Netflix Releases New Trailer for Season 6, Part 2 of Xolo Maridueña’s “Cobra Kai”

Posted on October 23, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Xolo Maridueña is preparing for a final karate chop…

Netflix has released he new trailer for the second half of the sixth and final season of Cobra Kai, starring the 23-year-old Mexican, Cuban and Ecuadorian American actor.

In Season 6, Part 2, which will consist of five episodes that will all be available to binge on November 15, the cast goes international as the series arrives in Barcelona for the Sekai Taikai.

From creators Jon Hurwitz, Josh Heald and Hayden Schlossberg, Cobra Kai takes place over 30 years after the events of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament from The Karate Kid with the continuation of the inescapable conflict between Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka).

In the penultimate installment of the hit series, Miyagi-Do faces new challenges and old enemies as they fight to become world champions — can they stay united as internal rivalries bubble back to the surface?

There will be an ultimate face-off between Johnny and John Kreese (Martin Kove), at least for OG The Karate Kid fans. Sensei Kreese has been unable to give up the dream of reuniting with his former student Johnny, who the former considers as the one who got away. Kreese has attempted and failed to find a suitable replacement for Johnny in his Cobra Kai-focused life, and it’s about time Johnny proves that the student has not only surpassed his sensei but is a much better person for it.

Kreese may find it warm and cozy on the dark side, but Johnny has found love, friendship and fulfillment are part of the perks of basking in the light. He even mended fences and became basically a brother to his longtime nemesis, Daniel, a situation which may have shocked longtime fans more than the characters themselves. What will become of Kreese is only one of the major mysteries that will stress out viewers until there’s a resolution. Whether that will transpire in Part 2 or 3 is as yet unknown.

New players are joining the fold including Lewis Tan as “Sensei Wolf;” Patrick Luwis as “Axel Kovacevic” and Rayna Vallandingham as “Zara Malik.”

Part 2’s trailer reveals more about their characters and whether or not they’re involved in the Sekai Taikai. It’s worth noting Tan is a real-life martial arts expert.

A different recently released photo of the show reveals an awkward face-off between Chozen Toguchi (Yuji Okumoto) and Kim Da-eun (Alicia Hannah-Kim) is ahead. Looking at their faces there’s an uncomfortable tension and connection that makes me shiver. Is it love? Is it hate? I’m not even sure I want to know…

Even with all of the above, the core kids including Miguel (Maridueña), Robby (Tanner Buchanan), Samantha (Mary Mouser), Hawk (Jacob Bertrand), Tory (Peyton List), Kenny (Dallas Dupree Young) and Demetri (Gianni DeCenzo), to name a few, still have a lot of blood, sweat and tears in their immediate future. Kiai!

Seasons 1-6 Part 1 are currently available to stream via Netflix.

Netflix Releases Trailer & First-Look Images of Sixth & Final Season of Xolo Maridueña’s “Cobra Kai”

Posted on July 1, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Xolo Maridueña is training hard…

Cobra Kai is gearing up for the premiere of its sixth and final season on July 18, starring the 23-year-old Mexican, Cuban and Ecuadorian American actor, with the release of Part 1’s trailer and photos.

The series’ final season will be released in three parts on Netflix with Part 2 following on November 28 and the final installment set for 2025.

Cobra Kai takes place more than 30 years after the events of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament in The Karate Kid, with the continuation of the inescapable conflict between Daniel (Ralph Macchio) and Johnny (William Zabka) — but now their families also are involved.

Season 6 picks up following Cobra Kai’s elimination from the Valley as senseis and students decide if and how they’ll compete in the Sekai Taikai — the world karate championship.

The returning cast includes Maridueña, Courtney Henggeler, Tanner Buchanan, Mary Mouser, Jacob Bertrand, Peyton List, Vanessa Rubio, Dallas Dupree Young, Alicia Hannah-Kim, Griffin Santopietro, Oona O’Brien and Gianni DeCenzo.

Across 5 seasons, Cobra Kai has also featured the return of familiar faces from The Karate Kid film franchise including Yuji Okumoto, Martin Kove, Thomas Ian Griffith, Elisabeth Shue, Sean Kanan, Robyn Lively and Tamlyn Tomita, among others.

Cobra Kai is written and executive produced by Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg via their production company, Counterbalance Entertainment.

Will Smith, James Lassiter and Caleeb Pinkett executive produce for Westbrook Studios along with Susan Ekins in association with Sony Pictures Television. Ralph Macchio and William Zabka also serve as executive producers.

Adriana Barraza to Star in Prime Video’s Comic Book Series “El Gato”

Posted on June 11, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Adriana Barraza has found a purr-fect role…

The 68-year-old Mexican Oscar-nominated actress has landed a series regular role in Prime Video’s comic book series with the working title El Gato.

Barraza joins new cast addition Sarah Jones and previously announced leads Diego Boneta and Lorenza Izzo.

Based on the comic series El Gato Negro by Richard Dominguez, El Gato follows Frank Guerrero (Boneta), who returns home to Mexico after the death of his father and finds himself neck-deep in a nest of vipers – his estranged family – who are vying for control of his father’s business empire. But Frank’s grief is interrupted when he learns his only inheritance, a seemingly worthless parcel of land on the border, sits atop the lair of a famous costumed vigilante — his father, “El Gato.” Now, Frank is in the crosshairs. To survive, he’ll have to solve mysteries decades in the making and unravel the truth about his father’s connections to a modern-day terror plot.

Barraza will play Alma, who, in the 1970s, discovered her husband was living a double life: moonlighting as a costumed vigilante: El Gato Negro. Alma worked side by side with him for years, providing operational support for his missions. She is careful with her words, and vault-like in the keeping of secrets. Alma thought her old life was behind her, but now widowed, she finds herself pulled back into a world of masks. In the series, she will form an unlikely partnership with our hero, Frank – her husband’s bastard son. It will test the openness of her heart. This is Alma, back in the saddle for one last ride.

Jones will play Ashley, a CIA field agent working as our hero Frank’s handler. Ash is good at reading people. She’s a fast-talking cynic with something to prove. Ash believes the family agricultural business at the center of our series is a front for a criminal enterprise. As she develops Frank as a CIA asset, she will find herself dangerously drawn to him. She is well-trained, physically capable, and seemingly born for this. But it’s a deadly game she’s playing, and if she wants to survive this, she’ll need to watch her back.

Eric Carrasco created the series and will co-showrun with Turi Meyer and Alfredo Septién.

El Gato is being produced by MGM Television, a division of Amazon MGM Studios.

Barraza recently celebrated 50 years in the entertainment industry. She is best known for her collaborations with director Alejandro González Iñárritu in Amores Perros (1999) and Babel (2006), on which she made history as one of only six Mexican actresses to ever receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Most recently, she was a supporting lead in the DC Comics/Warner Bros feature film Blue Beetle opposite Xolo Mariduena and directed by Angel Manuel Soto.

In August, Barraza will star in the indie feature My Penguin Friend opposite Jean Reno.

Belissa Escobedo to Star in Reba McEntire’s Still-Untitled NBC Comedy Pilot

Posted on March 18, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Belissa Escobedo has lined up her next project…

The 25-year-old Latina actress and Blue Beetle star has been cast in Reba McEntire in her as-yet-untitled NBC multi-cam comedy pilot.

The project is produced by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.

The pilot follows Bobbie (McEntire) who inherits her father’s restaurant and is less than thrilled to discover that she has a new business partner in the half-sister she never knew she had.

Escobedo stars as Bobbie’s sister Isabella, an enthusiastic 20-something, who has studied psychology and loves to analyze people. She is thrilled to start working at the tavern and is full of “great” ideas about how to bring it to life.

Escobedo’s star continues to rise following two major roles in DC Entertainment/Warner Bros’ Blue Beetle, where he portrayed the titular character’s (played by Xolo Maridueña) sister Milagro, and Disney’s Hocus Pocus 2 where she popped off the screen—no easy task when you’re starring opposite Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy, who returned as the Sanderson sisters.

Additional credits include the ABC dramedy The Baker And The Beauty alongside Carlos Gomez, Lisa Vidal and Victor Rasuk; Ryan Murphy’s FX anthology series American Horror Stories, the Catherine Hardwicke-directed Quibi limited series Don’t Look Deeper and the American High films Sex Appeal (Hulu) and Sid Is Dead.

Xolo Maridueña to Star in the Eif Rivera-Directed Film “Killing Castro”

Posted on December 4, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Xolo Maridueña is killin’ it in Hollywood…

The 22-year-old Mexican, Cuban and Ecuadorian American actor and Blue Beetle star will star in the film Killing Castro.

Eif Rivera will direct the film from a script by Leon Hendrix, Thomas DeGrezia and Colin Bateman. This will be Rivera’s first feature film.

In addition to Maridueña, who rose to acclaim in Cobra Kai, will star alongside

Al Pacino, Mexican superstar Diego Boneta, KiKi Layne, Alexander Ludwig, Ron Livingston, Kendrick Sampson, Nicole Beharie, Logan Marshall Green and Titus Welliver in the film.

Based on true events, the film is set in 1960. Shortly after winning the Cuban revolution, Fidel Castro travels to New York City to deliver his first speech to the United Nations. When met with hostility at his original hotel, Castro meets Malcolm X who invites him to stay at famed Hotel Theresa in Harlem. With the eyes of the world watching, a rookie undercover FBI agent originally assigned to investigate Malcolm X suddenly becomes the FBI’s most valuable asset, and is tasked with keeping Castro from being eliminated by the CIA and the Italian mafia, by any means necessary.

Killing Castro will be produced by Romulus Entertainment’s Brad Feinstein, along with Christina Weiss Lurie of Fourth and Twenty-Eight Films. Romulus will also finance. Principal photography will take place in Newark, NJ.

“I am honored to be part of telling such an important story that is a piece of history which was largely unknown,” said Feinstein. “Killing Castro perfectly encapsulates the type of stories we strive to tell at Romulus Entertainment, stories that do more than entertain audiences, but create thought-provoking diverse content that bring to light the complexities of real life. We are looking forward to working with the incredible cast led by the inimitable Eif Rivera.”

Rivera is known for directing BMF, and TV shows including Force and Power Book III: Raising Kanan.

“I am excited to bring to life this compelling true story with the help of my remarkable cast and formidable producing team at Romulus Entertainment,” Rivera said.

America Ferrara to Receive Groundbreaker Award at Critics Choice Association’s Celebration of Cinema & Television: Honoring Black, Latino and AAPI Achievements

Posted on November 13, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

America Ferrara is receiving a special Critics Choice honor…

The 39-year-old Honduran American Golden Globe– and Emmy-winning actress is among the honorees for the Critics Choice Association’s Celebration of Cinema & Television: Honoring Black, Latino and AAPI Achievements.

Hosted by Nicco Annan, the event is slated for December 4 at the Fairmont Century Plaza.

Unlike last year, when the CCA held separate ceremonies for Black, Latino and AAPI Achievements, this year, because of the strikes, the CCA is presenting a one-time-only combination show, featuring more than 20 honorees who created some of this year’s most acclaimed films and television shows.

“For the last few years, the CCA has hosted individual Celebrations of Black, Latino and AAPI Cinema & Television. CCA will return to individual shows in 2024, but doing this special celebration allows us to continue the CCA’s tradition of supporting inclusion and creativity in our industry,” said CCA CEO Joey Berlin. “I am extremely proud to recognize this diverse group of honorees together on this one special night.”

This year’s honorees include:

Emmy Award-winning actor and producer Edward James Olmos who will receive the Icon Award for his incredible career including Zoot Suit, Selena, Stand and Deliver, Blade Runner, Miami Vice and most recently FX’s Mayans M.C.

Emmy Award-winning actress, producer and advocate Sheryl Lee Ralph will receive the Career Achievement Award for her extensive work in film & television with over 100 credits including ABC’s Abbott Elementary as well as Instant Mom, Ray Donovan, Moesha, Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit, Mistress, The Distinguished Gentlemen and To Sleep with Anger.

The Comedy Trailblazer Award will be bestowed upon comedian and actor Ken Jeong, whose notable credits include The Masked Singer, The Afterparty, Community, Crazy Rich Asians, I Can See Your Voice and The Hangover franchise.

Emmy Award-winning actor Jeffrey Wright will be honored with the Visionary Award for his performance in Orion Pictures/Amazon MGM Studios’ American Fiction.

Emmy- and SAG Award-winning actress America Ferrara will accept the Groundbreaker Award for her performances in Warner Bros.’ Barbie and Sony Pictures/Black Bear Pictures’ Dumb Money.

Oscar-nominated Charles D. King will receive the Producer Award for his most recent work on Netflix’s They Cloned Tyrone.

Award-winning director, producer, actress and advocate Eva Longoria will be recognized with the Breakthrough Director Award (Film) for her feature directorial debut, Searchlight Pictures’ Flamin’ Hot.

Greta Lee will receive the Actress Award (Film) for her performance in A24’s film Past Lives, while Colman Domingo will be recognized with the Actor Award (Film) for his performance in Netflix’s Rustin.

The Ensemble Award will be awarded to Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, Fantasia Barrino, H.E.R., Halle Bailey, Phylicia Pearl Mpasi, Domingo and Corey Hawkins for their performances in Warner Bros.’ The Color Purple.

Actress Da’Vine Joy Randolph will be honored with the Supporting Actress Award (Film) for her performance in Focus Features’ The Holdovers.

Emmy-nominated narrative filmmaker and documentarian Allen Hughes will be celebrated with the Documentary Series Award for his work directing FX’s Dear Mama.

Oscar-nominated filmmaker and playwright Kemp Powers will be honored with the Animation Award for his directorial work on Sony Pictures’ film Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.

Animator and filmmaker Makoto Shinkai will accept the International Animation Award for Crunchyroll/Sony Pictures’ film Suzume.

Actor and producer Damson Idris will receive the Actor Award (TV) for his performance in FX’s Snowfall.

Current Emmy-nominated actress and comedian Jessica Williams will be recognized with the Supporting Actress Award (TV) for her performance in Apple TV+’s Shrinking.

Actor Oscar Montoya will be honored with the Supporting Actor Award (TV) for his performance in Starz’s Minx.

Breakthrough Performance Awards will be bestowed upon Teyana Taylor for her performance in Focus Features’ A Thousand and One, Emmy-nominee Camila Morrone for her performance in Prime Video’s Daisy Jones & The Six, and Charles Melton for his performance in Netflix’s May December.

Current multiple Emmy-nominated director and writer Lee Sung Jin will be honored with the Breakthrough Director Award (TV) for his work on Netflix’s series Beef.

Receiving the Rising Star Awards will be Xolo Mariduena for his performance in Warner Bros.’ The Blue Beetle, and current Emmy nominee Keivonn Woodard for his performance in HBO’s The Last of Us.

Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Blue Beetle,” Starring Xolo Maridueña, to Begin Streaming on Max Next Week

Posted on November 11, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Xolo Maridueña is feelin’ blue to Max.

Warner Bros. Pictures’ Blue Beetle, starring the 22-year-old Mexican, Cuban & Ecuadorian American actor, will make its streaming debut on Max next Friday, November 17.

The film, directed by Ángel Manuel Soto, stars Maridueña in the title role, as well as his alter ego, Jaime Reyes.

In the film recent college grad Reyes returns home full of aspirations for his future, only to find that home is not quite as he left it. As he searches to find his purpose in the world, fate intervenes when Jaime unexpectedly finds himself in possession of an ancient relic of alien biotechnology: the Scarab.

When the Scarab suddenly chooses Jaime to be its symbiotic host, he is bestowed with an incredible suit of armor capable of extraordinary and unpredictable powers, forever changing his destiny as he becomes the Blue Beetle.

Soto directs from a screenplay by Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer, based on characters from DC. John Rickard and Zev Foreman are producing, with Walter Hamada, Galen Vaisman and Garrett Grant serving as executive producers.

Felipe Esparza Signs with United Talent Agency for Global Representation

Posted on October 31, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Felipe Esparza has new representation…

United Talent Agency (UTA) has signed the 47-year-old Mexican stand-up comedian and actor for representation in all areas globally.

Rising to fame as the 2010 winner of NBC’s Last Comic Standing, Esparza’s most recent special was the dual-language Felipe Esparza: Bad Decisions, which debuted on Netflix to critical acclaim, in both English and Spanish, in 2020.

His special, Translate This, premiered on HBO in 2017 and continues to be available for streaming on all HBO platforms.

His first, 2012’s They’re Not Gonna Laugh At You, made its way to Netflix after debuting on Showtime.

Esparza has also appeared on series like NBC’s Superstore, Adult Swim’s The Eric Andre Show, Netflix’s Gentefied, and Cartoon Network’s Victor and Valentino.

His notable film credits include Guest House with Pauly Shore, 7th & Union with Omar Chaparro, Daddy Daughter Trip with Rob Schneider, You People with Eddie Murphy and Jonah Hill, and Blue Beetle with Xolo Maridueña and George Lopez.

The host of the weekly podcast What’s Up Fool?, which has consistently topped comedy podcast charts across platforms since its launch in 2014, Esparza is preparing his fourth special as he performs at theaters around the world, as part of his “Big Foo” tour.

Rodrigo Prieto to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at GuadaLAjara Film Festival

Posted on September 26, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Rodrigo Prieto is earning a special award…

The 57-year-old Mexican Oscar-nominated cinematographer will be honored with the 2023 Árbol de la Vida, a lifetime achievement award, at the 13th edition of the GuadaLAjara Film Festival on November 1.

Taking place at the Theater at the Ace Hotel in Downtown L.A., Prieto will be honored at the opening night gala celebration. Past honorees have included Oscar-winner Patricia Arquette, in addition to stars such as Xolo Maridueña, Rosario Dawson and Danny Trejo.

Prieto has garnered worldwide acclaim for his work on various feature films, collaborating with some of cinema’s most vital masters. He has picked up his three Oscar nods for Ang Lee’s Brokeback Mountain (2005) and two with Martin Scorsese — Silence (2016) and The Irishman (2019).

He’s teamed up with the iconic filmmaker again for Killers of the Flower Moon, the story of a group of men that murdered Osage tribe members in the 1920s. The Apple Original Films and Paramount Pictures co-distributed feature stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro and Lily Gladstone.

Prieto also lensed Greta Gerwig’s billion-dollar Mattel meta-comedy Barbie from Warner Bros — now the highest grossing release of 2023.

Curated with Latinx and BIPOC communities in mind, GLAFF’s programming is a mix of films that aim to attract cinephiles and art and culture enthusiasts. The 2023 program and official selection includes a special Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) centerpiece gala screening of the 1960s Mexican classic Macario from director Roberto Gavaldón. More films will be announced in the coming weeks.

“GLAFF continues its mission to be a bridge between Latin America and U.S.-based Latinx/BIPOC creators,” says Ximena Urrutia, festival director. “Being part of a festival run by Latina women, we strive to add to the efforts of ensuring domestically and internationally Latinx representation.”

The GuadaLAjara Film Festival is supported by the University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, the University of Guadalajara Foundation USA, the Grodman Legacy Family Foundation and the Guadalajara International Film Festival (FICG).

DC Releases New Trailer for Xolo Maridueña-Starrer “Blue Beetle”

Posted on July 11, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Xolo Maridueña is preparing for a major battle…

DC has release the latest trailer for Blue Beetle, starring the 22-year-old Mexican, Cuban and Ecuadorian American actor and Cobra Kai star.

Jaime Reyes (Maridueña) may not be familiar with his new superpowers in the film, but his family unites to help him as he faces off against supervillain Carapax.

Maridueña’s character is described as a recent college grad who returns home with aspirations for his future, but finds out his home is no longer the same. As he searches to find his purpose in the world, fate intervenes when Jaime unexpectedly finds himself in possession of an ancient relic of alien biotechnology: the Scarab.

Maridueña is joined by a cast that includes Adriana Barraza as Jaime’s grandmother, Nana, Damían Alcázar as his father, Elpidia Carrillo as his mother, Bruna Marquezine as Jenny Kord, Raoul Max Trujillo as Carapax, with Susan Sarandon as Victoria Kord, and George Lopez as Jaime’s Uncle Rudy.

The film also stars Belissa Escobedo as Jaime’s sister Milagro and Harvey Guillén as Dr. Sanchez.

Angel Manuel Soto directs Blue Beetle from a screenplay by Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer, based on characters from DC. John Rickard and Zev Foreman are producing, with Walter Hamada, Galen Vaisman and Garrett Grant serving as executive producers.

Blue Beetle is schedule to hit theaters on August 18.

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