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Netflix is doubling down on its investment on Mexico, pledging $1 billion over the next four years.

The move, which was unveiled during a Thursday press conference with co-ceo Ted Sarandos and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, is aimed at “growing the audiovisual industry and creating jobs and opportunities all across the country.”

As part of the investment, the streamer will give $2 million to “elevate” Mexico City’s iconic Churubusco Studios, one of the country’s oldest and largest production facilities. Netflix will also continue creating and funding programs to provide more opportunities to diverse and creative talents behind the camera after unveiling a $1 million fund for this purpose last year.

“President Sheinbaum, at Netflix, we share your vision of a vibrant, prosperous Mexico full of growth and opportunity. And we want to play our part in making it a reality,” Sarandos said. “Our journey in Mexico so far has taken us...

Netflix is making a major investment in Mexico’s film and TV industry. Co-CEO Ted Sarandos announced that the streaming giant will spend $1 billion in the country over the next four years. This commitment, revealed during a press conference with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, is aimed at strengthening the local audiovisual industry and creating new opportunities.

“It is great to be back in Mexico City. Every time I come here, I’m amazed by the blend of the old and the new — between history and modern culture,” Sarandos said. “It’s inspiring. And it helps explain why there’s always been so much creativity in Mexico — from art and food to literature, architecture and, of course, storytelling.”

Since arriving in Mexico in 2011, Netflix has played a huge role in the country’s entertainment scene. It launched its first international series, Club de Cuervos, in Mexico, setting the stage for more local productions.

Netflix has committed to invest $1 billion in Mexico for the production of series and films over the next four years, meaning from 2025 through 2028, co-ceo Ted Sarandos said during a press conference with Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum on Thursday.

“This investment, and the productions derived therefrom, will benefit Mexican production companies and will contribute to the growth of the local audiovisual industry and the creation of opportunities nationwide,” the streaming giant said.

Netflix will also invest $2 million in Mexico City’s iconic Churubusco Studios, one of the oldest and largest production facilities in Mexico, to “elevate” its facilities. The streaming company will continue creating and funding programs that help develop diverse and creative talents behind the camera, so that they may develop their careers in the entertainment industry. In August last year, a fund worth more than $1 million was unveiled in Mexico to be used in 2024 and 2025 for this purpose.

Actor, writer, dancer, and filmmaker Sawandi Wilson is a man of many talents with an impressive list of credits. He recently added a daytime performer to the mix when he debuted as Isaiah on General Hospital, a doctor with ties to Lucky Spencer.

Born in Westbury, New York, Wilson started his artistic path as a breakdancer before segueing to acting and training under Marishka Phillips (Marishka Phillips Theatrical Preparatory), Susan Batson (The Susan Batson Studio) and Bob Krakower. He is best known for playing Captain Leto in the final season of Star Trek: Discovery, and also portrayed Marcus in Amazon’s Harlem and Dominique Shaw in Netflix’s The House of Flowers.

More: Wilson recently got married.

7 Things

Want to learn more about Wilson? Here are 7 things to know about him.

1. Wilson didn’t begin his artistic pursuit as an actor. He actually started out as a breakdancer.

2. As a bboy/breakdancer,...

There have been a lot of comings and goings in Port Charles as of late. General Hospital has seen a number of cast members return, while other fan favorites have been booted from the soap. One of the latest additions to the soap opera’s cast was Sawandi Wilson, who is playing the role of Dr. Isaiah Gannon. Who is the new doctor and could he be related to the Gannons of Llanview? Here is what we know so far.

Sawandi Wilson Goes From John Doe To Isaiah Gannon

Viewers may have noticed that a new name was added to the closing credits on General Hospital Friday. The September 6 credits rolled and as the contract players’s names were shown Sawandi Wilson caught the eye of many. He is listed as playing the character Dr. Isaiah Gannon.

Jason Morgan (portrayed by Steve Burton) was the first person to introduce Isaiah to viewers.

As expected, newcomer Sawandi Wilson (“Star Trek: Discovery”) has joined the cast of “General Hospital” as a contract player. He first appeared on the Monday, August 26 episode of the ABC drama series.

According to the end credits shown on Friday, September 6, Wilson’s character’s full name is Dr. Isaiah Gannon, a last name familiar to fans of the defunct “One Life to Live,” leaving many questioning if the character has ties to Llanview.

Thus far, the character had been imprisoned at the same refugee camp as Lucky Spencer (Jonathan Jackson), but later escaped and made his way to Port Charles.

Shortly after leaving the airport, Isaiah found himself hit by a car during a struggle between Linda Boyle (Amor Owens) and Ava Jerome (Maura West). He was later transported to General Hospital thanks to Jason (Steve Burton) calling for emergency services.

Steve Burton, Sawandi Wilson

Christine Bartolucci/Disney

Since arriving in the hospital,...

One of Netflix's top shows at the moment is the Mexican drama series The Accident. Many people are calling it one of the saddest shows they've ever watched, which given the plot, makes sense. It's a 10-part series revolving around the aftermath of a children's birthday party gone wrong. When a gush of wind sweeps up a bouncy house filled with kids at a birthday party, it causes the death of three children. This tragic accident changes the lives of a close-knit community forever.

Klych López and Gracia Querejeta directed the episodes for the show from scripts written by Leonardo Padrón. You might recognize some of the cast from previous projects, such as Alberto Guerra, who is best known for starring as Darío Sepúlveda in the Netflix crime drama series Griselda. Ana Claudia Talancón, Sebastian Martínez, Eréndira Ibarra, Shaní Lozano, Silverio Palacios, Erick Elías, Erik Hayser, Valentina Acosta, Macarena García Romero,...

The return of General Hospital‘s Jonathan Jackson includes the introduction of a brand new character, a mysterious doctor named Isaiah. Lucky and Isaiah are currently in a sticky situation involving a crime lord. Their main goal right now is to make their escape. That’s actor Sawandi Wilson, who plays the medicine man.

The Doctor is In

Deadline broke the news of this key casting. Since Isaiah’s first appearance earlier this week, he’s patched Lucky up and punched him. Of course, that was after the wayward Spencer played Russian Roulette with his life. There’s no word on how long Wilson will be around. But the hospital certainly needs fresh new blood with Michael Easton’s departure from the show.

So, hopefully, Dr. Isaiah will head back to Port Charles with Lucky when it is time for the big brother to save his comatose little sister, Lulu.

General Hospital has a new cast member. The popular daytime soap opera has signed Sawandi Wilson from Star Trek: Discovery. Here is what we know about Wilson’s new role on the soap, who he is playing, and when he will make his debut.

General Hospital Signs Star Trek: Discovery Star

General Hospital has signed Sawandi Wilson to join the cast. According to reports, he will play a character named Isaiah. According to the casting news, he has a “connection” to Lucky (Jonathan Jackson). As for his first appearance, it appears his first episode will air on August 26.

Sawandi Wilson

This is big news as Jonathan Jackson is returning as Lucky after an eight-year absence. It also appears that this is not a quick appearance, and he will remain on the show for an extended period. That makes it sound like Wilson will also be around for a while.

Jackson...

Sawandi Wilson (“Star Trek: Discovery”) has joined the cast of “General Hospital,” reports Deadline.

According to the outlet, Wilson is set to make his debut on the ABC daytime drama series on Monday, August 26, playing the role of Isaiah, a character with a connection to Lucky Spencer (Jonathan Jackson).

Best known for playing Captain Leto in the 10th episode of the fifth and final season of “Star Trek: Discovery,” Wilson has appeared in numerous other TV shows throughout his career, including “High Maintenance,” “Quantico,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “Date. Love. Repeat.,” “Bull,” “The House of Flowers,” “Harlem” and even the Prime Video series “Dudes.”

No further details were available about Wilson’s role on “General Hospital.”

Note: The post ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Actor Sawandi Wilson Joins ‘General Hospital’ appeared first on the Soap Opera Network website.

General Hospital (Gh) spoilers suggest there’s going to be a new face entering the land of Port Charles.

According to Deadline, actor Sawandi Wilson will be joining the cast, playing the role of Isaiah.

There’s not much information about this new character or what romantic interest he may end up having on the show.

However, as per the report, Isaiah will have a “connection” to Lucky Spencer (Jonathan Jackson), who is set to return to the canvas very soon.

General Hospital Spoilers – More On Lucky Spencer’s Return

Lucky will make his much-anticipated return to the land of PC during the Friday, August 23rd show.

There hasn’t been much information on what will bring Laura Collins’ (Genie Francis) and Luke Spencer’s (Anthony Geary) son back home, but it looks like fans will get a sneak peek on this very soon.

What kind of role will Isaiah play in his storyline?...

Exclusive: A new player is coming to Port Charles to rock Lucky’s world.

General Hospital has cast Sawandi Wilson (Star Trek: Discovery) as Isaiah, who is only described for now as having a “connection” to Jonathan Jackson’s Lucky.

Wilson’s first airdate as a Gh castmember is Aug. 26.

Wilson is best known for playing Capt. Leto in the final season of Star Trek: Discovery. He also played Marcus in Amazon’s Harlem and had a recurring role in Netflix’s The House of Flowers.

The Hofstra University grad began his artistic career as a breakdancer before going on to study acting with Marishka Phillips, Susan Batson, and Bob Krakower. He’s repped by Insurge-Entertainment.

In June, Deadline exclusively revealed that Jackson was returning to Gh after an eight-year absence. He’s expected to stick around Port Charles for a while.

Jackson originated the role of Lucky in 1993; he...

La película tuvo su premiere mundial en el Festival de Málaga. © Vértice360

Ya se ha publicado el tráiler de Puntos suspensivos, un thriller dirigido por David Marqués y escrito por el propio Marqués y Rafa Calatayud Cano (Parecido a un asesinato), que tuvo su estreno mundial, dentro de la Sección Oficial Fuera de Concurso, en el 27º Festival de Málaga de Cine Español y fue galardonada con el Black Raven al Mejor Thriller en el 42º Festival Internacional de Cine Fantástico de Bruselas.

Puntos suspensivos sigue a Leo, un exitoso escritor de novelas de misterio que se esconde bajo el seudónimo de Cameron Graves. Mientras escribe su próximo libro en un chalet aislado, recibe la extraña visita de Jota, un inquietante personaje que dice ser periodista. Nadie conoce la identidad de Leo y solo Victoria, su agente, sabe que está allí, así que ¿cómo ha llegado Jota hasta él y cuáles son sus intenciones?...

Sawandi Wilson played Leto, Burnham's son in the Star Trek Discovery finale, continuing the family legacy in Starfleet. Leto is the only Captain's child to become a Captain himself, a first in the Star Trek universe. Star Trek Discovery season 5 ended with Burnham as a four-star Admiral, celebrating family and new beginnings on the USS Discovery.

Star Trek: Discovery jumped even further into Star Trek's future in its series finale, offering a glimpse into the life of Admiral Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green), Cleveland Booker (David Ajala), and their son. At the end of Discovery season 2, Captain Burnham and the USS Discovery traveled to the 32nd century, where they began helping the Federation rebuild. After the devastation caused by the Burn, the Federation and Starfleet suffered heavy losses, but they were eventually able to bounce back, even reopening Starfleet Academy. Burnham and her crew brought new hope to the 32nd century,...

Woo Films, one of Mexico’s most successful indie companies behind such hit titles as Manolo Caro’s Netflix series “The House of Flowers” and lauded dramas “The Good Girls” (“Las Niñas Bien”) and “Los Adioses,” has teamed up with film collective Colectivo Colmena, to develop and produce three pics. Two of them are based on original ideas from Colmena and the third an adaptation of a Mexican novel.

Woo Films is taking “The Ballad of the Phoenix” (“La balada del fénix”), the first stop-motion animation feature by Cinema Fantasma (“Frankelda’s Book of Spooks”), to participate in the Guadalajara Film Festival’s co-production forum. This is one of three stop motion animation projects from Cinema Fantasma that Woo Films boarded last year.

“It is essential to support the growth of new voices in Mexican cinema to boost their visibility at a time when resources for independent film production and exhibition opportunities are scarce,...

A Man Called Otto, an adaptation of Swedish author Fredrik Backman’s 2012 novel, A Man Called Ove (available on Amazon), is a poignant tale of human connection and second chances.

Meet the Cast of A Man Called Otto Tom Hanks as Otto Anderson Mariana Treviño as Marisol Manuel Garcia-Rulfo as Tommy Truman Hanks as Young Otto Anderson Rachel Keller as Sonya Juanita Jennings as Anita Peter Lawson Jones as Reuben Cameron Britton as Jimmy

This captivating comedy-drama revolves around Otto, a grieving widower who unexpectedly finds himself entangled in his neighbors’ lives thanks to a chance encounter. He finds his way from despair to newfound joy through an unforeseen friendship.

The talented ensemble cast of A Man Called Otto during the film’s special screening in New York City on January 10, 2023 (Credit: Dave Allocca / StarPix / Startraksphoto / Cover Images)

Although it did not receive extensive awards and recognition, the film shines with its exceptional ensemble cast,...

Netflix is undoubtedly one of the most popular streaming services in the world, with over 260 million active users worldwide. According to internet data, the only streamer that comes close to viewership is Prime Video, which has over 200 million subscribers. Having said that, one of the main reasons for Netflix's enormous success and dedicated audience is due to its constant original productions.

Every month, the streaming service releases a new slate of films from various genres, offering something for everyone. In April 2024, for example, Netflix released several intriguing original films, including Zero to Hero, The Tearsmith, and City Hunter. With another month approaching, it is time to look forward to what the streaming service has in store for its subscribers. To that end, here's the list of every original movie coming to Netflix in May 2024.

Unfrosted Streaming May 1

Jerry Seinfeld is one of the greatest stand-up comedians of all time, and...

Exclusive: Alejandra Reyes, most recently a TV lit agent at UTA, is switching to management and joining 3 Arts Entertainment. She is bringing an expertise in the international space — focusing on Latin America and Spain — which she developed as an agent, introducing international writers and directors to the US market, attaching them to major series and closing first-look/overall deals for them. That includes a first-look deal with Onyx for The House of Flowers creator Manolo Caro and his production company Woo Films and an overall deal with Netflix for Chilean writer José Ignacio “Chascas” Valenzuela, creator, executive producer and showrunner of Who Killed Sara?

“We are so thrilled that Alejandra Reyes chose to join us, bringing her unique eye for talent, coupled with her deep knowledge of the expanding global marketplace,” the 3 Arts partners said in a statement.

Reyes, originally from Mexico City, spent more than eight years at UTA,...

Madrid-based Begin Again Films has picked up Spanish distribution and international sales rights to Juan Gautier’s psychological thriller “El aspirante” (“The Aspirant”), about initiation into a masculine universe revolving around hazing of a university residence.

“El aspirante” plays at this year’s Málaga Work in Progress’ Wip España sidebar, an industry centerpiece at the Málaga Film Festival, now in its 27th edition.

The film toplines Jorge Motos, star of 2021’s “Lucas,” a film which earned him a Málaga Silver Biznaga for best actor and a Goya best new actor nomination; Lucas Nabor (“All the Names of God”), Eduardo Rosa (“La casa de las flores”) and Catalina Sopelana (“Sky Rojo”) complete the main cast.

“The Aspirant” is set on the Day Zero of hazing at the Tolentino university residence. Carlos and Dani accept the 24-hour challenge to fit in. But they will have to face the worst of themselves before everything turns into a tragedy.

Onyx Collective has signed The House of Flowers creator Manolo Caro to a multiyear first-look deal with writer, director and producer Manolo Caro and Woo Films’ co-founders Rafael Ley and Maria Jose Cordova, it was revealed during the collective’s TCA presentation on Friday. Under the deal, Caro, Ley and Cordova will develop new projects for Onyx Collective.

“Manolo Caro is in a rare class of storytellers who blend heart and humor to reveal the essence of what makes us all human,” said Tara Duncan, president, Onyx Collective. “He is a proven hitmaker, and we’re excited to bring his universal stories to the Hulu audience.”

“Joining the creative voices at Onyx is not only a commitment to my artistic mission but a critical reflection of my own identity,” says Caro. “I want to tell stories through my particular vision and pop lens and create content that allows me to...

Manolo Caro has entered a multi-year first look deal with Onyx Collective alongside Rafael Ley and Maria Jose Cordova of Woo Films, who produced Caro’s Netflix series “The House of Flowers.”

Along with “The House of Flowers,” which ran for three seasons from 2018 to 2020, Caro is known for creating Netflix’s 2020 limited series “Someone Has to Die” and directing films including 2016’s “Tales of an Immoral Couple” and 2018’s “Perfect Strangers.” Woo Films has been behind several of Caro’s projects as well as films the Netflix films “Noise” (2022) and “Where the Tracks End” (2023) and the Viggo Mortensen-led “Eureka” (2023).

“Manolo Caro is in a rare class of storytellers who blend heart and humor to reveal the essence of what makes us all human,” said Tara Duncan, president of Onyx Collective. “He is a proven hit maker, and we’re excited to bring his universal stories to the Hulu audience.

Netflix has promoted Carolina Leconte to the position of senior director of content at its Mexican outpost. She steps into Roberto Stopello’s shoes, who has ankled.

Leconte has been with Netflix since 2021 where she held the position of director, original series, Latin America and spearheaded such hit productions as the second season of Colombian show, “The Marked Heart,” one of the most popular non-English TV series on Netflix in 2022; the racy tale “Fake Profile,” which stayed in the global Top 10 ranking for non-English series for six weeks in 2023 and posted the biggest bow of any non-English series last year; and “Love After Music,” a series based on the career of Argentinian musician Fito Paéz, among many other shows.

She previously worked on such titles as “Luis Miguel- The Series” (Seasons 2 and 3), “42 Days of Darkness” and Season 2 of “Control Z.”

Leconte’s 20-year experience in the biz includes work...

The 49th edition of Huelva Ibero-American Film Festival, Spain’s largest confab for films from Latin America, Spain and Portugal, will honor Mexican star Cecilia Suárez with its City of Huelva Award.

With leading roles in Netflix’s “The House of Flowers” and HBO Latin America’s “Capadocia,” Suárez has also be seen in ABC’s drama “The Promised Land” and has worked on films by as Tommy Lee Jones (“The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada”), James L. Brooks (“Spanglish”), Ernesto Contreras (“Párpados azules”), Antonio Serrano and Fernando Colomo (“Cuidado con lo que deseas”).

The new edition of Huelva runs Nov. 10-18.

Andalusia’s oldest film festival, Huelva will also grant a Light Award to Spanish actress Natalia de Molina, a two-time Goya winner, delivering acclaimed performance in films such as David Trueba’s “Living Is Easy with Eyes Closed” and Juan Miguel del Castillo’s “Food and Shelter.”

Another...

Warning: Contains Spoilers for Upload season 3, episode 6.

"Memory Crackers" explores a unique love triangle between Nora and the two Nathans, testing her feelings and loyalty. Director Alberto Belli was drawn to "Upload" because of his admiration for the show and the opportunity to work with Greg Daniels. The episode tackles the challenges of shooting VFX-heavy scenes and focuses on the interactions between the characters within the futuristic world of the show.

Dropping on the same day as its predecessor, Upload season 3, episode 6 premiered on Prime Video on Friday, November 3. "Memory Crackers" puts Nora's feelings for Nathan to the ultimate test by pairing her with his backup copy while the real Nathan searches elsewhere for a way to expose Freeyond. Tempted by a relationship that lacks any real-life struggles, Nora finds herself caught between two versions of the man she loves.

The series was created by Greg Daniels with Alberto Belli...

Olmo Schnabel's directorial debut Pet Shop Days was received well at the 80th Venice International Film Festival, and recently had its U.S. premiere at the Chicago International Film Festival. The emotion-driven film stars Jack Irv (Bobby) and Darío Yazebek Bernal (The House of Flowers) as two crazed romantics that slip down a rabbit hole of depravity in Manhattan’s underworld. Willem Dafoe, Peter Sarsgaard, Emmanuelle Seigner, Camille Rowe, and Maribel Verdu also star.

The plot revolves around Alejandro (Bernal), an impulsive black sheep, and pet store employee Jack (Irv) who test fate and enter a whirlwind romance. Expect some frenetic intensity in the film, which Schnabel co-wrote alongside star Jack Irv and Galen Core (The Great Pretender). The filmmaker says he initially co-wrote the film as a kind of “love letter” to a New York City that no longer exists.

“I left New York,” said Schnabel, “I wasn't...

Exclusive: Darío Yazbek Bernal, star of the hit Netflix series La Casa De Las Flores, has signed with Gersh.

Besides La Casa De Las Flores, he was most recently seen opposite Willem Dafoe in Olmo Schnabel’s Pet Shop Days, which earned rave reviews when it premiered at this year’s Venice Film Festival.

He can be seen as a series lead in the Apple show, Now and Then. He also starred in the Neon feature New Order for director Michel Franco, which won the Grand Jury Prize at Venice Film Festival in 2020.

He also starred in a lead role in the Netflix miniseries, The Search. Other noteworthy credits include Daniel and Ana and Los Paisajes.

He is repped by Anonymous Content.

Netflix is toasting Mexico’s National Day of Cinema on Aug. 15 with a slew of projects, many of them tapping the country’s wealth of literary classics and original storytellers. Working with some of the most prominent local filmmakers, the streaming giant is also reaffirming its $300 million commitment to Mexican cinema and series and its #QueMéxicoSeVea (“Let Mexico Be Seen”) initiative.

A teaser of its upcoming film “No voy a pedirle a nadie que me crea” (“I Don’t Expect Anyone to Believe Me”) by Fernando Frías De La Parra (“I’m No Longer Here”) debuts exclusively on Variety.

An adaptation of what award-winning author Juan Pablo Villalobos describes as an ‘autobiographical fiction,’ Frias’ latest film follows the writer as he prepares to go to Barcelona with his girlfriend to study for a doctorate in literature. But he gets caught up in a criminal network that spurs him to write the...

Mexico’s Woo Films is venturing into the kids/younger audience content biz for the first time, boarding three stop-motion animated features by Mexico City-based Cinema Fantasma, led by brothers Roy and Arturo Ambriz.

Producer Andrea Toca who brought the projects to Woo Films, said: “We’ve always wanted to make content for children and younger audiences.”

“I went to University with the Ambriz brothers so that’s where we first connected. We were very impressed by the working techniques they have developed in their workshop aside from their stories,” she added.

The initial pact is for Woo Films to co-produce Cinema Fantasma’s “Frankelda and The Prince of Spooks,” being presented at Annecy’s work in progress (Wip) section as well as two other stop-motion pics in development, “The Ballad of the Phoenix,” pitched last year at Annecy, and “The Bee Revolution.”

“Frankelda and The Prince of Spooks” is...

Annecy — In major news for Mexican animation as it comes under the spotlight at Annecy, director Sofia Carrillo is teaming with “Roma” producer Nicolas Celis and ‘Dance of the 41’ writer Monika Revilla to make “Insectario,” which bids fair to become one of the first stop motion features from Mexico.

Targeting family audiences, and written by Revilla, “Insectario” is set up at Celis’ Pimienta Films.

Carrillo, who worked on the Mexican second unit on “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio,” based out of Guadalajara’s El Taller del Chucho, told Variety that “Insectario” will build on the same aesthetic universe of “Cerulia” using the same puppets and sometimes the same sets.

“To a certain extent, ‘Insectario’ is a prolongation of the world of ‘Cerulia,’ but with an independent story which stands by itself,” she said.

In “Cerulia,” Carrillo’s crowning triumph which made her one of the most sought-after directors in Mexico,...

Dragas mexicanas, start your engines! Valentina and Lolita Banana will host the first-ever iteration of Drag Race Mexico, Rolling Stone can exclusively reveal. Both stars are expected to make the announcement at DragCon in Los Angeles Friday.

The two hosts will guide local queens to become Mexico’s next drag superstar as contestants face off in acting, fashion, and comedy challenges for a cash prize. The show’s contestants will be revealed at a later date.

“With Drag Race Mexico, you can find the tenacity of the Mexican heart,” Valentina tells Rolling Stone.

Barcelona-based sales shingle Filmax has acquired international rights to Spanish thriller “Ellipsis,” directed and co-written by Goya-nominated David Marqués.

“Ellipsis” toplines a slew of Spanish-language world stars, including Diego Peretti, José Coronado (“No Rest for the Wicked”), and iconic Mexican thesp Cecilia Suárez (“The House of Flowers”) and rising star Georgina Amorós (“Elite”).

Peretti plays protagonist Leo, a well-known author of mystery novels. He is paid a visit by a man claiming to be a journalist in a secret location where Leo is penning his next novel. But only his agent knows where he is. Could it be that a dark secret from Adriana ( Amorós), his lover, is behind the surprise visit?

The script was co-written by Rafael Calatayud Cano (“Tales of the Lockdown”) and Marqués, who is best-known for writing Spanish comedy-drama “Champions,” a box office and format smash hit directed by Javier Fesser.

Marqués said: “‘Ellipsis’ is an...

Universal International Studios has appointed former Netflix executive Tesha Crawford as senior VP of global scripted series.

Based in London, Crawford will report into Uis president Beatrice Springborn and focus on expanding the studio’s scripted slate in the U.K. and Europe. Crawford will be responsible for scouting and packaging new projects for Uis and supporting its portfolio of deals, talent and projects. She will also head up the studio’s U.K.-based creative team.

Crawford joins from Netflix, where she spent the last six years working across international original series and was one of the first content executives hired on the Netflix International Originals team.

The exec started in Latin America, building the platform’s slate of originals including “La Casa De Las Flores” (“The House of Flowers”), “Ingobernable,” “3,” “Coisa Mais Linda” (“Girls from Ipanema”) and “Sintonia.”

She later relocated to Amsterdam to lead the company’s first Nordics series team,...

Exclusive: Diego Boneta (Luis Miguel: La Serie), Luis Gerardo Méndez (Narcos: México), and Belinda (Bienvenidos a Edén) are set to lead a new Mexico Amazon Original miniseries inspired by true events surrounding the last day of Paco Stanley’s life.

The as-yet-untitled project will also feature Zuria Vega (El Refugio), El Chá, Bárbara López (El Juego de las Llaves) Roberto Duarte (Un Extraño Enemigo), and Jorge Zárate (La Dictadura Perfecta) in supporting roles.

Details regarding their characters remain under wraps but each actor will play a person that was close to the charismatic television host who was assassinated on June 7, 1999. The miniseries will show how each person lived the events of the tragic day.

“The death of Paco Stanley marks a turning point in the history of our country, and we at Prime Video feel very proud that this talented team of filmmakers has managed to convene a cast that...

A Man Called Otto boasts a large supporting cast whose characters help to flesh out the film’s story. Based on the 2012 novel by Fredrik Backman, which was adapted into the 2015 Swedish film A Man Called Ove, A Man Called Otto has a performance that is getting buzz for a potential lead actor nomination.

A Man Called Otto released in limited theaters December 30 and is set for nationwide release on January 13. The film is led by Tom Hanks in the titular role, with a large supporting cast whose characters interact with the curmudgeonly Otto despite his attempts to avoid them. Otto interacts with a lot of people, namely his neighbor Marisol. With so many characters to keep track of, a full guide to the cast and who they play bears a breakdown.

Related: Screen Rant's Winter 2023 Movies Preview

Tom Hanks as Otto Anderson

Otto Anderson is a widower with a generally grumpy demeanor.

Six top international filmmakers will reveal secrets behind their projects when they join Gold Derby’s special “Meet the Experts” Q&a event with 2022/2023 awards contenders. They will participate in two video discussions to premiere on Tuesday, November 22, at 4:00 p.m. Pt; 7:00 p.m. Et. We’ll have a one-on-one with our senior editor Denton Davidson and a roundtable chat with all of the group together.

RSVP today to our entire ongoing contenders panel series by clicking here to book your free reservation. We’ll send you a reminder a few minutes before the start of the show.

This “Meet the Experts” panel welcomes the following Oscar and guild contenders:

All Quiet on the Western Front (Netflix)

Synopsis: A young German soldier’s terrifying experiences and distress on the western front during World War I.

Bio: Edward Berger was an Emmy nominee for “Patrick Melrose.” Other projects have included “Jack,...

Click here to read the full article.

Manolo Caro, creator, executive producer and director of Netflix’s The House of Flowers (La Casa de las Flores), has signed with UTA for representation in all areas.

Caro’s background spans writing, producing and directing for film and theater. Among his film credits, which have made him the first Mexican director to appear for three consecutive years in his country’s top 10 at the box office, are titles like Perfectos Desconocidos and La Vida Inmoral de la Pareja Ideal.

Caro’s debut feature was a film adaptation of I Don’t Know Whether to Slit My Wrists or Leave Them Long (No Sé Si Cortarme las Venas o Dejármelas Largas), which he initially wrote and directed for the theater. He followed that up with titles like Elvira I Will Give You My Life But I’m Using It (te Daría Mi Vida...

Apple TV+ released the trailer for the upcoming bilingual series “Now & Then” on Tuesday: The eight-episode thriller from Bambú Producciones is about a group of college friends who are being blackmailed over a death from 20 years before. It’s set to launch globally with three episodes on Friday, May 20, on Apple TV+, with new episodes weekly every Friday through June 24.

Set in Miami and shot in both Spanish and English, the series stars Rosie Perez as a cop eager to have a second chance to solve the mysterious death. The series also stars Marina de Tavira (“Roma”), José María Yazpik (“Narcos: Mexico”), Maribel Verdú (“Y tu mamá también”), Manolo Cardona (“Narcos”), Soledad Villamil (“The Secret in Their Eyes”), Jorge López (Netflix’s “Elite”), Alicia Jaziz (HBO’s “Love Spells”), Dario Yazbek Bernal (“The House of Flowers”), Alicia Sanz (Prime Video’s “El Cid”), Jack Duarte (“Ingobernable,”) and Miranda de la Serna...

It’s unhappy hour in Promised Land: ABC is pulling the wine-soaked Latino soap off the air after amid low ratings.

The show will exit ABC following the airing of Episode 5 on Monday, Feb. 21. Promised Land‘s final five Season 1 episodes will stream exclusively on Hulu, beginning with Episode 6 on Tuesday, March 1.

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As a result,...

Jesús Zavala (“Club de Cuervos”) and Sofía Espinosa (“Gloria”) have been tapped to lead the Spanish-language adaptation of NBCU’s hit series “Superstore.”

Titled “Supertitlán,” it will be co-directed by showrunner César Rodríguez (“Compañeros”) and Joserra Zúñiga (“Chumel”).

The English-language original, which reached 33.7 million viewers in its final season 6, was created by Justin Spitzer (“The Office”) and produced by Universal Television, in association with Spitzer Holding Company, Miller Green Broadcasting and The District.

“Supertitlán” is Universal Studio Group’s first co-production partnership in Mexico and its first Spanish-language title.

Joining Zavala and Espinosa in the Spanish-language version are Luz Aldán (“La Casadelas Flores”), Ricardo Peralta (“Sobreviví”), Carlos Orozco (“Plan Sexenalen”), Aldo Escalante (“El Señor de los Cielos”), Erika Franco (“Margarita”), Azalia Ortíz (“Dodo”), Martín Barba (“Cuatro Lunas”), Roberta Burns (“Dibujando el Cielo”), Francisco de la Reguera (“Sr. Ávila”), Viviana Serna (“Señor de los Cielos”), Amanda Farah (“La Casa de las Flores...

In its continued bid to bolster and secure proven talent in Latin America, Netflix has announced a three-year exclusive creative partnership for series and a first look film pact with Chilean writer José Ignacio “Chascas” Valenzuela, creator, showrunner and executive producer of the hit Netflix series “Who Killed Sara?”

Valenzuela is now tooling the third season of “Who Killed Sara?,” co-written with his long-time collaborators Rosario Valenzuela and Jean Pierre Fica, which kicks off production in Mexico on Oct. 18.

According to Netflix, the first season of the series was viewed by more than 55 million households in its first four weeks, landing in the Top 10 of 87 countries, including the U.S., Germany, Israel, Brazil and France. The second season followed shortly, a couple of months after the first.

“I’d like to understand the phenomenon of its success myself and that way, minimize errors in my next shows,” Valenzuela mused. He...

Set in Melilla, an autonomous city of Spain situated on the north coast of Africa, Violeta Salama’s debut feature “Alegría” premieres at this year’s Guadalajara Film Festival. The heartfelt family drama centers around Alegría – curt matriarch and host to her niece’s upcoming wedding – and the varied relationships with the women in her orbit. “Alegría” stars Mexican actress Cecilia Suárez, whose aplomb and comic timing anchors a film filled with familial chaos and clashing traditions.

Salama co-wrote with Isa Sánchez, drawing from the director’s own experiences growing up in Melilla. Indeed, “Alegría” plays at once as homage to a city whose vivid contrasts and blended culture perfectly reflects the contour of the characters’ interconnected dramas. The women of “Alegría” paint a mural of strength, love, courage, compassion and trust, and at last show their bond is unbounded, finding the self in selflessness.

Variety spoke with Salama ahead...

Bellamy Young is set to shake things up on Promised Land, ABC’s upcoming Latino family drama led by John Ortiz (Luck), Cecilia Suárez (The House of Flowers) and Christina Ochoa (Blood Drive).

Ordered to series in August and written/executive-produced by Matt Lopez (Gone), Promised Land is described as an “epic, generation-spanning drama” about two Latino families vying for wealth and power in California’s Sonoma Valley.

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LevelK has boarded international sales rights to “The Passenger” (“La pasajera”), a high-concept Spanish horror film directed by Fernando Gonzalez (“Downunder”) and Raul Cerezo which will world premiere at Sitges in the Panorama Fantastic section.

Produced by Jose Luis Rancaño (“The Night My Mother Killed My Father”), “The Passenger” follows a group of strangers on a road trip who get abruptly interrupted when their van accidentally hits a female hiker in the middle of the night. They decide to take her to the hospital but soon understand that they only have to comply with a clear rule: not to sit next to her.

The film was penned by Luis Sánchez-Polack, based on an original idea by Cerezo. “The Passenger” is headlined by established Spanish actors, including Ramiro Blas (“Blackwod”), Cecilia Suarez (“The House of Flowers”), Paula Gallego (“Paquita Salas”) and Christina Alcazar (“Cachorro”).

Gonzalez and Cerezo said the “film’s...

An in-person Guadalajara Film Festival (Ficg), which has moved its traditional spring dates to the fall, runs Oct. 1-9 this year. It opens with Dennis Villeneuve’s “Dune,” following its splash in Venice, and closes with the North American premiere of the first two episodes of Netflix’s animated series “Maya and the Three” from Mexico’s Jorge Gutiérrez.

Given the ongoing pandemic that is still hampering some travel, the festival expects fewer participants. Speaking to Variety in mid-September, festival director Estrella Araiza said that at that moment the Festival had about 300 confirmed participants while it normally had as many as 1,500.

Cinemas will be at 50% capacity at the festival even though Mexico has seen most cinemas opening at 100% capacity. “We want to adhere to the strictest protocols to keep our guests safe,” Araiza noted.

Some activities, such as the Masterclasses, will be available online. A novelty this year, the live...

An epic love story will not be taking flight at ABC.

The network has officially scrapped its fairytale drama from Once Upon a Time creators Adam Horowitz and Eddy Kitsis.

The cast of the potential series was set to be led by Brittany O’Grady (Little Voice), who played cynical princess Luna, and Eleanor Fanyinka (Holby City), who played a mysterious character known as The Seer.

Modern Family's Sarah Hyland was also set to appear in the project as a princess named Rose.

O'Grady was set to be the lead as Luna, with it being revealed that the character is changed by a broken heart.

She does not believe in love stories, but “she is about to find herself caught in the most epic one of all — her own.”

Epic was described as “a romantic anthology series set in the fairytale universe of Disney… taking place in a Disney-like Enchanted Forest.

ABC is officially journeying to the Promised Land, by way of an official series order for the drama pilot, TVLine has learned.

Promised Land is described as an “epic, generation-spanning drama” that follows two Latino families vying for wealth and power in California’s Sonoma Valley. The cast includes John Ortiz (Rake) as Joe Sandoval, Cecilia Suárez (La casa de las flores) as Lettie Sandoval, Augusto Aguilera (Made for Love) as Mateo, Christina Ochoa (A Million Little Things) as Veronica Sandoval, Mariel Molino (Papis muy padres) as Camila Sandoval, Tonatiuh (Vida) as Antonio Sandoval, Katya Martín (The Affair) as Juana...

U.S. Spanish-Language streaming platform Pantaya and Spanish-language production powerhouse El Estudio have wrapped shooting on their cringey comedy co-production “Pena Ajena,” based on the Spanish Movistar Plus hit original series “Vergüenza.” The Mexican adaptation co-stars film and TV standouts Adrián Uribe and Mónica Huarte (“Tired of Kissing Frogs”).

Santiago Fábregas (“Taco Chronicles”) and Diego Graue (“El Candidato Rayo”) both co-wrote and co-directed the series’ 10 half-hour episodes, joined in the writers’ room by co-scribes Francisco González Payó (“Saving Private Pérez”) and Dariela Pérez Hernández (“The House of Flowers”).

“Good comedy is hard to find, great comedy is a diamond in the rough. Between a cast featuring Adrián and Mónica as the main couple, a great crew and creative team led by Santi Fábregas, all of them backed by Pablo Cruz and his El Estudio banner, we feel that ‘Pena Ajena’ is a crown jewel of comedy,” said Mario Almeida, Pantaya head of content.

Netflix in Spain has kicked off production on “Rainbow,” a new feature film from celebrated film and TV multi-hyphenate Paco León. Inspired by “The Wizard of Oz,” the film will heavily feature important aspects of contemporary culture such as dance, fashion, plastic arts and above all, music.

Netflix has teamed with Mediaset España’s Telecinco Cinema, the powerful feature film production arm of Spanish broadcaster Telecinco, to produce the new film, which his currently shooting in Madrid. The film will track the journey of a modern-day Dorothy teenage girl who embarks on a journey of her own.

According to León, he is “dead scared and hugely excited to see how this film, written during quarantine, comes out as I believe it is a step forward in my career as a director.”

“This is also a bigger film than my previous ones, not only budget-wise but also because of the complexity...

Madrid-based Avalon is transforming from a prestige producer-distributor into an industrial force.

Founded by CEO Stefan Schmitz in 1996, Avalon has carved a reputation most recently for co-producing and releasing in Spain Carla Simon’s “Summer 1993,” a Berlin 2017 First Feature Award winner. It co-produced Clara Roquet’s Cannes Critics’ Week entry “Libertad.”

The shingle, set to distribute “Benedetta” and “Bergman Island” in Spain, now has an 11-title production slate, both features and drama series, taking in new titles from leading lights in a new generation of female Catalan cineastes.

Simón herself has rural family drama “Alcarrás” in shooting and is developing her third feature, “Romería,” “a kind of continuation of ‘Summer 93,’” Schmitz said. “Alcarrás“ – “a highly cinematographic, and bigger budgeted Spanish independent film,” said Schmitz – is being sold by MK2.

“Libertad” director Clara Roquet is co-writing “Creatura,” set up at San Sebastian project lab Ikusmira Berriak, from Malaga best director...

Exclusive: Alberto Belli (The House Of Flowers) has been set to direct Latinx dance movie The Way You Move, which Tamara Nagahiro of Grandave International is selling at the Cannes virtual market.

The movie follows an inner-city teenager who gets in trouble at school and is forced to serve detention in the ballroom dance club. To his surprise he discovers that he loves to dance, but he must overcome a family tragedy and the ridicule of his friends before he can bring the rhythms of the street into the ballroom and express his own unique style.

Belli, a commercials and music video director, recently directed multiple episodes of Netflix’s Spanish-language series The House of Flowers. His debut feature, Gatlopp, is currently in post-production for Tea Shop Productions and Signature, and he is currently co-creating drama series Loteria which is in development with Sony Pictures Television for IMDb TV, with...