Puerto Rican actors Jearnest Corchado and Carlos Ponce have been cast for Peacock’s original Christmas movie The Real Housewives of the North Pole, starring Betsy Brandt and Kyle Richards.
Corchado (Sneakerheads, Little America) and Ponce (Julie and the Phantoms, Spy) are joining Brandt (Soulmates, Breaking Bad) and Richards (The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills) in the fictional town of North Pole, Vermont, according to a press release from the streamer, for the production of the Christmas drama. The movie is to be released later this year.
The movie follows the two women known as the Christmas Queens of the North Pole who compete annually in a yuletide contest. Trish (Richards) and Diana (Brandt), have won the city’s Best Holiday House decorating contest every year for the past nine years. But days before Christmas, a friendship-ending argument sparks a town-wide feud and draws the attention of a national magazine writer hoping to make a name for herself with her scintillating expose titled “Real Housewives of the North Pole.”
While the movie title may seem to suggest a connection to the series Bravo’s Real Housewives media franchise, the film is separate from the cable channel’s so-called reality TV series. Coincidentally, the series’ spinoff The Real Housewives of New Jersey currently streams on Peacock, too.
In The Real Housewives of the North Pole, Corchado will play Skye, Trish’s daughter, who is home for the holiday break. Her need to be perfect for her mom has made tensions extra high this Christmas. Ponce will play Paul, Trish’s husband. He feels guilty about leaving his family for a Christmas work trip but he’s the breadwinner paying for the family’s palace.
Corchado starred in an episode of the television 2020 Apple TV series Little America, inspired by the true stories featured on Epic Magazine. Her role as Marisol Rosado earned her an Imagen Foundation Award for Best Actress-Television. More recently she appeared in the Netflix comedy/drama series Sneakerheads, about the booming trade of the popular shoes, and the indie TV series LA 143, about three young women experiencing life, love and hookups in the City of Angels. Other credits include Cucuy: the Boogeyman and The Blacklist. The actress also aspires to have a career in music. Earlier this year, Corchado released “Magia bendita,” her debut single that she co-wrore in Spanish, along with a video in which she also stars.
Actor/singer Ponce has been acting in Spanish and English for more than three decades. He has been a heartthrob of Mexican and American telenovelas as well as a host of TV singing competitions and other shows in Puerto Rico and the U.S. The Santurce-born is currently featured in the Telemundo soap operas La Suerte de Loli and La Doña. He also appears in the popular Netflix comedy/musical/drama series Julie and the Phantoms, winner of three Daytime Emmys this year. The actor also co-starred in the ABC series Cristela, winning him a nomination to the Imagen Award for Best Supporting Actor-Television in 2015.
The two Boricua stars are among the several new members recently added to the cast of The Real Housewives of the North Pole. The others are Broadway actress Kyle Selig (Mean Girls, The Book of Mormon), Tetona Jackson (Boomerang), Alec Mapa (Ugly Betty), Damon Dayoub (Stitchers). Also featured are Melanie Haynes (Doug Unplugs) and newcomer Jason “LJ” Littlejohn.
Corchado is repped by Amsel, Eisenstadt, Frazier & Hinojosa, Inc. and managed by Candu Management.
Ponce is repped by SDB Partners and Mills Kaplan Ent.
The Real Housewives of the North Pole will be produced by Motion Picture Corporation of America, MPCA. Daytime Emmy winner Ron Oliver (Scout’s Safari) will direct and Tippi Dobrofsky, Neal Dobrofsky and Spyder Dobrofsky will write and executive produce. Brad Krevoy executive produces on behalf of MPCA, alongside Amanda Phillips and Eric Jarboe. Jake Relic, David Wulf and Chris Bongirne also produce.
Featured Photos: Carlos Ponce and Jearnest Corchado (Jonathan Fieweger/NBCUniversal)
