Diany Rodriguez to Appear on Season Nine of NBC’s “The Blacklist”

Posted on October 18, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Diany Rodriguez is makin’ the (Black)list…

The Latina actress has joined the cast of NBC’s long-running drama The Blacklist for its upcoming ninth season of the series.

Rodriguez, who has appeared on Law & Order: Organized Crime, will appear in a heavily recurring role.

Rodriguez will play Weecha Xiu. With a tough physical presence and a hardened demeanor, Weecha is more than capable of defending herself against anyone who might threaten her or her associates.

The Blacklist, starring James Spader, Diego Klattenhoff and Amir Arison, will jump forward two years in its season 9 return airing on October 21 (8/7c) on NBC.

In The Blacklist, in the two years following the death of Elizabeth Keen, Raymond Reddington (Spader) and the members of the FBI Task Force have disbanded – their lives now changed in unexpected ways and with Reddington’s whereabouts unknown. Finding themselves each at a crossroads, a common purpose compels them to renew their original mission: to take down dangerous, vicious and eccentric Blacklisters.

The Blacklist is produced by Sony Pictures Television Studios and Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.

Rodriguez is best known for her role as A.D.A. Maria Delgado on NBC’s Law & Order: Organized Crime. She will soon be seen opposite Eugenio Debrez in Hulu’s upcoming rom-com The Valet.

Other credits include HBO’s The Outsider, Showtime’s Ray Donovan and NBC’s New Amsterdam, among others.

Eugenio Derbez’s English-Language Film “The Valet” Acquired by Disney/Hulu

Posted on July 6, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Eugenio Derbez’s latest project is headed to Hulu…

Lionsgate’s English-language remake of Francis Veber’s French feature hit The Valet, starring the 59-year-old Mexican actor/comedian, has been acquired by Disney’s direct-to-consumer platforms for a summer 2022 release as a Hulu Original in the U.S. and a Disney+ Star Original abroad.

Directed by Richard Wong and starring Derbez and Samara Weaving, The Valet follows Olivia (Weaving), a movie star who enlists Antonio (Derbez) – a parking valet – to pose as her lover to cover for a relationship with a married man (Max Greenfield). As a valet, the hard-working Antonio usually flies under the radar but his ruse with Olivia thrusts him into the spotlight and brings him to see himself more clearly than ever before.

Betsy Brandt, Marisol Nichols, Noemi Gonzalez, Carmen Salinas, Ravi Patel, Tiana Okoye, Diany Rodriguez, Armando Hernández, Carlos Santos, Amaury Nolasco, John Pirruccello and Alex Fernandez also star.

Additionally, reggaeton superstar Lunay is set to make his film acting debut in The Valet.

“What struck me most about The Valet is how closely my family resembled Antonio’s family and telling their story was like telling mine. It’s message of unity, seeing each other and human connection, is something the world could use right now and no one does that better than Hulu and Disney+,“ said Wong.

Rob Greenberg and Bob Fisher, who wrote Derbez’s $95M WW-grossing feature Overboard, also penned the remake of The Valet. Derbez and his producing partner Ben Odell produce through their 3Pas Studios banner.

“The Valet is a multi-generational, multi-cultural comedy in which people from two different worlds discover the humanity in each other. At 3pas studios we tell stories that try to unite us all and we love partnering with Hulu and Disney+ to bring this to the largest global audience possible,” said Derbez and Odell in a joint statement.

Lunay to Make Film Acting Debut in Eugenio Derbez’s “The Valet”

Posted on July 6, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Lunay is ready for his first feature film…

The 20-year-old Puerto Rican singer and rapper, born as Jefnier Osorio Moreno, is set to make his film acting debut in Lionsgate’s English-language remake of Francis Veber’s French feature hit The Valet.

Directed by Richard Wong and starring Eugenio Derbez and Samara Weaving, The Valet follows Olivia (Weaving), a movie star who enlists Antonio (Derbez) – a parking valet – to pose as her lover to cover for a relationship with a married man (Max Greenfield). As a valet, the hard-working Antonio usually flies under the radar but his ruse with Olivia thrusts him into the spotlight and brings him to see himself more clearly than ever before.

Lunay rose to acclaim in the Latin and reggaeton scene with the songs “A Solas“, “Luz Apaga“, “Soltera“, and “Soltera (Remix)“. In October 2019, he released his debut album Épico.

He won the award for artist “on the rise” at the 2019 Premios Juventud.

Carlos Santos to Star Opposite Eugenio Derbez in English-Remake of “The Valet”

Posted on May 20, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Carlos Santos is preparing for Valet service…

The 35-year-old Puerto Rican actor and comedian will star in Lionsgate’s The Valet, the English-language remake of Francis Veber’s French film.

Santos joins a roster of new cast additions that includes Noemi Gonzalez (Selena: The Series, East Los High), Tiana Okoye (Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens, The Good Place), Diany Rodriguez (Law & Order: Organized Crime, New Amsterdam), Armando Hernandez (El César series on Prime Video, Disney+ series El Repatriado.

They join stars Eugenio Derbez and Samara Weaving in the film, which is being directed by Richard Wong.

The film, written by Rob Greenberg and Bob Fisher, follows Olivia (Weaving), a movie star who enlists Antonio (Derbez) – a parking valet – to pose as her lover to cover for a relationship with a married man. As a valet, the hard-working Antonio usually flies under the radar but his ruse with Olivia thrusts him into the spotlight and brings him to see himself more clearly than ever before.

Santos and Hernandez will play the valets who work with Antonio at a tony Beverly Hills restaurant.

Gonzalez will play Clara, Antonio’s sister and the wife of Benny, Antonio’s boss.

Okoye is Amanda, Olivia’s dedicated but jaded assistant.

Rodriguez will play Natalie, who works at Antonio’s neighborhood bike shop.

Derbez and Ben Odell are producing through their 3Pas Studios banner, while Meredith Wieck and Aaron Edmonds are overseeing the project for Lionsgate.

Marisol Nichols to Star Opposite Eugenio Derbez in the Lionsgate English-Remake of the French Hit “The Valet”

Posted on May 8, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Marisol Nichols is about to valet…

The 47-year-old half-Mexican American actress has joined the cast of the Lionsgate English-language remake of the French hit The Valet, joining stars Eugenio Derbez and Samara Weaving.

Nichols, who most recently starred on The CW’s Riverdale, joins a roster of cast newcomers that includes Max Greenfield, Betsy Brandt, and legendary Mexican screen and television icon Carmen Salinas.

Richard Wong is directing the film, which is currently in production. The original version was written and directed by Francis Veber.

Weaving stars as Olivia, a movie star who enlists Antonio (Derbez) – a parking valet – to pose as her lover to cover for a relationship with a married man. As a valet, the hard-working Antonio usually flies under the radar, but his ruse with Olivia thrusts him into the spotlight and brings him to see himself more clearly than ever before.

Nichols, who appears in Lionsgate’s upcoming film Spiral, will play Isabel, Antonio’s ex who he still carries a torch for.

Salinas, a screen legend with more than 110 movies and 30 television series to her credit, will play Cecilia, Antonio’s live-in mother.

Rob Greenberg and Bob Fisher penned the screenplay, which is being produced by Derbez and his producing partner Ben Odell through their 3Pas Studios banner.

“Production has begun and we couldn’t be more excited about the way this cast came together or this story,” said Derbez. “This is a romantic comedy with heart and soul starring some of today’s most talented young actors sharing the screen with a living legend of Mexican cinema.”

Eugenio Derbez Renews First-Look Deal with Pantelion Films

Posted on May 3, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a special re-up for Eugenio Derbez…

Following the impressive U.S. box office returns of the 54-year-old Mexican comedian’s English-language debut How to be a Latin Lover, Lionsgate-Televisa joint venture Pantelion Films has renewed its first-look deal with Derbez and producing partner Benjamin Odell’s production company, 3Pas Studios. The companies originally inked a first-look pact in August 2014.

The comedy about a gold-digging Lothario getting his comeuppance stars Derbez, Salma Hayek and a clutch of American actors led by Raquel Welch, Rob Lowe, Rob Corddry, Kristen Bell and Rob Riggle.

Ken Marino’s directorial feature debut grabbed the number two slot at the box office the weekend of April 28, grossing $12 million on just 1,118 screens. Its opening weekend audience was 89% Hispanic.

“It has always been our goal to reach deep into the acculturated Hispanic market,” said Pantelion CEO, Paul Presburger, adding: “I think we also accomplished what we have always wanted to do, which is to start bridging across acculturated Latinos to the general market.”

The deal renewal reflects Lionsgate’s commitment to underserved Hispanic audiences in the U.S. Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer has long been a strong advocate for Pantelion and its initiatives.

“We are really happy to continue our relationship with Pantelion, Lionsgate and Televisa,” said Odell, adding: “They provide us very strong support but allow us a lot of creative freedom as we continue to strengthen the 3pas Brand and expand both into the mainstream and internationally. We couldn’t think of better partners.”

How to be a Latin Lover is Pantelion’s second breakout hit with Derbez after his directorial debut Instructions Not Included, which became the highest-grossing Spanish-language film ever released in the U.S. ($44 million) and the highest-grossing Mexican film in Mexico ($48 million). Televisa’s distribution arm Videocine releases the comedy in Mexico May 5 on more than 3,000 screens. Hayek will be at the premiere Wednesday in Mexico City.

Founded some two years ago by Derbez and former Pantelion executive Ben Odell, 3Pas Studios has a packed slate of comedies in development.

Next out of the gate is Overboard, a remake of Garry Marshall’s ‘80s comedy starring Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell. Comedy is slated to start principal photography May 23 in Vancouver with Anna Faris starring opposite Derbez.

Aside from remakes of French comedy The Valet and Korean comedy Miss Granny and live action comedy Ponce, 3Pas is also producing animated feature La Familia Peluche, based on Derbez’s popular live action TV show that aired on Univision and Televisa.

Pantelion is also collaborating with Televisa and Starz on the series Teresa, based on the popular telenovela, and gearing up for the July launch of the still-unnamed streaming movie service with partners Univision and Hemisphere Media.

Derbez’s 3Pas Studios Extends First-Look Deal with Universal Television

Posted on June 26, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Eugenio Derbez is staying Universal…

The 54-year-old Mexican television actor and filmmaker’s 3Pas Studios, which has had a first-look with Universal Television since last year, just extended his agreement with the studio for another year.

The deal comes after he and his business partner Ben Odell set up two comedy projects last season: one at NBC (The Great Brown Hope) and the other at ABC (Don’t Judge Me).

3Pas Studio, based in Santa Monica, also has a first-look deal with Lionsgate’s Pantelion Films and recently set up their first film there: How to Be a Latin Lover in which Derbez stars along with Salma Hayek, Rob Lowe, Kristen Bell, Raquel Welch, Rob Riggle, Linda Lavin, McKenna Grace, Renee Taylor, Rob Huebel and Michaela Watkins.

Written by Chris Spain and Jon Zack, the film is being directed by The State alum and Wet Hot American Summer co-star Ken Marino.

Other projects 3Pas has in development include Ponce written by Max Botkin, about the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León and his search for the fountain of youth although set in modern-day America; The Valet, a remake of the 2006 French comedy; and the animated Speedy Gonzalez at Warner Bros.

“I couldn’t be happier to be spending another year with Universal,” Derbez said. “The team has been a true pleasure to collaborate with, and I am excited about what’s to come.”

Derbez Developing a Remake of the French Film “The Valet”

Posted on September 10, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Eugenio Derbez is ready for a makeover…

The 53-year-old Mexican comedian, actor, writer and filmmaker, who recently inked a first look deal with Pantelion Films, is developing a remake of the French film The Valet.

The film, written and directed by Francis Veber, was released in 2006 and grossed $29 million worldwide.

The story centers on a parking valet and a top model who have to pretend to be a couple in order to salvage a CEO’s marriage.

The Valet is the first project under his new agreement with Pantelion Films, a deal that underscores the high stakes of reaching the coveted Hispanic moviegoing audience — a fast-growing demographic at the box office.

Derbez starred in and directed Pantelion’s hit Instructions Not Included, the highest-grossing Spanish-language film ever released in the U.S. at $44 million. The film grossed another $55 million outside the U.S.

“Pantelion and Televisa can reach my core fan base better than anyone and, with the distribution expertise and brand recognition of Lionsgate, I know we can build on the crossover audience that we began to reach with Instructions,” said Derbez.

Derbez also starred in 2007’s Under the Same Moon, which took in about half of its $23 million worldwide in the U.S.

Pantelion, a partnership between Lionsgate and Mexican media conglom Grupo Televisa, made the deal with Derbez’s newly-launched 3Pas Studios production company. 3Pas, a partnership with former Pantelion President of Production Benjamin Odell, will focus on Spanish and English-language films targeting Latino and crossover audiences in the U.S.

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