The eighth Hulu Original film from American High (Big Time Adolescence, It’s a Wonderful Binge), Miguel Wants to Fight will premiere on Hulu on August 16.

Despite living in a neighborhood where fighting is stitched into the fabric of everyday life, high school junior Miguel (Tyler Dean Flores) has never found himself in one. And, to be honest, he’s perfectly fine with that. But when a combination of events turns his life upside down, Miguel and his three best friends —the stoic David (Christian Vunipola), the rowdy Cass (Imani Lewis), and the quick-tonged Srini (Suraj Partha)— enter into a series of hilarious misadventures as he tries to get into his first ever fight.

Directed by Oz Rodriguez (Vampires vs. the Bronx) and written by Jason Conception (Primo) and Shea Serrano (Primo), the cast of Miguel Wants to Fight includes Tyler Dean Flores (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit), Raúl Castillo (El Chicano), Dascha Polanco (Orange is the New Black), and Andrea Navedo (Jane the Virgin).

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Mexican actor Gael García Bernal has been tapped to play gay amateur wrestler Saul Armendáriz Cassandro in a new Prime Video film.

The first images were just released by Prime Video of Bernal in costume, and leopard print, for his role as professional wrestler.

Armendáriz was born and raised in El Paso, Texas, but also spent a lot of time just across the Mexican border in Juárez, Chihuahua, his family’s native town where he competed at the highest levels in wrestling. In México, Armendáriz learned different techniques from other luchadores. He began his career in 1988..

Cassandro is written and directed by African-American Academy award winner Roger Ross Williams. David Teague and Julián Herbertt are also part of the writing team. The film also stars Roberta Colindrez, Perla De La Rosa, Gerardo Gatica, Joaquín Cosío, and Raúl Castillo.

Cassandro will Prime hit Prime Video in 2023.

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Raul Castillo stars in Hulu’s Mother/Android, a sci-fi thriller series about a dystopian future world in which perfectly human-looking robots revolt against their master creators which will debut Dec.17.  

A Miramax production, the series is directed and written by budding filmmaker Mattson Tomlin, whose directing credits include the indie drama thrillers The Projectionist and Solomon Gundy and who most recently penned Netflix’s Project Power. He is also a co-writer of The Batman, the next installment in the DC Comics’ Dark Knight franchise. Co-starring in Mother/Android with Castillo (We Are Animals) are Chloë Grace Moretz (Kick-Ass) and Algee Smith (Judas and the Black Messiah).

In the series, Georgia (Moretz), a pregnant young woman, and her boyfriend Sam (Smith) embark on a dangerous journey to escape a nation caught in an unexpected war with artificial intelligence. The couple must reach safety before the woman gives birth. One of the few men willing to help the parents-to-be is Arthur (Castillo), a reclusive and psychologically challenged character who happens to be a computer whiz that’s developed a camouflage shield against androids. 

Castillo’s Mother/Android role will cap a busy 2021 in which the 44-year old Texas-born actor has been featured in half a dozen films, including Netflix’s Night Teeth and Army of the Dead and the MGM action/crime thriller Wrath of Man. He also appeared in the indie film Bless Me, Ultima that was based on Rudolfo Anaya’s novel of the same title. Castillo was nominated for the Film Independent Spirit Award for his role in the 2018 film We the Animals. Three years earlier, he won the Vision Award of the National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications to Best Performance – Comedy for his role in the HBO series Looking–tying with Academy Award winner Don Cheadle for House of Lies. Looking also won Castillo two noms for the Imagen Awards. Castillo’s other series credits include cable channel Starz’s Vida and Netflix’s Ghost Tape and Seven Seconds. 

A theatre actor since high school, Castillo has performed extensively in Off-Broadway plays like A Lifetime Burning. His stage credits also include Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train, The Way West, Adoration of the Old Woman and starred alongside Sandra Oh in Death and the Maiden.

Hulu’s Mother/Android is exec produced by Andrew Golov, whose credits include Wrath of Man. The series producers include Matt Reeves and Bill Block who have worked in popular sci-fi and action flicks in different capacities. Reeves directed War for the Planet of the Apes and Cloverfield and is also a producer in the upcoming The Batman. Miramax’s Block produced The Gentlemen and exec produced District 9. 

Featured Photo: Raul Castillo as Arthur in Mother/Android (Credit: Hulu)

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By Roberto Leal
Movie Review

“In the barrio, bad things happen when the sky turns black”

That’s the opening and closing line to Ben Hernandez-Bray’s engaging superhero movie, El Chicano. That line proves to be very prophetic in the film. However, many good cinematic things happen in El Chicano, when the lights were turned off and the theater went black.

Way back in October 2016, I wrote a review for Latin Heat Magazine of the remake of The Magnificent Seven titled: Wanted: Latino Movie Heroes. In that piece, I loudly lamented the looming lack of Latino heroes in the film. Why the pathetic, pissant paucity of positive Hispanic protagonists in a film? I didn’t express it with the same alliterative flare, but you get my point. Oh, sure, Latinos portray sidekicks (Gonzales-Gonzales, Leo Carillo), often villains (El Chapo) and occasionally, an anti-hero (Danny Trejo, Machete). But never, never a straight-up, ass-kicking, name-taking, vigilante for justice superhero…until now. And, writer, director, Ben Hernandez-Bray is the right guy to bring it to life to the big screen.

Back in March, in an exclusive, in-depth interview by Elia Esparza for Latin Heat, Hernandez-Bray opened his heart, mind, soul and freely shared the personal tragedies, values, dreams and artistic vision that culminated in the genesis and eventual realization of El Chicano. When asked who his childhood superhero idols were, Hernandez-Bray replied:

“I’d have to say, Batman, Aquaman and Superman! As a result, I eventually became a big fan of ComicCon!”

That Batman influence is significant in Hernandez-Bray’s personal life and the El Chicano character.  Bruce Wayne became Batman after his parents were murdered by small-time crime boss, Joe Chill. Hernandez-Bray’s brother was a victim of gang violence. His brother’s death greatly affected Hernandez-Bray’s attitude toward the importance of family. In the interview, he revealed:

“El Chicano is a superhero; he derives strength from within. His life is very symbolic of my own life. About twelve years ago I lost my younger brother to gang violence. It was a loss that hit my mother, siblings and me very hard and we struggled to get beyond our grief.”

Similarly, Diego/El Chicano, nicely played by Raul Castillo, assumes the mantle of El Chicano after the violent death of his brother. But, unlike most superheroes who derive their powers from the bite of a radioactive spider, a chemical, genetic or galactic mishap El Chicano derives his powers from within, as inspired by Hernandez-Bray’s personal story.

Hernandez-Bray’s vast experience as a stunt man and capable directing of episodic TV action, superhero shows like Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow, are plainly evident in the smart, timely staging and choreographing of the pivotal fight scenes. The fight sequences are not gratuitous and overdone set pieces, as they often are in this genre, but fold in logically with the ebb and flow of the story. Cinematographer, Juan Miguel Azpiroz’s visual style brings the East L.A. landscape to life and makes it a vital character to be reckoned with. Mitch Lee’s pulse-pounding, thumping, hip-hop soundtrack is the perfect, urban heartbeat of El Chicano.

Unlike, Danny Trejo in Machete, Raul, as Diego/El Chicano, is not a menacing or imposing physical presence. He’s the nice-looking, Mexican-American kid next door who becomes the Barrio Batman. Diego does not wear a fancy cowl and cape, like the Dark Knight. He wears a hoody and a mask. He does not drive a fancy Batmobile but opts to roar around the East L.A. streets in a hopped-up motorcycle. However, his fighting skills are the equal of any superhero currently kicking butt in the movies.

A quick shout out to a fine supporting cast. George Lopez in a surprisingly good dramatic role as Captain Gomez. Aimee Garcia is impressive as Vanessa and Marco Rodriguez as Jesus shines as the barrio shaman and Keeper of the Flame of Aztec myth and legend. The rest of the cast deliver solid, authentic, effective performances, a testament to Hernandez-Bray’s well-written script and deft directing.

In Esparza’s interview, Hernandez-Bray was asked what he wanted the audience of El Chicano to come away with after experiencing the film. Hernandez-Bray didn’t have to think about it very long:

“Telling this story became important to me. I wanted people to know no matter what your socio-economic background you come from, tragedy hits everyone, but you don’t have to stay trapped in your grief or your surroundings. You can make a better life for yourself. I hope others to get  inspired by it, especially if you’re from the barrio.”

The open ending of El Chicano clearly suggests a sequel is in the future. Hernandez-Bray confirms that an El Chicano sequel is indeed in the works. We don’t know how soon the next chapter of El Chicano will come to a local cineplex near you. Just keep a sharp eye on the barrio night sky, when it turns black, El Chicano will be heard off in the distance on his motorcycle roaring back into the hood to mete out justice and open up a large can of whup ass on the bad guys who dare cross his path or mess with his family.

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Vida, the critically acclaimed series created by Tanya Saracha is finally back for Season 2, premiering on
Thursday, May 23, 2019, 8 PM on the Starz network.

In the second season of Vida, Lyn (Melissa Barrera) and Emma (Mishel Prada) begin the monumental task of rebuilding their mother’s business while navigating financial constraints, competing developers, and the growing anti-gentrification movement. Lyn and Emma must contemplate the relationships in their lives, including their own, and are forced to dig deep to unearth what their mother’s legacy means to them. Mishel Prada, Ser Anzoategui, Chelsea Rendon, Carlos Miranda, and new additions to the cast Raúl Castillo, and Roberta Colindrez are ready to shake, rock and roll in a community in the East Los Angeles.

And just in time for the premiere of their second season, Starz is offering a $5/month for 3 months deal. They are encouraging a “Vida binge watch” beginning on May 23rd when the series premieres. Not only can you watch season two, but you can catch up and start at the beginning with season one.

Follow Vida on social media:

INSTAGRAM: @vida_starz
TWITTER: @VIDA_STARZ
FACEBOOK: Facebook.com/VidaSTARZ

Instagram: @vida_starz
Twitter: @VIDA_STARZ
Facebook: https//:www.facebook.com/vidaSTARZ

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The 2nd season of STARZ’s hit drama VIDA premieres on the STAR’s app on May 23 on the app and on May 26 on the channel.

The 2nd season of the STARZ series, Vida which rocked the TV world for presenting an never before look at life in East L.A., premieres on May 26th. And if you really can’t wait you can watch it on May 23rd on the STARZ app.

When last we saw the estranged sisters Emma (Mishel Prada), the career-focused and successful lawyer from Chicago, and Lyn (Melissa Barrera), a flaky yoga loving vegan relying on her looks and other people’s money to get by, they had returned to their childhood neighborhood of East Los Angeles, only to see their lives turn topsy turvy.

It was a lot to take in. Upon their return to bury their mom, they find out she had a wife who they are now tied to as all three own the family bar. Both daughters planned to leave and get back to their “normal” lives. But “el destino” had other plans.

The first season of Vida put a whole new hue on the “old neighborhood”, and to say that this is not your grandmother’s neighborhood anymore, would be an understatement. On the surface, it may look the same, but as the “chisme” spread throughout season two, what we got was a stark new look at the old neighborhood.

Vida is a never-before-seen contemporary portal into a multi-generational Latinx neighborhood exploring complex narratives and an intersecting range of issues including sexual, cultural and spiritual identity, class and race, all under the gaze of fast changes and growing conflicts with gentrification.

In season 1, the girls learned the truth. In the second season, they face reality as Lyn and Emma begin the monumental task of rebuilding their mother’s business while navigating financial constraints, competing developers, and the growing anti-gentrification movement.

What do we have to look forward in season two, which has expanded to 10 episodes, up from the 6 they shot last season?

• The sisters will be forced to dig deeper to unearth the true legacy of their mother and what means to them.
• Raul Castillo (Looking, Amexicano) Baco, will be guest starring as the bar’s new handyman with a questionable past.
• Adrian Gonzalez (Superstore) will recur as Rudy, an L.A. city councilman who Lyn meets at a gym class
• Roberta Colindrez (I Love Dick, The Deuce) joins the cast as series regular Nico, the new bartender at the family bar.
• Ser Anoategui who plays Eddy, Emma and Lyn’s “stepmom” isn’t going anywhere so maybe some bonding is in store? After all, they have a bar to run.
• Showrunner Tanya Saracho makes a move to the back of the camera as she makes her directorial debut in season two!

And what would Vida’s East L.A. be without the chola tagger played by Chelsea Rendon, and Carlos Miranda whose character Johnny can’t decide what women he needs to be loyal to? We also look forward to seeing the neighborhood’s colorful residents who always add a lot more flavor to the season.

Watch on STARZ on May 26. The series is produced by Big Beach TV with Robin Schwartz, Peter Saraf and Marc Turtletaub serving as executive producers. Stephanie Langhoff is also executive producing with Chrisann Verges producing.

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