Moviefone Editorial

Tag: casting

‘The Walking Dead’ Star Christian Serratos May Join Netflix’s ‘Selena: The Series’

AMC

Selena fans could fall in love with Christian Serratos.

The “Walking Dead” actress has landed the role of iconic Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla-Perez, according to Vulture intel. She’ll star in Netflix’s “Selena: The Series,” which the streaming service announced in December. Serratos is still in talks to join, according to Variety‘s sources. (Netfix has not commented on the reports.)

The series is set to run for two seasons and will tell Quintanilla-Perez’s life story. The synopsis teases that “as Mexican-American Tejano singer Selena comes of age, she must make tough choices to hold on to family, true love and music.” By playing the decorated music artist, Serratos will get to follow in the footsteps of Jennifer Lopez, who memorably portrayed her in 1997’s “Selena.”

Serratos currently stars in another TV series, AMC’s “The Walking Dead,” playing Rosita. She joined in Season 4 in a recurring role before later being upped to series regular. Additionally, she starred in the Twilight movies as Angela and has also had roles in films such as “Flight 7500” and “Pop Star.”

“Selena: The Series” was developed with the Quintanilla family, and the show’s executive producers include her father, Abraham Quntanilla Jr.; her sister Suzette Quintanilla; and family lawyer Simran A. Singh. Also serving as executive producers are writer Moises Zamora, Jaime Davila, and Rico Martinez. Campanario Entertainment is set to produce. So far, no release date has been announced.

[via: Vulture; Variety]

August 20, 2019
Kyle Chandler Boards George Clooney’s Post-Apocalyptic Film for Netflix

Netflix

Another talented actor has joined George Clooney‘s upcoming Netflix sci-fi drama.

Kyle Chandler has signed on to star in the much-anticipated project, Deadline reports. The Emmy winner follows Clooney and Felicity Jones, who already nabbed key roles. Clooney is doubling as director of the still-untitled film, working from a script by Mark L. Smith that is based on the 2016 novel “Good Morning, Midnight” by Lily Brooks-Dalton.

Set in a post-apocalyptic world, the film tells the parallel stories of Augustine (Clooney), a lonely scientist in the Arctic, and an astronaut who is trying to get home to Earth. Augustine will race to make contact with the crew of the Aether spacecraft as they attempt their return. Chandler’s character, Mitchell, is an American astronaut.

While the project marks Clooney’s first film for Netflix, this is more familiar territory for Chandler. He starred in the streamer’s series “Bloodline,” which ran for three seasons. Chandler is also reteaming with Clooney, his co-star in the Hulu miniseries “Catch-22,” which Clooney directed and executive produced. Other recent work from Chandler includes movies such as “Godzilla: King of the Monsters” and “First Man.”

The upcoming film will be produced by Clooney and Grant Heslov (via Smokehouse Pictures). It also comes from Anonymous Content and Syndicate Entertainment.

[via: Deadline]

August 14, 2019
Bryan Greenberg, Charles Michael Davis to Woo Lea Michele in ABC’s ‘Same Time, Next Christmas’

Gravitas Ventures; The CW

ABC is preparing some extra holiday trimmings this year — and that seems to include a love triangle.

The network’s upcoming Yuletide movie “Same Time, Next Christmas” has cast the two men who will vie for the affections of one woman. Bryan Greenberg and Charles Michael Davis have each taken a lead role, Deadline reports. They’ll star opposite Lea Michele.

The plot centers on Olivia Henderson (Michele), a young woman who reunites with her childhood sweetheart, Jeff Culter (Davis), while in Hawaii for Christmas. They’ll feel sparks, but according to the synopsis, “circumstances conspire to keep them apart.” Now, it looks like one of those circumstances will be Gregg Harris (Greenberg), Olivia’s boyfriend. Character details reveal that he wants a future for them as a Cincinnati real estate power couple, while Jeff is as charming as ever.

Greenberg has previously appeared on shows like “The Mindy Project,” “How to Make It in America,” and “One Tree Hill.” He’s also starred in films such as “Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong.” Meanwhile, Davis was one of the stars of the series “The Originals” and went on to star in “For the People.”

“Same Time, Next Christmas” will be directed by Stephen Herek. It comes from Freeform Studios for ABC, and its executive producers are Tom Mazza and David Calvert Jones of EveryWhere Studios. The exact release date hasn’t been revealed yet, but the movie will premiere in December.

[via: Deadline]

August 8, 2019
Joel Fry Joins Disney’s ‘Cruella’ Starring Emma Stone

NBC

Even a villain as evil as Cruella de Vil needs help, and now, she’s got some.

Joel Fry has joined Disney’s “Cruella,” Variety reports. He’ll play Jasper, one of the blundering henchmen who dognaps the adorable dalmatian puppies for the film’s fur-obsessed villainess. The cast already includes Emma Stone as Cruella de Vil, as well as Emma Thompson.

The upcoming film is an origin story centered on the well-known titular villainess. The most recent draft of the script was written by Tony McNamara, and Dana Fox wrote an earlier one. It’s based on earlier works as Disney’s “101 Dalmatians” franchise is itself based on Dodie Smith’s 1956 children’s novel “The Hundred and One Dalmatians.”

Fry comes to the project having starred in films such as “Yesterday” and “Requiem.” He’s also a “Game of Thrones” vet and a former star of the series “You, Me and the Apocalypse.” Additionally, he’ll be seen in the upcoming “Love, Wedding, Repeat.”

“Cruella” will be directed by Craig Gillespie, and its producers include Marc Platt, Kristin Burr, and Andrew Gunn. The film is scheduled to open in theaters on Dec. 23, 2020.

[via: Variety]

August 8, 2019
Leslie Jones Is in Talks to Join Eddie Murphy’s ‘Coming to America’ Sequel

Sony Pictures

A “Coming to America” sequel is finally happening, and original star Eddie Murphy is going to be joined by a lot of familiar faces.

The latest star poised to join is Leslie Jones. The “Saturday Night Live” cast member is in talks for a “Coming 2 America” role, THR reports. That would put her in the film alongside returning stars Murphy, James Earl Jones, and Arsenio Hall, as well as Wesley Snipes and Kiki Layne.

The sequel will follow Prince Akeem (Murphy) of the fictional African nation of Zamunda as he returns to Queens, New York to meet the son he never knew he had. To honor the wishes of his dying father (James Earl Jones), Akeem will groom this son as a new crowned prince. Hall will again play Akeem’s close friend Semmi, while Layne will portray the prince’s daughter. So far, no details have been revealed about either Snipes’s or Jones’s character.

Jones is well-known for her work in comedy. She has been an “SNL” cast member since 2014 and has starred in films such as 2016’s “Ghostbusters” and “Masterminds.” Additionally, she voices a character in the upcoming “The Angry Birds Movie 2.”

“Coming 2 America” will be directed by Craig Brewer and produced by Murphy, Kevin Misher, and Kenya Barris. It will begin shooting later this month and is scheduled to open Dec. 18, 2020.

[via: THR]

August 7, 2019
Ben Affleck, Ana de Armas in Talks for Adrian Lyne’s ‘Deep Water’: Report

Warner Bros. Pictures; Warner Bros. Pictures

The upcoming Adrian Lyne film “Deep Water” is looking to unite Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas.

The two actors are in talks to star in the erotic thriller, Deadline reports. It is on track to be the first film with Lyne as director since 2002’s “Unfaithful,” as the publication notes. Lyne has been interested in the project since at least 2013.

“Deep Water” is based on the 1957 novel of the same name by Patricia Highsmith. It centers on Vic and Melinda Van Allen, a couple in a loveless marriage that eventually leads to multiple deaths. Zack Helm and Sam Levinson penned the script, and Affleck and de Armas would play the Van Allens.

Affleck was most recently seen in Netflix’s “Triple Frontier,” and prior to that, he starred in “Justice League.” On the way from him are films including “The Way Back” and “The Last Thing He Wanted.” Meanwhile, de Armas notably starred in “Blade Runner 2049” and has several films in post-production. She’ll be seen in “Knives Out,” “The Informer,” “Bond 25,” and more.

The producers of “Deep Water” are Steven Zaillian, Anthony Katagas, and Arnon Milchan, as well as Entertainment 360’s Guymon Casady and Ben Forkner. The project is being financed by New Regency. Lyne reportedly aims to begin production in November.

[via: Deadline]

August 1, 2019
Jared Leto in Talks for Crime Thriller ‘Little Things’: Report

Netflix/YouTube

Warner Bros.’ “Little Things” might feature a trio of Academy Award winners. The upcoming crime thriller is already set to star Denzel Washington and Rami Malek, and Jared Leto is now said to be in early talks for a role.

Sources told Variety that the musician-slash-actor would play a serial killer. His character would be the target of Deke (Washington), a deputy sheriff, and Baxter (Malek), an LASD detective. The two law enforcement officers will have different attitudes about skirting the rules, which will apparently cause a huge dilemma for Baxter.

Leto is an Oscar winner for his performance in 2013’s “Dallas Buyers Club,” and he has also starred in high-profile projects like “Suicide Squad” and “Blade Runner 2049.” More recently, he starred in and executive produced “The Outsider.” He’ll be seen as the title character in the upcoming Marvel flick “Moribus.”

“Little Things” will be written and directed by John Lee Hancock.

[via: Variety]

August 1, 2019
Netflix’s ‘Sweet Magnolias’ Adds JoAnna Garcia Swisher in Recasting

ABC

After a recasting, Netflix’s “Sweet Magnolias” will now star JoAnna Garcia Swisher. The “Kevin (Probably) Saves the World” vet will portray one of the three women at the center of the series, Deadline reports. Monica Potter was previously cast in the role.

The show is based on Sherryl Woods’s Sweet Magnolias book series, which centers on friends who each find love in a small South Carolina town called Serenity. Swisher’s character, Maddie Townsend, is described as being at a crossroads, and her friends (played by Brooke Elliott and Heather Headley) encourage her to reinvent herself.

Swisher played Amy on ABC’s “Kevin (Probably Saves the World,” which ran for one season. She has also previously been a regular on shows including “The Astronaut Wives Club,” “Animal Practice,” and “Better With You,” among others. Additionally, she appeared on “Once Upon a Time” multiple times over the years as Ariel.

“Sweet Magnolias” comes from Daniel L. Paulson Productions. It is executive produced by Woods, showrunner Sheryl J. Anderson, Dan Paulson, and Normal Buckley. Production is currently underway, and no release date has been announced.

[via: Deadline]

August 1, 2019
Olivia Wilde to Direct, Star in Sought-After Thriller ‘Don’t Worry, Darling’

Amazon Studios

One bidding war has been followed by another.

Less than two weeks after reports that the rights to Olivia Wilde and Katie Silberman‘s untitled holiday pitch sold to Universal in a highly competitive situation, another has transpired. Fifteen studios and streamers have put in bids for the psychological thriller spec “Don’t Worry, Darling,” according to Deadline. It’s a project that Wilde is set to direct, star in, and produce, per Variety.

Wilde and Silberman had success together with “Booksmart,” a comedy that opened in May and marked Wilde’s directorial debut. Silberman co-wrote the script along with three others, and she’s now on board to rewrite the “Don’t Worry, Darling” screenplay. The current draft is from Shane and Carey Van Dyke, and it centers on a 1950s housewife and reportedly ties into the Time’s Up era.

In front of the camera, Wilde’s films include “Life Itself,” “A Vigilante,” and “Love the Coopers,” among others. She’ll also star in “The Ballad of Richard Jewell,” which is in production now. And based on all these bidding wars, the actress is soon to be doing a lot more behind the camera, too.

“Don’t Worry, Darling” will be produced by Wilde and Silberman as well as Vertigo Entertainment’s Roy Lee and Miri Yoon.

[via: Deadline; Variety]

July 31, 2019
Martin Scorsese’s ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ Reportedly Adds Robert De Niro

Lionsgate

Word in the Osage Nation is that Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Robert De Niro are finally all working together.

Scorsese went location scouting in Osage County, Oklahoma, for his upcoming film “Killers of the Flower Moon,” and while there, he reportedly shared some interesting information. Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear of the Osage Nation told Tulsa World that Scorsese said he intends to shoot the film in the area and that De Niro is one of the stars. DiCaprio became officially attached more than a year ago.

Scorsese posted photos via Instagram on Sunday that showed where he was scouting. The Osage Nation is a logical place for production, given that the film is inspired by real events that took place in the area. The project is based on David Grann’s nonfiction book “Killers of the Flower Moon,” which investigates a series of murders in Osage County in the 1920s. More than 20 Native Americans were killed after oil was discovered beneath their land.

View this post on Instagram

Location scouting 📸

A post shared by Martin Scorsese (@martinscorsese_) on Jul 28, 2019 at 12:33pm PDT

As for De Niro’s involvement, it remains unconfirmed. If he has indeed signed on for “Killers of the Flower Moon,” it will mark yet another collaboration with Scorsese. They recently worked together on “The Irishman,” which will have its world premiere at the New York Film Festival in September. Both De Niro and DiCaprio have teamed up with Scorsese a number of times in the past but not together.

De Niro currently has multiple films on the way. He stars in Todd Philipps’s upcoming “Joker” as well as “The Comeback Trail.” Some of his more recently released films include “The Comedian” and “Dirty Grandpa.”

“Killers of the Flower Moon” is expected to film in the spring and summer of 2020, according to Tulsa World. No timeline for its release has been announced.

[via: Tulsa World; h/t: IndieWire]

July 29, 2019