (Richard) and Judith Light (Anne).

Based on an original screenplay by Seth Reiss and Will Tracy, The Menu follows a young couple, Margot and Tyler (Taylor-Joy and Hoult), who travel to a remote island to eat at an exclusive restaurant where Chef Slowik (Fiennes) has prepared a lavish menu, with some shocking surprises.

Castro will portray Soren.

He previously appeared on the Comedy Central series Broad City and the Netflix series Narcos.

Aimee Carrero to Star in Searchlight’s Comedic Psychological Thriller “The Menu”

Posted on September 2, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Aimee Carrero is ordering from the menu…

The 33-year-old Dominican and Puerto Rican actress has joined the cast of Searchlight’s The Menu.

The film, directed by Mark Mylod, is a darkly comedic psychological thriller set in the world of eccentric culinary culture, centering on a young couple who visit an exclusive restaurant on a remote island where an acclaimed chef has prepared a lavish tasting menu.

Previously announced cast includes Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Fiennes, John Leguizamo, Nicholas Hoult, and Hong Chau.

Carrero has a long list of credits in both television and film. On the small screen, she’s appeared in The Mentalist, The Americans, Level Up, and Young & Hungry, among others. And in The Last Witch Hunter, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, Holidate, and most recently, Wander Darkly, for the big screen.

She’s most famously known for voicing Disney’s first Latina princess Elena of Avalor in the Disney Channel animated series of the same name, and for bringing to life the titular character in Netflix’s She-Ra and the Princess of Power.

Up next for Carrero is a recurring role in The Maid for Netflix set to be released October 1, and the as-yet-untitled The Boys spin-off for Amazon Prime Video.

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