Tag Archives: Tyler Perry

Rodriguez Joins Voice Cast of Sony Pictures Animation’s “The Star”

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Gina Rodriguez is wishing on a Star…

The 32-year-old Puerto Rican actress has joined the A-list voice cast of Sony Pictures Animation’s The Star.

Gina Rodriguez

The story follows a small but brave donkey named Bo (Steven Yeun) who yearns for a life beyond his daily grind at the village mill. As the logline states: “One day he finds the courage to break free, and finally goes on the adventure of his dreams. On his journey, he teams up with Ruth, a lovable sheep who has lost her flock and Dave, a dove with lofty aspirations. Along with three wisecracking camels and some eccentric stable animals, Bo and his new friends follow the Star and become accidental heroes in the greatest story ever told – the first Christmas.”

In addition to Yeun and Rodriguez, the Golden Globe-winning star of the CW’s Jane the Virgin who will voice Mary in the film, the star-studded voice cast includes Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry, Tracy Moran, Kris Kristofferson, Kristin Chenoweth, Kelly Clarkson, Gabriel Iglesias, Ving Rhames and Christopher Plummer who will voice King Herod.

Directed by Oscar-nominated writer-director Timothy Reckart, the family-friendly film will be released wide on November 10.

The screenplay was written by Carlos Kotkin from a story by Kotkin and Simon Moore.

TLC to Debut Ochoa’s Series “Tyler Perry’s Too Close To Home” in August

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Christian Ochoa is coming Home this August…

TLC has set August 22 for the premiere of its first scripted series, Tyler Perry’s Too Close To Home, featuring the Cuban-American actor in a recurring role.

Christian Ochoa

Too Close to Home tells the story of a young woman from a modest upbringing who discovers she may have a bright future in Washington D.C.’s fast-paced political scene. When Anna (Danielle Savre) leaves her trailer park home in Alabama in a cloud of dust, she cuts all ties with her family and buries every element of her checkered past. Her friends in Washington think she comes from a wealthy family and know nothing of her real upbringing. Suddenly, the real Anna is exposed when she causes a major political scandal and makes national headlines for her part in an affair with one of the nation’s most powerful players. With nowhere to turn, she’s forced to find sanctuary in the only place she has left – home.

In addition to Ochoa and Savre, the cast includes Brock O’Hurn, Kelly Sullivan, Brad Benedict and Brooke Anne Smith, Alpha Trivette, Trisha Rae Stahl, Robert Craighead, Annie Thrash, Curran Walters, Ashley Love-Mills, Nick Ballard, Charles Justo and Justin Gabriel.

Heather Locklear and Matt Battaglia join the cast as guest stars.

The eight-part drama will kick off with a two-hour premiere at 9:00 pm ET on Monday, August 22.

Ochoa’s other credits include appearances on Burn Notice and Scorpion.

Trailer Released for Thorne’s Latest Film “Boo! A Madea Halloween”

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Bella Thorne is Mad(ea) about Halloween…

The official trailer has been released for Tyler Perry’s latest Madea installment, Boo! A Madea Halloween, which stars the 18-year-old half-Cuban American actress/singer.

Bella Thorne

What started as a joke in Chris Rock‘s Top Five prompted Perry to launch the latest installment in the Madea franchise (also the original title Rock created as a spoof).

During an appearance on The Tonight Show, Perry told host Jimmy Fallon that Lionsgate called him because they loved the idea.

“Dude, it’s a joke in Chris’ movie!” Perry said. “But then I came up with the concept, and it’s pretty damn funny.”

As per usual with Perry’s movies, he wrote, directed, produced and stars in Boo! 

The trailer opens with what appears to be a customary horror film, until Madea steps in and punches a clown. It’s Halloween, and she’s eager to make some money — even if it means keeping her eye on a group of rebellious teens (Thorne, Diamond White) who want nothing more than to hit the party around the corner.

The girls won’t be Madea’s only challenge, though. Throughout the trailer, she encounters ghosts, zombies and killers, among others.

“You see white people?” Joe whispers, prompting screams from the entire room.

Jimmy Tatro and Cassi Davis round out the film’s cast.

Boo! A Madea Halloween hits theatres this October.

Ochoa Lands Recurring Role on TLC’s Tyler Perry Drama “Too Close to Home”

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Christian Ochoa is coming home…

The Cuban-American actor has landed a recurring role on TLC’s first scripted drama series, Too Close to Home, written, directed and produced by Tyler Perry.

Christian Ochoa

The eight-part drama follows Anna (Danielle Savre), a young woman who escaped her working-class upbringing in Alabama to start fresh in Washington, D.C. After making national headlines in a major political scandal involving one of the nation’s most powerful players, she is forced to return to her roots and face a past she thought she’d left behind. Seeking help and forgiveness from the same people she abandoned for a “better” life, Anna finds herself right back where she worked so hard to escape.

Production began this week at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, and the premiere is slated for later this summer.

Heather Locklear and Matt Battaglia join as guest stars. Cast in other leading roles are Brock O’Hurn, Kelly Sullivan, Brad Benedict and Brooke Anne Smith. Series regulars include Alpha Trivette, Trisha Rae Stahl, Robert Craighead, Annie Thrash and Curran Walters.

In addition to Ochoa, others set for recurring roles include Ashley Love-Mills, Nick Ballard, Charles Justo and Justin Gabriel.

“We are thrilled with this dynamic cast for our first-ever scripted project on TLC,” said Nancy Daniels, the cable net’s president and GM. “Tyler Perry has proven time and time again that his characters are at the crux of great storytelling. Too Close to Home is yet another example of that, and we know our viewers will be enthralled with how this story unfolds.”

Prince Royce to Appear in Hulu’s Teen Drama Series “East Los High”

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Prince Royce is heading back to high school…

The 26-year-old Dominican American pop/bachata singer is joining the cast of East Los High, the Hulu series about teens growing up in East Los Angeles.

Prince Royce

Royce will appear in East Los High’s fourth season playing the recurring role of Vincent, the coach of the Jefferson Park Dance crew.

Royce, who appears to be making moves in the acting world, is also starring in Fox’s live musical The Passion along with Trisha Yearwood, Tyler Perry and Jencarlos Canela.

As for “East Los High,” the current season is under production and will air on Hulu this summer. It also features Danielle Vega, Gabriel Chavarria, Alicia Sixtos and Vannessa Vasquez.

Prince Royce to Star in Fox’s Live Religious Musical Event “The Passion”

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Prince Royce is taking his Passion to a live audience…

The 26-year-old Dominican American singer has been tapped to star in Fox‘s live religious musical event The Passion, the network has revealed.

Prince Royce

The multi-platinum recording artist is set to play the disciple Peter.

Hosted and narrated by Tyler Perry, The Passion tells the 2,000-year-old story of the last hours of Jesus Christ’s life on earth through a variety of popular music, sung by the cast including Trisha Yearwood and Royce, and arranged by executive producer Adam Anders (Glee).

Set in modern-day, the event follows the dramatic and inspirational story of Jesus of Nazareth, as he presides over the Last Supper, and then is betrayed by Judas, put on trial by Pontius Pilate, convicted, crucified and resurrected. As Mary follows her son into Jerusalem, she already has witnessed Jesus struggle with opposition from other religious leaders, but bolsters him with the boundless depth of a mother’s love. Peter, meanwhile, remains one of Jesus’ closest confidantes, but his loyalty will be sternly tested.

The event will unfold live at some of New Orleans’ most iconic locations and feature a procession of hundreds of people carrying a 20-foot, illuminated cross from outside the Superdome to the live stage at Woldenburg Park on the banks of the Mississippi River.

Royce released his debut album in 2010 and saw it go triple-platinum. He has scored 11 No. 1 hits on the Latin and Tropical charts, won 20 Latin Billboard Awards and earned eight Latin Grammy nominations. His music has collected more than 1 billion online streams.

Longoria Developing Drama Project “Casino” NBC with Carlos Portugal

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Eva Longoria’s gamble is paying off…

The 40-year-old Mexican American actress, producer and activist’s production company UnbeliEVAble Entertainment has sold another project, the drama Casino, to NBC.

Eva Longoria

Written by East Los High co-creator Carlos Portugal, the project centers on the aftermath of a mogul’s mysterious death when his ambitious young widow and his illegitimate son have to join forces to save his famed casino, while circumstances surrounding his death come to light and threaten to take them both down.

Portugal executive produces with UnveliEVAble Entertainment’s Longoria and Ben Spector.

Universal Television, where the company is based, is the studio.

Casino stems out of efforts by the former Desperate Housewives star — who holds a master’s degree in Chicano studies — to bring Hispanic voices to television.

Born in Cuba, Portugal began his career at San Francisco PBS station KQED, where he produced the Emmy-winning documentary Frida Kahlo: Portrait of an Artist.

For the past three seasons, he has served as creator, showrunner, head writer and director of Hulu’s original drama series East Los High, directing 42 of the 48 produced episodes to date.

Before East Los High, Portugal worked on Tyler Perry’s Meet The Browns and House of Payne for TBS.

UnbeliEVAble has midseason NBC comedy series Hot & Bothered, starring Longoria, as well as three other broadcast projects in development: genre drama Zone of Silence at NBC with Blumhouse Productions and writer Rashad Raisani, comedy Bonita & Mechelle at NBC with Will Packer Prods and writer Kriss Turner Towner and a comedy at ABC with veteran comedy writer Bobby Bowman.

Rodriguez Lands Recurring Role on NBC’s Medical Drama “The Night Shift”

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Adam Rodriguez is ready to work the night shift…

The 39-year-old Puerto Rican/Cuban-American actor and CSI: Miami alum has landed a major recurring role on NBC’s drama series The Night Shift.

Adam Rodriguez

Rodriguez will appear on a minimum of five episodes in Season 2, portraying Dr. Joey Chavez, the newly hired night call trauma surgeon at San Antonio Memorial Hospital.

He’s described as an Air Force vet that served in Iraq whose personal experiences have led him to investigate his cases with an Eastern medicine perspective.

Rodriguez is currently shooting the Magic Mike sequel, Magic Mike XXL.

His previous credits include Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All By Myself and About Last Night.

On television, he most recently starred in CBS’ drama Reckless.

Season 2 of The Night Shift begins production on November 10 in Albuquerque, NM.

Rodriguez Signs with United Talent Agency (UTA)

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Adam Rodriguez is switching teams…

The 39-year-old Puerto Rican/Cuban-American actor has signed with global talent and literary agency United Talent Agency (UTA).

Adam Rodriguez

After starring as Det. Eric Delko for all 10 seasons of CBS’ police procedural CSI: Miami, Rodriguez can currently be seen in the network’s summer legal drama Reckless.

His feature credits include Tyler Perry‘s I Can Do Bad All by Myself, Magic Mike and the About Last Nightremake earlier this year.

In September, Rodriguez will join fellow UTA client Channing Tatum in shooting the sequel to Magic Mike, where he’ll reprise his role as the exotic dancer Tito.

Rodriguez, who signed a development deal for unscripted projects with Bunim/Murray Productions’ BMP Latin earlier this year, continues to be repped by A Management Company.

Henao to Star in Tyler Perry’s New OWN Drama Series “If Loving You Is Wrong”

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Zulay Henao has signed on for the wrong project…

The 35-year-old Colombian American actress has joined the principal cast of If Loving You is Wrong, the latest Tyler Perry drama series for OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network.

Zulay Henao

Premiering in September, the new series, which was formally called Single Mom’s Club, created, written, directed and executive produced by Perry, follows the relationships of a group of husbands and wives that live and love on the same street. While the neighbors come from very different backgrounds, their lives are similar — raising children, dealing with exes, worrying about money and keeping romance in their relationships. But just below the surface — secrets, lies and deception threaten to destroy what they have built.

Henao, who starred in The Single Moms Club, plays Esperanza, ex-wife of Edward, played by Joel Rush. She and Edward are parents of an eight-year-old girl. Esperanza is terrified what her ex will do when he finds out about her new boyfriend, Julius, played by Octavio Pizano.

The series also stars Amanda Clayton, Aiden Turner, Heather Hemmens, Eltony Williams, Edwina Findley, April Parker-Jones and Charles Malik Whitfield.

If Loving You is Wrong is Perry’s second drama series for OWN under his production deal with the network. The first, The Haves and the Have Nots, has been a breakout hit. It returned with new episodes May 27 to more than 3 million total viewers, becoming the network’s highest season premiere in history. Additionally, Perry’s OWN comedy, Love Thy Neighbor, returns with new episodes June 25.