Sofia Carson to Star in the YA Romance “Purple Hearts”

Posted on November 11, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Sofia Carson is in a purple haze…

The 27-year-old Colombian American actress & singer will star opposite Charles Melton in director Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum’s YA romance Purple Hearts about two star-crossed lovers.

Adapted from Tess Wakefield’s novel by Tony Award-nominee Kyle Jarrow and Liz Garcia, Rosenbaum will direct the story of aspiring singer-songwriter Cassie and military man Luke, who in spite of their apparent differences, fall hopelessly in love.

“Purple Hearts provides hope that two people with such differing world views, stuck in the same place, forced to fight the same fight, might be able to learn a little about each other’s beliefs, get over their own bullshit, start to understand each other and just maybe fall in love. It’s a very timely, emotional story – truly a romance for the ages,” says Rosenbaum.

Carson will also write and perform the film’s original soundtrack.

The film is produced by YA-book-to-screen specialists Alloy Entertainment, known for content including Everything, Everything, Gossip Girl, Pretty Little Liars and The Vampire Diaries.

Principal photography is due to start in May 2021 in Austin, Texas.

Best known for her role as Evie in Disney’s Descendants franchise and Freeform series Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists, Carson recently made her feature debut in Netflix movie Feel The Beat. Next up she will star alongside KJ Apa in pandemic thriller Songbird, produced by Michael Bay.

Nathalie Kelley to Star in ABC’s rom-com pilot “The Baker and the Beauty”

Posted on March 5, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Nathalie Kelleyhas landed a beauty of a role…

The 34-year-old Peruvian-Argentine actress and former Dynasty reboot star has been cast as the female lead in ABC’s pilot The Baker and the Beauty, an hour-long romantic comedy based on the Israeli series, from Keshet Studios, Universal Television and ABC Studios.

Written by Dean Georgarisand to be directed by David Frankel, The Baker and the Beauty follows the impossible Miami love story between a simple baker and an international superstar, Noa Hollander (Kelley) has it all: She’s the most famous woman in the country, the beautiful daughter of a real estate magnate, a successful model with an international career and, up until now, one half of a Hollywood power couple. The son of Cuban immigrants, Daniel Garcia is a simple guy who still lives with his parents and works at the family bakery. A chance encounter at a fancy restaurant — where Daniel may or may not propose to his eager girlfriend of eight years and where Noa is avoiding public speculation about a breakup from her Hollywood lover – leads to unexpected sparks and an even more unlikely love story.

Kelley’s Hollander is an international superstar recognized all over the world and one of the most famous and desired women on Earth. Noa was a young heiress, who turned her modeling career into a fashion empire and now is making the jump to acting. She has all the qualities you’d expect to find in an international superstar: She’s fickle, guarded, entitled — but underneath all that, there is a real warmth to her. She’s a woman with a lot of love to give but no real idea how to do that.

In the original Israeli series, which aired for two seasons, Noa Hollander was played by Rotem Sela.

Kelley played one of the leads, Cristal Flores, on the first season of the CW’s Dynasty reboot. Her exit triggered strong reaction from fans. Kelley also is known for her work on The Vampire Diaries and UnReal.

This marks her return to ABC and ABC Studios after a recurring role on Body of Proof.

On the big screen, Kelley played Neela in The Fast & the Furious: Tokyo Drift.

Michael Trevino to Star in the CW’s “Roswell” Reboot

Posted on March 7, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Michael Trevino is flying (saucer) high…

The 33-year-old Mexican-American actor has landed a role in the CW’s untitled Roswell pilot that acts as a reboot of the cult sci-fi series.

Trevino joins a cast that includes Jeanine Mason, Nathan Parsons, Lily Cowles, Michael Vlamis, Tyler Blackburn and Heather Hemmens.

The project hails from Amblin Television, Bender Brown Prods, Warner Bros. Television, Julie Plec and Carina MacKenzie.

Trevino, who played Tyler Lockwood on the CW’s The Vampire Diaries for eight seasons, reunites with Plec on the Roswell reboot, which was written by The Originals scribe MacKenzie.

Plec, who is directing the pilot, co-created Vampire Diaries and its spinoff The Originals.

The reimagined Roswell — like the original WB/UPN series based on the Roswell High book series by Melinda Metz — has an immigration twist, reflecting the realities of its location in a state bordering Mexico. After reluctantly returning to her tourist-trap hometown, the daughter of undocumented immigrants discovers a shocking truth about her teenage crush who is now a police officer: He’s an alien who has kept his unearthly abilities hidden his entire life. She protects his secret as the two reconnect and begin to investigate his origins, but when a violent attack and long-standing government cover-up point to a greater alien presence on Earth, the politics of fear and hatred threaten to expose him and destroy their deepening romance.

Trevino will play Kyle Valenti, the popular son of the town sheriff who questions his carefree outlook on life after learning the terrifying truth of his family’s legacy.

Trevino will next star in the feature film Out of Control.

Diaz to Star on the Second Season of CBS’ Drama Series “Zoo”

Posted on March 1, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a zoo out there for Alyssa Diaz…

The Colombian and Mexican American actress has been cast as a series regular on the second season of CBS’ summer drama series Zoo.

Based on the No. 1 bestseller by James Patterson, the series from CBS Television Studios, is a global thriller about a wave of violent animal attacks against humans across the planet.

Diaz will portray Dariela, part of a military unit that encounters a strange and troubling new development in the animal mutation.

Diaz has had recurring roles on Ray Donovan, The Vampire Diaries and The Nine Lives of Chloe King, and she played Gloria on Army Wives.

The CW Renews Pineda’s “The Originals” for a Second Season

Posted on February 16, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

The CW is sticking with Daniella Pineda’s Originals plan…

The network has given an early renewal to its strongest series, including the freshmen drama The Originals, which stars the 26-year-old Mexican-American actress.

After a somewhat discouraging start behind its mothership series The Vampire Diaries, The Originals has flourished in the Tuesday 8:00 pm slot despite gloom and doom predictions about its face-off with ABC’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Its potent pairing with Supernatural has doubled the CW’s Tuesday night ratings year-to-year in adults 18-34 (+100%, 1.4 vs. 0.7), grown +150% in adults 18-49 (1.5 vs. 0.6), and gained +88% in total viewers (3.2 million vs. 1.7 million).

Pineda portrays witch Sophie Deveraux on The Originals.

Her previous credits include appearances on Showtime’s Homeland and TNT’s Men of a Certain Age.

Garcia to Star in “Let’s Be Cops”

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Andy Garcia is joining the force…

The 57-year-old Cuban actor has been cast in 20th Century Fox’s Let’s Be Cops, an action comedy starring Damon Wayans Jr. and Jake Johnson.

The Luke Greenfield-directed picture will also star The Vampire Diaries’ Nina Dobrev and James D’Arcy.

Let’s Be Cops centers on two friends (Wayans and Johnson) who impersonate police officers using rented uniforms, giving their lives a boost and some fun. However, they run into trouble when they cross a dangerous Russian mobster.

Garcia will play a seasoned detective who inadvertently becomes the boss of the two wannabes.

The film is scheduled to begin shooting in Atlanta this summer.

It’s Garcia’s first studio movie since 2007’s Ocean’s Thirteen. He’s been acting and producing more character-driven projects like his starrer Middleton, which also stars Vera Farmiga.

The CW Gives Pineda’s “The Originals” a Series Order

Posted on April 26, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

It appears that you’ll be seeing more of Daniella Pineda on television…

The CW has given its The Vampire Diaries spinoff The Originals, which stars the Mexican American actress, a series order.

The network planted The Originals pilot episode in this week’s episode of its hit supernatural series.

Pineda portrays Sophie, a witch whose magic has been silenced but not killed. A leader and a sexy, sharp-tongued social force, she is quietly sowing the seeds of a revolution amongst her peers.

Pineda had previously co-starred in the NBC pilot Midnight Sun last season and recently guest starred on Showtime’s Homeland.

The CW Airs Trailer for “The Vampire Diaries” Spinoff, Featuring Pineda

Posted on April 19, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Daniella Pineda is ready for her close-up…

The Mexican-American actress will be starring in next week’s episode of The Vampire Diaries, which will actually serve as the pilot for The Originals, a spinoff of the CW’s hit supernatural series.

The CW aired the pilot’s extended trailer, featuring Pineda as a witch whose magic has been silenced but not killed, after the show’s episode this week.

Airing April 25, The Originals sends Klaus (Joseph Morgan) to the French Quarter of New Orleans, a town he helped build centuries ago. He’s soon reunited with his diabolical former protégé Marcel (Charles Michael Davis). Elijah (Daniel Gillies), intent on helping his self-destructive brother find redemption, must side with Marcel’s enemies in order to keep Klaus in line.

Phoebe Tonkin and Claire Holt reprise their roles, while Pineda, Danielle Campbell, and Leah Pipes join as new additions.

In the minute-long promo, we see how the story leaves Mystic Falls — with Damon (Ian Somerhalder) and Stefan (Paul Wesley) finding out Klaus skipped town — and follows Klaus as he reunites with his old friends.

When he reunites with Marcel, Klaus sees how different things have become and how powerful his mentee is. “Loyalty. Family. I want what he has,” Klaus says. “I want it back. I want to be king!”

Martines Lands Recurring Role on USA’s “Burn Notice”

Posted on March 16, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Stephen Martines is about to feel the burn…

The 37-year-old Latino actor and former General Hospital star has landed a recurring role on USA’s Burn Notice for its upcoming seventh season.

Martines will portray Carlos Cruz, a swashbuckling bounty hunter and Fiona’s (Gabrielle Anwar) charming new boyfriend.

Production on what could be the final season of Burn Notice, which will mark the series’ 100th episode, begins on Monday in Miami.

Martines, who portrayed Nikolas Cassadine on GH from 1999-2003, has appeared on Guiding Light, The Closer, Bones, CSI: Miami and The Vampire Diaries.

Guaty to Star in ABC’s Comedy Pilot “Spy”

Posted on March 5, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Camille Guaty is preparing for a super secret role…

The 34-year-old Puerto Rican & Cuban American actress has landed a role in ABC’s comedy pilot Spy.

The project centers on Tim (portrayed by Rob Corddry), a well–intentioned father of a highly intelligent and verbal son (Mason Cook) who inadvertently takes a job at the Secret Service in order to prove himself a worthy father.

Guaty will portray Caitlin, who is taking the CIA entrance exam along with Tim.

Her previous credits include a recurring role on The Vampire Diaries and The Chicago Code, as well as appearance on Drop Dead Diva, Prison Break and The Nine.

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