Sebastian Lelio to Direct NASA-Themed Film “Voyagers”

Sebastian Lelio is preparing for a special voyage(rs)…

The 49-year-old Chilean director, screenwriter, editor and producer will helm Voyagers, his next film at FilmNation Entertainment.

Sebastián LelioAndrew Garfield is attached to play astronomer Carl Sagan and Daisy Edgar-Jones is expected to play Cosmos filmmaker Ann Druyan.

The feature is produced by Ben Browning for FilmNation Entertainment, Lynda Obst, and Druyan.

The film is set in 1977 as NASA prepared to launch humanity’s first interstellar probes and a team led by Sagan set out to create a message to accompany them — The Golden Record. But what starts out as a race-against-the-clock mission becomes an epic, unexpected love story between Sagan and his collaborator Druyan. FilmNation Entertianment paired Druyan with screenwriters Lelio and Jessica Goldberg, who wrote the original screenplay based on interviews with Druyan and many others who worked on the Golden Record project.

Lelio most recently co-wrote and directed The Wonder, starring Florence Pugh with House Productions and Element Pictures producing for Netflix. It was nominated for Outstanding British Film of the Year at last year’s BAFTA.

Danny Trejo to Star in Indie MMA-Themed Drama “American Underdog”

Danny Trejo is mixed-ing things up…

The 78-year-old Mexican American actor and Machete star has landed a role in American Underdog, an indie drama set in the world of MMA.Danny TrejoVeronica Falcón will also star in the film, which is now in production in Chicago.

The film, marking the feature directorial debut of Peruvian-American filmmaker Gustavo Martin, will also star Vishy Ayyar and Andrew Gray.

The film’s protagonist is Jai (Ayyar), an ex-con on a soulful path wrestling with personal redemption when outside circumstances pit him in the ring against the fierce opponent, Marcus (Gray).

Trejo portrays Dennis, who reluctantly comes out of retirement to train his former student, while Falcón steps into the role of Marcella, a local gym owner and community legend shepherding Jai in his return to fighting.

A production of Peach Partners, in association with Mulberry Films and MxW VenturesAmerican Underdog will also star Suleka Mathew (Your Honor), Taylor Treadwell (Big Little Lies), Omi Vaidya (3 Idiots), Ranjita Chakravarty (Never Have I Ever) and Jaspal Binning (The Newsroom).

Martin and Matthew Mascia wrote the script, with Naveen A. Chathapuram (The Last VictimBrown Nation), Rashaana Shah (IFC’s Bollywood Hero) and Cristy Coors Beasley (The WestsidersLonelyGirl15) aboard to produce.

Trejo is best known for his work in such films as MacheteGrindhouse, Planet TerrorFrom Dusk Till DawnHeat, Good MourningThe Ridiculous 6PredatorsHalloween, Smiley FaceThe Devil’s Rejects, the Spy Kids franchise, Once Upon a Time in MexicoxXx and Con Air, among many others.

His notable television credits include Better ThingsAmerican GodsThe Flash and Sons of Anarchy.

Falcón can currently be seen in the second season of HBO’s Perry Mason and has also appeared on shows like OzarkWhy Women Kill and Queen of the South, to name a few.

Her notable film credits for the actress include The StarlingJungle CruiseThe Forever Purge and Voyagers. Up next for release for her is the Amazon Studios drama A Million Miles Away with Rosa Salazar, Garret Dillahunt and Michael Peña.

Rosa Salazar to Star Opposite Michael Peña in Prime Video’s Film “A Million Miles Away”

Rosa Salazar is traveling a million miles…

The 37-year-old half-Peruvian Canadian actress has joined the cast of Prime Video’s Michael Peña starrer A Million Miles Away, which has entered production in Mexico City.

Rosa SalazarSalazar is among a list of new cast additions that includes Bobby Soto, Julio César Cedillo, Veronica Falcón, Sarayu Blue and Eric Johnson.

Others rounding out the ensemble of the Alejandra Márquez Abella-helmed film include Jordan Dean, Ashley Ciarra, Michelle Krusiec, Emma Fassler, Michael Adler, Carlos S. Sanchez and Isaac Arellanes.

A Million Miles Away is based on the inspiring true story of Jose Hernandez, who defied insurmountable odds to become the first migrant farmworker to travel to space. From six years old, he toiled in the fields between Michoacán and Stockton, California —dreaming of traveling the night skies on a rocket ship. Through his family’s support and his unrelenting determination, pushing through 11 rejections from NASA, Jose’s story is a tale of perseverance, community and sacrifice to accomplish an impossible dream.

Abella is directing from the script she wrote alongside Hernàn Jiménez and Bettina Gilois.

The Amazon Original Movie will ultimately stream on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

Salazar stars in Prime Video’s animated series Undone, and has also been part of such series as Big MouthBrand New Cherry FlavorB PositiveMan Seeking WomanParenthood and American Horror Story, among others.

She recently appeared in Dean Fleischer-Camp’s live-action-animated hybrid Marcel the Shell with Shoes On for A24, and has also been seen in multiple Maze Runner films, as well as such titles as Pink Skies AheadAlita: Battle AngelBird BoxThe Kindergarten Teacher and The Divergent Series: Insurgent.

The actress will next be seen in the Hulu series Wedding Season, launching in September.

Soto has been seen on series like Narcos: Mexico, and in such films as The Tax CollectorThe Quarry and A Better Life. He’ll next be seen in Chase Joliet’s drama Grapefruit, as well as Eva Longoria’s Flamin’ Hot for Searchlight and Michael Lozano’s Bridge to Somewhere.

Cedillo is perhaps best known for turns on such series as CoyoteNarcos: Mexico and Queen of the South. Notable film credits include The Harder They FallSicarioFronteraCowboys & Aliens, The Mist and Bordertown. The actor will next be seen in Jonás Cuarón’s feature Chupa, as well as Adrian Grunberg’s thriller The Black Demon, Lance Larson’s action-thriller Deadland and Mark Lambert Bristol’s dramedy Chocolate Lizards.

Falcón has previously appeared on series including Perry Mason, OzarkWhy Women Kill and Queen of the South, among many others. Notable film credits include The StarlingJungle Cruise, The Forever Purge and Voyagers. The actress will next be seen in Aitch Alberto’s film Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, based on the book by Benjamin Alire Sáenz.

Veronica Falcón to Star on Netflix’s Drama Series “Ozark” for Fourth & Final Season

Veronica Falcón is heading to the Ozarks

The 54-year-old Mexican actress, choreographer and Queen of the South scene stealer has joined the cast of Netflix’s drama series Ozark for its fourth and final season.

Veronica Falcon

Starring and executive produced by Jason Bateman, the series was created by Bill Dubuque and Mark Williams.

Ozark is a thrilling drama set in the present-day and follows the Byrde family’s journey from their normal, suburban Chicago life to their dangerous criminal enterprise in the Missouri Ozarks. The series explores capitalism, family dynamics, and survival through the eyes of (anything but) ordinary Americans.

Falcón will recur as Camila Elizonndro. She is the sister of drug cartel leader Omar Navarro (Felix Solis) whose son Javi Elizonndro (Alfonso Herrera) is scheming to take over his uncle’s cartel. Once she acknowledges her long dormant ambition, Camila quietly works behind the scenes to become a formidable player in her family’s drug empire.

In addition to Bateman, Ozark stars Laura Linney, Sofia Hublitz, Skylar Gaertner, Charlie Tahan, Jessica Frances Dukes, Lisa Emery, John Bedford Lloyd, and Joseph Sikora.

Chris Mundy returns as showrunner, writer and executive producer for Season 4. The series hails from MRC Television.

Falcón’s credits also include Room 104, Perry Mason, Perpetual Grace LTD, Why Women Kill and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

She will appear alongside Joseph Gordon-Levitt for Apple’s Mr. Corman and in Netflix’s Gentefied.

Her film credits include Jungle Cruise, The Purge, The Starling and Voyagers.

Lana Parrilla to Star on CBS All Access’ Anthology Series “Why Women Kill”

Lana Parrilla has landed a kill-er role…

The 43-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress has joined the cast for the second season of CBS All Access’ anthology series Why Women Kill.

Lana Parrilla

Parrilla, who won a Teen Choice Award for her role as The Evil Queen/Regina Mills on ABC’s Once Upon a Time, is part of a roster of new cast additions that includes Queen of the South’s Veronica Falcón, B.K. Cannon, Jordane Christie and Matthew Daddario.

They join previously announced cast members Allison Tolman and Nick Frost in the series that hails from Desperate Housewives creator Marc Cherry, Imagine Television Studios and CBS Studios.

This season of the dark comedy features a new ensemble cast and storylines set in 1949 that will explore what it means to be beautiful, the hidden truth behind the facades people present to the world, the effects of being ignored and overlooked by society, and finally, the lengths one woman will go in order to finally belong.

Parrilla will play Rita, the sardonic wife to the wealthy and evil Carlo Castillo. As she waits for her elderly husband to die, Rita runs the garden club with an iron fist and spends much of her time engaging in an affair with a younger lover.

Falcón will play Catherine, Carlo Castillo’s spinster daughter. Prim and proper, Catherine detests her father’s gorgeous wife, Rita, and returns to town after a mysterious accident, seeking a way to destroy her.

Parrilla can be seen in David Ayer’s indie thriller The Tax Collector. Her previous credits include Prior Boomtown, Windfall, Swingtown, Miami Medical, Spin City and 24.

Falcón’s credits include starring roles in Queen of the South, an episode of the anthology Room 104 and Perpetual Grace LTD. Most recently, she appeared in Perry Mason and can next be seen in Marvel’s Winter Falcon, as well as the upcoming films Jungle Cruise, the next installment of The Purge franchise, Ted Melfi’s The Starling and Neil Burger’s Voyagers.