Syfy Renews Acevedo’s “12 Monkeys” for Fourth Season

Posted on March 18, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

It’s the last hurrah for Kirk Acevedo…

Syfy has renewed its series 12 Monkeys, starring the 45-year-old Puerto Rican actor, for a 10-episode fourth season likely in 2018, which will be its last.

“With its time-twisting themes and edge-of-your-seat storyline, 12 Monkeys is the perfect show to air this way,” said Chris McCumber, President of Entertainment Networks at NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. “It’s grown into a world well beyond the original film, and after seeing the creative strength of Season 3, we couldn’t wait to pick it up for a fourth season.”

Based on the 1995 feature film, 12 Monkeys follows the journey of Cole (Aaron Stanford), who is sent back in time from a dark, hellish future to prevent it from ever happening. Joining forces in the present with Dr. Railly (Amanda Schull), Cole must defeat a centuries-old malevolent organization known as the Army of the 12 Monkeys. As Cole, Railly and their unlikely allies get closer to the truth, they’ll learn there are deadly consequences for all of history — and time itself.

In addition to Acevedo, who portrays Jose Ramse, Stanford and Schull, the cast also includes Emily Hampshire, Barbara Sukowa and Todd Stashwick.

Season 3 of 12 Monkeys will bow on May 19, with the first four episodes back-to-back starting at 8 PM. Then three episodes will air from 8-11 PM the next two nights.

12 Monkeys is produced by Universal Cable Productions in association with Atlas Entertainment.

Guevara to Star in Syfy Pilot “Happy!”

Posted on March 6, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Zabryna Guevara is doing a Happy dance…

The 45-year-old Latina actress has signed on as series regular opposite Chris Meloni and Lili Mirojnick in Syfy pilot Happy!, based on Grant Morrison and Darick Robertson’s graphic novel.

Written by Morrison and Brian Taylor who also directs, Happy! hails from Universal Cable Productions.

It follows Nick Sax (Meloni) – an intoxicated, corrupt ex-cop turned hit man — who is adrift in a world of casual murder, soulless sex and betrayal. After a hit gone wrong, his inebriated life is forever changed by a tiny, relentlessly positive, imaginary blue winged horse.

Guevara is Amanda Hansen, a single mom facing every mother’s worst nightmare; the disappearance of her young daughter. Facing an official cover-up, and dragged into a cruel conspiracy, Amanda must overcome a history of depression and anxiety to find within herself the strength and resources she’ll need to go up against a seemingly unbeatable foe.

Guevara starred as Sarah Essen on Gotham and recurs on Baz Lurhmann’s The Get Down.

Torres Closes Deal to Star in Potential “Suits” Spinoff Series

Posted on March 2, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

It’s official… Gina Torres is suiting up for a spinoff…

The 47-year-old Cuban American actress has finalized a deal with the studio behind the hit USA legal drama series Suits, Universal Cable Productions, to headline and produce a potential spinoff series centered on her Suits character, uber attorney and office style icon Jessica Pearson.

The project will be shepherded by Suits creator/showrunner Aaron Korsh, whose deal is still being worked out.

The new series, in the very early stages of development, is based on an idea Torres brought to UCP, with Torres’ deal closing quickly as she was fielding offers for broadcast pilots.

“I’m beyond grateful for this opportunity and the level of confidence Bonnie Hammer, Jeff Wachtel and everyone at UCP have in me and the potential of this project,” Torres said in a statement to Deadline. “Can’t wait to get started.”

Korsh will serve as an executive producer and showrunner on the spinoff series, while maintaining his showrunner duties on Suits.

“Gina had the idea and went to the studio. She pitched an idea of what happens if we follow Jessica into the future a little bit,” Korsh told Deadline. “She has a specific take on it that we’re still mulling over right now. They were excited about it, I was excited about it, and we decided to move forward with thinking about what it is.”

Torres’ deal comes as Jessica Pearson made a surprise return to Suits in the final minutes of Suits’ Season 6 finale. It was Torres’ first time back on the show since exiting as a series regular in the Season 6 summer finale in September.

Torres In Talks with USA Network to Headline Potential “Suits” Spinoff

Posted on February 25, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Gina Torres may be suiting up for a spinoff…

The 47-year-old Cuban American actress is in early talks to headline a new series for USA Network based on her former Suits character.

While a Jessica Pearson (Torres) spinoff had been talked about on- and off- for more than a year as USA’s interest in an offshoot has grown, conversations have reportedly heated up recently as Torres has been fielding broadcast pilot offers for a second straight year.

Last year, she was cast as the lead in the ABC drama pilot The Death of Eva Sofia Valdez, which didn’t move forward, but the threat of potentially losing Torres for years, if the pilot she chooses this time around becomes a successful series, is likely motivating USA and Suits producer Universal Cable Productions to act now.

Deadline reports that negotiations are in preliminary stages, with no deals in place, and no fully formed concept yet. But the new series would center on Torres’ intrepid and stylish attorney character, Jessica Pearson.

Torres’ Jessica Pearson was one of Suits’ most popular characters. Torres left the show midway through the current sixth season after approaching Korsh earlier with the request because it was getting difficult for her to be away from her family, who are based in Los Angeles, since Suits films in Toronto.

She has been selective in her post-Suits choices, currently doing a season-long arc on ABC drama The Catch, which films in Los Angeles.

Rendon Cast in Bravo’s Dark Comedy Series “My So Called Wife”

Posted on September 3, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Marianne Rendón is livin’ the wife..

The Latina actress, a Hollywood newcomer, has landed a series regular role in Bravo’s dark comedy series My So Called Wife, from Universal Cable Productions and executive producers Adam Brooks and Paul Adelstein.

My So Called Wife follows Maddie (Inbar Lavi), a master-of-disguise con-artist who gets men and women to fall in love with her, marries them and then disappears with their money and just enough dirty inside information to guarantee they will never go to the police. But things become complicated when Ezra, her most recent mark, meets up with another of her heartbroken victims and they decide to track down Maddie and her cohorts.

Rendón will play Jules, a smart, attractive, wickedly funny and charming artist.

Rendón landed the role just a few weeks after graduating from The Juilliard School.

Escarpeta Lands Recurring Role in Syfy’s Drama Series “The Magicians”

Posted on August 11, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a magical time for Arlen Escarpeta…

The 35-year-old Belizean actor has landed a recurring role on Syfy’s drama series The Magicians, from Universal Cable Productions.

Based on the bestselling novels from Lev Grossman, The Magicians centers on Quentin (Jason Ralph), a brilliant graduate student chosen to attend Brakebills College for Magical Pedagogy, a secret upstate New York university specializing in magic.

Escarpeta, who portrayed Bobby Brown in Lifetime’s Whitney Houston biopic, will play Prince Ess, a handsome, rugged, pelt-clad man, with a sort of frat bro air of entitlement and the ruler of Loria.

Escarpeta, a series regular on NBC’s American Dreams for three seasons, also appeared in the feature films Into The Storm and Final Destination 5.

Syfy to Premiere Ramos’ Futuristic Thriller “Incorporated” in November

Posted on August 4, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Eddie Ramos is incorporating…

Syfy is set to debut the futuristic thriller Incorporated, starring the 24-year-old Latino actor, on Wednesday November 30.

Incorporated is set in a near future where corporations have unlimited power. Sean Teale stars as Ben Larson, a young exec who conceals his true identity to infiltrate a dangerous corporate world to save the woman he loves. Larson, though, isn’t the only one whose secrets might have deadly consequences.

In addition to Teale and Ramos, who portrays Theo, the series also stars Dennis Haysbert, Julia Ormond and Allison Miller.

Incorporated was created by Alex Pastor and David Pastor. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are among the show’s executive producers.

It’s produced by CBS Television Studios and Universal Cable Productions.

Ramos’ previous credits include television roles on Teen Wolf, Real Husbands of Hollywood, NCIS: Los Angeles and Parenthood.

Syfy Renews Acevedo’s “12 Monkeys” for a Third Season

Posted on July 1, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Expect more monkeying around from Kirk Acevedo…

Syfy has ordered a 10-episode third season of its time-travel thriller series 12 Monkeys, starring the 44-year-old Puerto Rican actor.

Based on the 1995 feature film of the same name, 12 Monkeys follows the journey of Cole (Aaron Stanford), a time traveler sent back in time from a dark, hellish future to prevent it from ever happening. Joining forces in the present with Dr. Railly (Amanda Schull), Cole must defeat a centuries-old malevolent organization known as the Army of the 12 Monkeys. As Cole, Railly and their unlikely allies get closer to the truth, they’ll learn there are deadly consequences for all of history … and time itself.

In addition to Acevedo, who portrays Jose Ramse, Stanford and Schull, the cast also includes Emily Hampshire, Barbara Sukowa and Todd Stashwick.

“In two short seasons, 12 Monkeys has become a cult favorite series,” said Chris McCumber, President of Entertainment Networks at NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. “Terry and the cast and crew have brought to life a rich world not confined by boundaries of time, with multi-dimensional characters whose motivations for saving the world are deeply personal and intensely relatable. It’s exactly the type of smart, on-the-edge-of-your-seat entertainment we want to bring to Syfy viewers.”

12 Monkeys is produced by Universal Cable Productions in association with Atlas Entertainment.

Fresnadillo to Direct Amblin Entertainment’s “Haunted”

Posted on March 10, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Juan Carlos Fresnadillo is turning a new leaf…

The 48-year-old Spanish filmmaker is set to direct Amblin Entertainment’s Haunted, a film that is inspired by the 1898 Henry James gothic ghost story Turn of the Screw.

Penned by Chad Hayes and Carey Hayes, the film is considered a passion project for Steven Spielberg, who really wanted to make a horror film.

Fresnadillo’s breakout film was 28 Weeks Later; his Spanish-language directing debut was Intacto, this after he received an Oscar nomination for his short film Linked.

Lately Fresnadillo, a Goya Award winner for Best New Director, has been busy working in television: He directed the pilot Falling Water, which got picked up by USA Network and was done under his overall deal with Universal Cable Productions.

He’s prepping to next direct Prototype, a UCP pilot for a Syfy series that he’s will also executive produce.

Ramos to Star in Syfy’s Futuristic Pilot “Incorporated”

Posted on July 26, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Eddie Ramos is headed to the Red Zone…

The 23-year-old Latino has been cast as one of the leads in the Syfy pilot Incorporated.

Ramos joins Sean Teale and Georgina Haig in the futuristic pilot, which is set in 2062 in a world where climate change has ravaged the planet, ethical boundaries have been redrawn and American cities have become a mix of the luxurious and the medieval.

Haig will star as Laura, who is married to Ben (Teale), a rising star in a mega-corporation called Chrysalis who is determined to climb the rickety, bloodstained ladder of success. Laura is a successful plastic surgeon who’s also the daughter of Ben’s boss. While Ben and Laura make their home in the lush, manicured Green Zone of the well-to-do, Theo (Ramos) dwells in the dangerous, poverty-stricken Red Zone and might provide a surprising connection to Ben’s past.

Ramos has appeared on several television series including Teen Wolf, NCIS: Los Angeles and Parenthood.

Created by David and Alex Pastor, who wrote and will direct the pilot, Incorporated will explore the growing influence of corporations and private interests in Washington, the slow but steady dismantling of the public sector and the increase of an amazing amount of wealth by an ever-shrinking minority.

The drama hails from Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s Pearl Street Productions, CBS Television Studios and Universal Cable Productions.

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