By Ana Perez

Mario Lopez to Star in Ollie

Clay Epstein’s Film Mode Entertainment company has been busy acquiring film rights and newest on that list is Ollie. The live-action/animated family comedy. The film will star Mario Lopez (Saved By The Bell) alongside skateboarder and musician Tony Alva. 

The story follows CJ, a 13-year-old boy who is having a tough time at his local skate park. His life takes a dramatic, adventurous and positive turn when he is befriended by Ollie, a skateboarding bulldog who was just fired from his watchdog job. The film is currently in development. 

San Diego native Lopez, who is best known the host of Access Hollywood and his role as A.C. Slater on Saved By The Bell.  However, he has been expanding his role as a producer, more recently with Netflix’s The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia and the upcoming Lifetime movie Feliz NaviDAD.

Lopez will produce Ollie as well as voice the character Ollie. Also producing are Mark Roberts through Roberts/David Films, along with Lorena David with Clay Epstein executive producing.   

Lopez also stars in Feliz NaviDAD as a single dad whose daughter’s Christmas wish is that he find love once again. The movie is set to release on November 21.

Oz Rodriguez Signs Two-Year Deal With Universal Television

Emmy-winning Saturday Night Live (SNL) director Oz Rodriguez solidified his relationship with Universal Television by signing an exclusive two-year producing deal with the studio.

Rodriguez has been with SNL since 2013 and went on to become head of the film unit. He won an Emmy for his behind-the-scenes series Creating SNL. He’s set to direct all six episodes of SNL star Michael Che’s new HBO Max sketch series from Universal TV.

“We feel so lucky to be solidifying our relationship with Oz, who has been in the family for many years and has played a key role in our success,” said Jim Donnelly, Universal Television EVP of Comedy Development. “He brings a creative vision and distinct visual style to every project he is involved in, and we couldn’t be more excited for all that’s to come.”

Rodriguez has directed multiple episodes of NBC’s AP Bio and the pilot for Sunnyside. He just completed the pilot of AMC’s Kevin Can F***k Himself. He most recently directed NBC and Peacock’s 30 Rock reunion. 

Rodriguez wrote and directed Vampires Vs. the Bronx for Universal and Broadway Video, which premiered on Netflix earlier this month. “I am very excited to continue my partnership with Universal Television,” said Rodriguez. “The studio has been my home for the last eight years, starting with my first season of Saturday Night Live. There are so many opportunities at the studio right now and we have a chance to tell stories that reflect characters that have been missing from television for far too long. It feels great to keep this creative partnership going with the studio that gave me my first big break.”

Featured Photo Credit:  Mario Lopez, Lifetime; Oz Rodriguez, Universal.

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