Written by Judi Jordan

The Imagen Awards was co-founded by legendary television producer and writer Norman Lear, who lived to the ripe age of 101, and passed in 2023. A deeply curious and humane person, Mr. Lear’s awareness of the void of positive portrayals of Latinos in the entertainment industry gave weight to the importance of positive Latino images. 

Norman Lear would be so proud of the 2025 nominees. His quest to see Latinos portrayed with respect and creativity is met in the ten categories including Drama, Comedy, Docs, Shorts and more. Helen Hernandez is the President & Founder of the Imagen Foundation who produces the Imagen Awards.

LATIN HEAT + IMAGEN  – Part One

The suave Latin devils of old Hollywood TV cliches have been replaced by a crop of intriguing, grown men with callings, consciences and inner conflicts. 

These new Drama Kings are dyslexic, intuitive, vulnerable (Will Trent/ Ramón Rodriguez) caring, conflicted, educated (The Cleaning Lady/Santiago Cabrera) regretful, emotive and resolute, (The Last of Us/Pedro Pascal) evolved, affable and effective, (Lincoln Lawyer/Manuel Garcia-Rulfo) and lonely, wary, idealistic (Andor/Diego Luna) These roles played to the talent’s dramatic strengths while offering exciting nuances that kept audiences tuning in weekly or binging – streamer contingent.  

Drama Kings – modern Latin Lovers are vulnerable, aspirational, responsible and gainfully-if sometimes painfully-employed. These seasoned IMAGEN-nominated men defy the tired one-dimensional stereotypes of heartless seducers, skeezy scammers and gun-happy cholos.

Established TV and film stars in uncommen roles wowed their fans with new facets of their talent and audiences approved. With resumes, personas and ‘chops’ that TV networks and streamer execs respect, TV showrunners craft episodes that highlight and challenge their characters’ strengths. 

Three seasons of Will Trent blew up the long, steady career of Ramón Rodriguez! Who knew he had 20+ film roles on his resume including G-20, Gang Related, Transformers? His memorable early TV work on The Wire 2002-2008 laid the foundation. By the time Will Trent arrived, Ramón Rodriguez, in the title role, was more than ready. His heartfelt, eccentric Southern detective is fascinating, never parodied. Will Trent, broken and brave feels embedded in his soul, but joy has crept into the series with dance numbers that lighten the storyline and a thoughtful, romantic storyline with Gina Rodriguez that fans loved.

An executive producer on the show, Rodriguez directed the exceptional Season 3 premiere episode and will direct again in Season 4. Deadline broke the story that Rodriguez recently signed a multi-year deal with 20^th Television, to develop and produce series and films for Disney, a fitting outcome for the gifted, dedicated multi-hyphenate. 

Santiago Cabrera is nominated for his dark turn as Jorge Sanchez, the highly-reluctant Harvard-educated drug cartel leader of the Sin Cara Cartel, in the gritty Fox/Hulu series The Cleaning Lady. Chilean-born Cabrera joined the show in seasons 3 and 4. Typically cast as the hero, female fans still swoon over his pitch-perfect portrayal of dashing, soulful Aramis in the 3-season BBC hit show Musketeers, now airing on Hulu. His 20-year working streak of good guy supporting and leads in Picard, Heroes, Merlin, Salvation, and prestige series romantic roles in Big Little Lies, Flight Attendant, Land of Women, and a kindly ghost Richard Deetz in Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice called for a change. 

Cabrera had resisted drug lord roles for years; but tempted by the premise, he used his discomfort – his very conflicted Jorge feels real. He admits, “It was fun to play the bad guy.” Audiences witnessed a very different Cabrera with a gun in his hand wading through cartel carnage as the ambiguous yet ambitious man with a plan that goes south by the hour. Not to mention a fraudulent marriage with Thony, a fearless Cambodian female doctor (played by Elodie Yung), who dissects bodies of cartel enemies in exchange for his protection. Plagued at every step by his obsessed sociopath sister Ramona (Kate de Castillo) for control of Sin Cara, Santiago’s Jorge is an idealist, out of his depth in the blood-soaked world.  

STAY TUNED.  NEXT UP: Sci-Fi Nominees

The post Drama Kings: The Imagen Award Actor Nominees Crush The Cliches first appeared on .

Written by Julio Martinez

The highly anticipated second season of the HBO Original The Last of Us, the American post-apocalyptic drama series, is set to premiere on Sunday, April 13 at 9 PM ET/PT. The series, based on the popular video game franchise created by Naughty Dog, LLC, is written and executive produced by Neil Druckmann and directed by Craig Mazin.

Set two decades into a devastating global pandemic caused by a fungal infection that turns humans into aggressive, zombie-like creatures, The Last of Us explores a world where society has crumbled—and the fight for survival reveals both the best and worst of humanity.

At a recent press conference, Druckmann, Mazin, and the cast gathered to discuss the upcoming season, which follows the storyline of the 2020 game The Last of Us Part II. Season 2 continues the journey of Joel, portrayed by Pedro Pascal, as he faces new challenges in a darker, more emotionally complex world.

Pascal expressed excitement about further developing Joel’s character. “There’s something really exciting about giving everyone another season of a show they loved—and that we worked so hard on,” he shared.

Pascal’s rise to stardom has been a long time coming. After nearly two decades of smaller roles on stage and screen, his breakout came as Oberyn Martell in Game of Thrones. He gained further acclaim playing DEA agent Javier Peña in Netflix’s Narcos (2015–2017).

Returning for season two is Gabriel Luna as Tommy, Joel’s younger brother. “It’s so comforting to get the family back together,” Luna said. “And we’ve added incredible new cast members who’ve brought a deep love for the source material. I may be 43, but their energy really lifted us all. We can’t wait for audiences to see what we’ve created.”

Luna is no stranger to high-energy roles, having previously starred as Robbie Reyes in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Tony Bravo in Matador, and Paco Contreras in Wicked City.

Season two introduces a host of new characters, including:

• Isabela Merced as Dina
  
• Young Mazino as Jesse
  
• Ariela Barer as Mel
  
• Tati Gabrielle as Nora
  
• Spencer Lord as Owen
  
• Danny Ramirez as Manny
  
• Jeffrey Wright as Isaac
  
• With a guest appearance by Catherine O’Hara

Merced, 24, shines as Dina, bringing both confidence and heart to the role. “I felt like the new kid at school,” she said. “I think Dina and I share this random, unshakable confidence. How does the new kid instantly become the ‘it’ girl?”

Luna joked, “She shows up to a press conference in a sparkly dress!” Merced laughed, “And you know I had to sparkle.” She went on to praise the inclusive and welcoming environment on set. “I felt really seen by Craig and Neil. That’s the kind of space where an actor can thrive.”

Merced, who considers herself “more Peruvian than American,” shared that Spanish was her first language and that she struggled with English in grade school. By age 15, however, she had already been accepted into college.

Bella Ramsey, returning as Ellie, opened up about the pressure and pride of continuing the story. “When season one came out, it was huge. Now with season two, all eyes are on us—and me—and that’s a bit scary. But it’s also exciting. I’m trying to see it as a celebration of all our hard work.” She highlighted the trust and camaraderie she shares with fellow cast members like Kaitlyn Dever and Young Mazino. “We went into this with total trust, and we’ve been supported every step of the way.”

Showrunners Mazin and Druckmann closed out the press event by reflecting on the intense preparation behind the scenes. “We’ve been working nonstop for two years,” Mazin said. “Season one ended—and we jumped right into writing, shooting, and editing season two. We’re incredibly proud and eager for fans to see it.”

Druckmann added, “Someone asked me if I’m excited for the premiere. I told them: I can’t even think that far ahead—we’ve still got this press conference to get through! But now it’s close, and I’m starting to imagine people watching. It’s going to be a wild ride.”

The Last of Us Season 2,  will run for 7 episodes, beginning Sunday April 13 (9pm, ET/PT) on HBO and will be available to stream on Max. 

The post ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2 Premiere with Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey and More Familiar Favorites first appeared on .

Demie, who is best known for her role as Maddy Perez in HBO’s Euphoria, is also a singer and fashion designer. Perez is a former pageant queen in a love affair with a toxic jock named Nate Jacobs (played by Jacob Elordi).

Demie was born in Los Angeles, California. She was raised by her mother, Rose Mendez, a make-up artist whose family immigrated to Los Angeles from Michoacan, Mexico. She is said to be developing a film about her mother where she will play her in the film.

Alexa’s first film role was in a 2015 short entitled Miles. After that, she gain more visibility. She appeared on television shows like Ray Donovan and Love before landing her role in Euphoria. She also starred in movies such as Wave, Mainstream, and the Jonah Hill-directed comedy-drama, Mid90s.

Alexa Demie is repped by Jamil Artist Management.

The post Actress Alexa Demie Signs With UTA first appeared on .

Actor Michael Irby will be returning as a recurring cast member in the next season of HBO’s Emmy-winning dark comedy series Barry. The third season will debut in late April.

The series follows a former Marine from Cleveland named Barry Berkman, who works as a hitman. Played by SNL alumnus Bill Hader, Barry is lonely and dissatisfied with his life in the Midwest and travels to Los Angeles to kill a target, only to end up caught up in the city’s theater scene. 

Irby plays Cristobal Sifuentes, the leader of the Bolivian mafia, who in previous seasons also moved to the City of Angels. Barry earned the Mexican American actor a nomination to the Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series.

Irby is known for his recent roles as Obispo “Bishop” Losa in the FX series Mayans, M.C. and as U.N. Admiral Delgado in the Prime sci-fi series The Expanse. He has also appeared in the TV series SEAL Team, Taken and True Detective.

The third season of HBO’s Barry will consist of eight episodes. 

Desperate to leave his violent past behind in favor of his newfound passion, Barry is attempting to untangle himself from the world of contract killing and fully immerse himself in acting. But getting out is messy. While Barry has eliminated many of the external factors that pushed him towards violence, he soon discovers they weren’t the only forces at play. What is it about his own psyche that led him to become a killer in the first place? Season three finds Barry and the other characters trying to make the right choice.

Joining Hader and Irby are cast regulars Stephen Root (HBO’s Perry Mason) as Monroe Fuches, Barry’s former handler currently in hiding; Sarah Goldberg (Hindsight) as Sally, Barry’s girlfriend in the midst of launching her first TV series; Anthony Carrigan (Gotham) as Noho Hank, head of the Chechen mob in LA; and Emmy winner Henry Winkler (Arrested Development) as Gene Cousineau, Barry’s former acting teacher who is in mourning over the loss of his girlfriend Detective Janice Moss. 

Returning for season three as a cast regular is Sarah Burns (HBO’s Enlightened) as Detective Mae Dunn. Like Irby, also returning as a recurring cast member is D’Arcy Carden (The Good Place) as Natalie Greer.

The first two seasons of Barry won six Emmys out of a total of thirty nominations, receiving the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (Hader); Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (Winkler); Outstanding Sound Editing For a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour) and Animation; and Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour) and Animation.

Season three of Barry was created, written and directed by Alec Berg (HBO’s Silicon Valley) and Hader; executive produced by Hader and Berg along with Aida Rodgers and Liz Sarnoff; and produced by Julie Camino. Additional season three writers include Emma Barrie, Jason Kim, Emily Heller, Duffy Boudreau and Liz Sarnoff. Berg and Hader are co-creators, executive producers, directors and writers.

Barry’s season three will premiere April 24 (10:00-10:30 p.m. ET/PT) on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max.

The post Michael Irby Will Be Back in Season 3 of HBO’s ‘Barry’ first appeared on .

HBO has released its first teaser and image for Scenes From a Marriage, an upcoming limited series starring Golden Globe winner and Alma Award-nominee Oscar Isaac and Academy Award-nominee Jessica Chastain. 

The film is an adaptation of Ingmar Bergman’s classic Swedish miniseries of the same title about a marriage falling apart.

The new series is developed, written and directed by Hagai Levi, who wrote HBO’s In Treatment and Our Boys and Showtime’s The Affair. The upcoming series will debut in September on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max. 

Featured Photo: Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain in ‘Scenes From a Marriage’ (Credit: HBO) 

The post Trailer: Oscar Isaac in HBO’s ‘Scenes From a Marriage’ first appeared on .

“When we began working on the production of Rent in Cuba and documenting the journey along the way, I had no idea how the story would unfold and that our documentary would end up on HBO,” says Señor Jr. 

Produced by Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment, the documentary is executive produced by actor Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother). “Andy and I started our Rent journey together many years ago and I was proud to see him take his talents to Cuba,” says Harris. He adds the film is a continuation of their journey and a “tribute to the power of theater and its ability to transform lives.” 

The doc follows Señor Jr. to the island nation, where he is tasked with directing a stage production of the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical Rent, which was making history. It was the communist country’s first Broadway musical produced by an American company in more than 50 years. The son of Cuban immigrant exiles, Señor Jr. embarks on a personal journey in the land of his parents. 

RENT‘S ‘ANGEL’
Rent the musical figures prominently in the career of the Miami-born stage actor-turned-filmmaker. Upon graduating from Florida International University with a degree in theater in 1997, Señor Jr. made his professional acting debut in the acclaimed musical in the role of “Angel” on Broadway. He also joined the musical’s London’s West End production as well as U.S. national and international tours, according to his biography on the website of Nederlander. After about eight years as “Angel,” the actor became the producer of Rent’s Off-Broadway revival for one year before assuming the position of restaging director for the musical in Japan, South Korea and Cuba. 

Along the way he also got involved in other theatre productions, including On Your Feet! the Broadway musical based on the music from the multiple Grammy Award-winning couple Gloria and Emilio Estefan. Señor Jr. pursued film, too. He acted in minor roles in movies like You Can’t Stop the Beat and provided additional voices for HBO’s family version of Spy Kids.

DIRECTORIAL DEBUT
Revolution Rent marks Señor Jr.’s film directorial debut. “I am beyond thrilled to share this deeply personal and magical moment in our lives and I’m grateful that Jonathan Larson’s words and music are still making such an impact, 25 years later,” says the filmmaker referring to the writer and composer of the rock musical. Loosely based on Giacomo Puccini’s 1896 opera La Bohème, Larson’s Rent tells the story of a group of impoverished young artists struggling in Lower Manhattan’s East Village at the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

“Traveling to Cuba to make this film was incredibly challenging yet rewarding in ways I never imagined,” says Victor Patrick Alvarez (The Bigger Picture), who also co-directs and co-produces. “Revolution Rent is about creativity in the face of adversity and the healing powers of human connection.”

Also producing the documentary are Scott Fenn and Christine O’Malley. Other executive producers include Brooke Christian, Robert Nederlander Jr., Marvin Kaplan, Jacob Parker, Stanley Browne, Zoe Chapin, Shea Martin, Karim Amer and Mark Berger.

The film’s June 15 debut will coincide with the 25th anniversary of Rent’s premiere on Broadway. The film will also be available for streaming on HBO Max.

The film traveled the festival circuit, screening at DOC NYC, Key West Film Festival and Miami International Film Festival.

Featured Photo: ‘Revolution Rent.’ Credit: HBO

The post Andy Señor Jr.’s ‘Revolution Rent’ Coming to HBO first appeared on .

A Florida Drama With Moral Dilemmas 

Edgar Ramirez is making his mark on Netflix. The billion-dollar streaming site has ordered the new series Florida Man, created by Donald Todd and starring Ramirez.  

The eight-episode series, described in the same vein as Body Heat and Elmore Leonard’s Out of Sight, revolves around a struggling ex-cop who returns to his home state of Florida to find a Philly mobster’s runaway girlfriend. His gig becomes a spiraling journey into buried family secrets and moral dilemmas about wrong and right.

Ramirez currently stars in Netflix’s Yes Day alongside Jenna Ortega and Jennifer Garner. The Venezuelan actor recently starred in HBO’s The Undoing as detective Joe Mendoza. His upcoming credits include Borderlands by Eli Roth and Disney’s Jungle Cruise where he’ll join stars Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt. The actor has also joined Universal’s spy thriller 355. He has been nominated for the Golden Globe twice for his performances in Carlos and American Crime Story. Todd, who will serve as an exec-producer and showrunner of the hour-long drama, is known for creating the Christina Applegate comedy series Samatha Who? for ABC. He has won a Writers Guild Award for his work on Ugly Betty and has been nominated for an Emmy, Writers Guild Award and Golden Globe for This Is Us.

Jason Bateman and Michael Costigan are exec-producing for Aggregate under their first-look deal at the streaming service.

A New, Modern Fantasy Island

Roselyn Sanchez is set to star in Fox’s update of Fantasy Island.

The straight-to-series drama is a modern update of the former ABC entry that takes place at a luxury resort where literally any fantasy requested by guests is fulfilled, though it always comes with a twist. Each episode will tell emotional, provocative stories about people who arrive with dreams and desires and depart enlightened and transformed through the magical realism of Fantasy Island.

The Grand Hotel and Devious Maids alum will play a descendant of Ricardo Montalban‘s Mr. Roarke. Sanchez’s Elena Roarke is described as a woman who set aside her own ambitions and the love of her life to uphold her family’s legacy. Sophisticated, insightful and always charming, Elena’s calm exterior masks the challenges of the responsibilities she has assumed as a steward of this mysterious island.

Sanchez toplines a cast that also includes John Gabriel Rodriquez (Rosewood) as pilot Javier, who also is the head of island transportation and a jack of all trades, and Kiara Barnes (The Bold and the Beautiful) as Ruby Okoro, a young woman with an old soul who arrives on Fantasy Island with a terminal illness and is given a new lease on life there.

The Puerto Rican actress’s film credits include Rush Hour 2, Boat Trip, The Game Plan and Act of Valor. Sanchez is also known as a singer-songwriter and was nominated for a Latin Grammy for her single “Amor Amor” in 2003. She first grew to international fame after she won the title of Miss American Petite in 1993. 

Production on the new Fantasy Island is already underway in Puerto Rico. The new take is exec produced by Liz Craft and Sarah Fain (The Shield). Sony Pictures TV, Gemstone Studios and Fox Entertainment are the studios on the co-production.

All seven seasons of the original Fantasy Island and the late ’90s reboot are available on Fox’s free-streaming platform Tubi, allowing viewers to familiarize themselves with the predecessor before the new series airs on August 10.

Sanchez is repped by APA, Alchemy Entertainment and Hirsch Wallerstein. 

Another Showrunner Joins Popular HBO Series

Natalie Chaidez is boarding the extended HBO Max drama The Flight Attendant. 

Chaidez will serve as co-showrunner alongside Steve Yockey for the second season of the drama series starring Kaley Cuoco. The Flight Attendant was initially intended to be only a limited series but it was expanded due to its popularity.

Natalie Chaidez, who was previously exec producer of USA Network’s Queen of the South, is joining the series as co-showrunner alongside Steve Yockey for its second season.

She will exec produce alongside showrunner Yockey, Cuoco, Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter. 

There are other changes. Meredith Lavender and Marcie Ulin, who were co-showrunners of season one, will depart.

The series, based on the book of the same name by author Chris Bohjalian, centers on alcoholic, globe-trotting flight attendant Cassie Bowen (Cuoco) who get caught in the middle of an espionage plot following her affair with a first-class passenger that winds up murdered after their night together.

The series has rated relatively highly amongst critics holding a 7.1 score on IMDb and 98 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.

The series also stars Michiel Huisman, Rosie Perez, Zosia Mamet, Michelle Gomez, T.R. Knight, Colin Woodell, Merle Dandridge, Griffin Matthews and Nolan Gerard Funk.

It is produced by Warner Bros. Television, Cuoco’s Yes, Norman Productions, and Berlanti Productions. Norman’s Suzanne McCormack is co-executive producer.

Chaidez is a veteran creator, executive producer and showrunner who works in both television and features. She exec produced and wrote Queen of the South, created and executive produced Syfy drama Hunters and wrote and produced series including 12 Monkeys, In Plain Sight, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and Heroes.

The L.A. native is of Mexican descent and a graduate of the University of California Los Angeles’ School of Theater, Film and Television. 

She recently signed with CAA for representation in all areas and continues to be represented by Susan Solomon at Circle of Confusion.

The post Spotlight: Edgar Ramirez, Roselyn Sanchez and Natalie Chaidez first appeared on .

The West Wing, which ran from 1999 to2006, centers on a fictitious Democratic administration of President Josiah Bartlet, who is played by Sheen. The actor won a Golden Globe for his Commander-in-Chief role as well as four other nominations to that coveted award.

The reunion special also highlights When We All Vote, the non-profit co-chaired by former First Lady Michelle Obama that aims at increasing voter participation in elections. Obama herself makes an appearance in the t.v. special along with other special guests like President Bill Clinton and actor and producer Lin-Manuel Miranda.

To watch A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote visit HBO Max.

The post ‘West Wing’ Reunion Special Available for Free on HBO Max first appeared on .

The series is based on author Philip Pullman’s popular trilogy, His Dark Materials and follows Lyra, a courageous young woman from another world. Lyra’s quest to find her kidnapped friend leads her to uncover a sinister plot of a secret organization, encounter extraordinary beings and protect dangerous secrets. That is the same book series on which the 1997 film The Golden Compass was based, , starring Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig and Dakota Blue Richards.

The first season two BAFTA Television Craft Award and an Annie Award.

Cast include Dafne Keen (Lyra), Ruth Wilson (Mrs. Coulter), Ariyon Bakare (Lord Boreal), Amir Wilson (Will Parry), and Andrew Scott (John Parry)

Miranda’s plays Lee Scoresby, a Texan with gun and duster who is an aeronaut-for-hire that can keep his head in a crisis, although he is often getting himself embroiled in trouble.  Season two dives into the second book in Pullman’s trilogy, Subtle Knife.

The post HBO’s ‘His Dark Materials’ Returns Nov. 16 first appeared on .

HBO Latino, the Spanish-language premium channel, is contributing to the increased visibility of Latinos in comedy with its newest comedy special Entre Nos: The Winners.

The winners of the Latinos Stand-Up! comedy competition – Mark Viera and Alex Carabaño – take center stage in this new edition of the stand-up comedy special. Entre Nos: The Winners debuts on Friday, June 19 (9:30-10:00 p.m. ET/PT) and will be available to stream on HBO GO, HBO NOW, and on HBO via HBO Max and other partners’ platforms.

Comedians Viera (dubbed by many as the Latino Bernie Mac) and Carabaño (co-owner of New York’s longest-running Latin vegan restaurant, VSPOT) perform in front of a live audience in the latest edition of HBO Latino’s Entre Nos stand-up specials. Entre Nos: The Winners feature the two comedians who won a stand-up comedy competition held in conjunction with the New York Latino Film Festival, with Viera and Carabaño coming out on top. In these sets, Viera talks about our smartphone life vs. “the beeper life” of his younger days, getting in trouble from innocent social media posts, and the “delete delete box”, while Carabaño shares anecdotes about being short, astrology and dating, and having a family that doubted his heterosexuality. Let these two winners win you over in this exclusive comedy special.

This is an edition of HBO Latino’s Entre Nos comedy shows all available on HBO digital platforms including HBO Max. Entre Nos, parts one and two premiered in 2017; Entre Nos, parts three and four, as well as Entre Nos: The Series, and Orlando Leyba: Adorable in 2018, Entre Nos: Spot On, Jerry Garcia: It’s Not My Weekend, Entre Nos: Gina Brillon: Easily Offended, Entre Nos Presents: Erik Rivera: Super White, and Entre Nos Presents: Nick Guerra: Love Me At My Worst.

Stay tuned for more details on the 2nd annual Latinos Stand-Up! annual comedy competition. Also, connect with HBO Latino’s latest news and updates, to view videos and get sneak peeks of behind-the-scenes footage on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter.

The post HBO’s Latest Comedy Special Entre Nos: The Winners Debuts June 19 first appeared on .