Rodriguez will write, direct and produce the new feature film which will introduce the world to a new family of spies. It has still not been determined if any of the past cast members will return to reprise their roles.

Spy Kids which premiered in 2001 revolved around the Cortez family, the parents played by Antonio Banderas and Carla Gugino, two spies who own their espionage organization. When they run into trouble their children Carmen (Alexa PenaVega) and Juni Cortez (Daryl Sabara) join the family business to go to their parent’s rescue. The film franchise includes Spy Kids 2: The Island Of Lost Dreams (2002), Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003), and Spy Kids: All The Time In The World (2011). A literal Who’s Who of Hollywood talent appeared in the films at different times, they included; Danny Trejo (who originate his infamous role of Machete in this franchise), Cheech Marin, Ricardo Montalban, Salma Hayek, Steve Bucemi, Sylvester Stallone, Tony Shalhoub, George Clooney, Selena Gomez, Jessica Alba, Allen Cumming, Jeremy Piven, among others. Collectively, the franchise has earned over $550 million worldwide with more to be added with the addition of the new film.

Producing this time around will be David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Don Granger for Skydance, which will oversee development and production. Elizabeth Avellan, the original producer of the franchise and Racer Max (son of Rodriguez and Avellan) will also produce.

Spyglass owns the Spy Kids franchise. Spyglass’ Gary Barber and Peter Oillataguerre will executive produce.

Netflix’s expanding slate of all-audience movies also includes Rodriguez’s action-packed family film We Can Be Heroes which starred Pedro Pascal, Academy Award nominee Adriana Barraza, and a group of very talented kids who played the heroes in the movie; the family comedy Yes Day, starring Jennifer Garner, Edgar Ramírez and Jenna Ortega; as well as the the fantasy adventure Slumberland, Enola Holmes 2, and the fantasy The School for Good Evil.

Rodriguez is repped by WME and attorney Craig Emanuel.

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After briefly entering the Star Wars Universe to direct an episode of the popular Disney+ series, Robert Rodriguez is returning in a big way to the famous sci-fi franchise. He is an executive producer of The Book of Boba Fett that debuts Dec. 29 on the Mickey Mouse streamer. The filmmaker also gets to helm the series’ first episode. 

The new series is a spinoff of the Emmy Award-winning series The Mandalorian, which featured Fett in the season two episode titled “The Tragedy” with actor Temuera Morrison as the armored bounty hunter. That episode was directed by Rodriguez, leading to greater involvement in the franchise. 

In recent days the San Antonio-born filmmaker, a reported Star Wars fan, has been busy on social media promoting the new show with the hashtag #TheBookofBobaFett. On Twitter, Rodriguez reposted the series trailer adding, “You’ll see a tease of a cool new character in this spot.” On Facebook, the cineaste shared, “The legend of Boba Fett returns December 29 only on Disney+!” An on Instagram, he says, “He had a cool ship, a cool name, he was shrouded in mystery, and you couldn’t see his face, so he was always my favorite character.”

Portrayed as an antihero, Fett was first introduced in the Star Wars Universe in CBS’ 1978 TV movie Star Wars Holiday Special and appeared in subsequent features, including the original Star Wars Trilogy and prequel trilogies as well as other projects. They include the features The Empire Strikes Back in 1980 and, three years later, Return of the Jedi. The character’s origin is explored in the 2002 prequel feature Attack of the Clones as a young adoptive son of a well-known bounty hunter.

Disney+’s The Book of Boba Fett will not be the first time that Rodriguez directs a sci-fi project–nor may be the last. In 2019, he helmed the blockbuster Alita: Battle Angel, produced by Oscar winner filmmaker James Cameron (Titanic, Avatar, Aliens), which is Rodriguez’s highest-grossing film to date with more than $400 million worldwide. The same year he donned the directorial hat forRed11, an independent horror sci-fi thriller.

Rodriguez also helms the upcoming Hipnotic, another sci-fi thriller starring Ben Affleck, Alice Braga and JD Pardo and which is in post-production.

Known for his breakout film El Mariachi and its two sequels, Desperado and Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Rodriguez is one of Hollywood’s most prominent Latino filmmakers. His other movie credits include Sin City, From Dusk Till Dawn, Spy Kids and Machete. His features have earned several accolades, including awards at the Cannes Film Festival and Sundance Film Festival, two Imagen Awards and two Alma Awards. 

Rodriguez also won a Guinness World Record Award for El Mariachi as the “lowest-budget movie to make $1 million at the US box office.” Reportedly made it for $7,000, the film grossed $2 million in the United States.

Featured Photos: Robert Rodriguez (Photo: El Rey Network) / ‘The Book of Boba Fett’ (Photo: Disney+)

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The new sci-fi series Debris, about an alien spaceship, is landing on NBC this coming month, and its first episode is co-directed by Rebecca Rodriguez.

Debris is about the wreckage from a spacecraft whose remains fall across a large section of Earth. The pieces have strange effects in the areas where they have come down, defying gravity and other physics laws and impacting people’s lives in unforeseen ways. Two agents from different continents try to recover all the debris to understand its nature and power before it falls into the wrong hands. 

A DIVERSE CAST
The show stars up-and-coming actors Jonathan Tucker (The Ruins) and Riann Steele (The Magicians) as CIA and MI6 agents, respectively. Its diverse cast also features Thomas Cadrot (Firefly Lane), Armin Karame (Upload), Alex Bogomolov (Arrow), Myrasol Martinez (When Hell Calls Your Name), and debutante child actor Calix Miguel, among many others.

Debris is executive produced by its creator J.H. Wyman (Fringe, The Mexican), who also co-writes. Producing the series are Frequency Films and Legendary Television.

FILMMAKING FAMILY
Rodriguez is the sister of acclaimed filmmaker Robert Rodriguez (Machete, El Mariachi). In fact, her first known film credit is starring in the short Bedhead, directed by her brother Robert back in 1991. She later appeared in a small role in Spy Kids.

As an editor, Rebecca Rodriguez has worked in the Sundance film Frank & Lola, Machete Kills and Machete, the latter two also directed by her famous brother. She is also listed as a producer in Spy Kids 4-D: All the Time in the World.

Rodriguez is an up-and-coming filmmaker who has been producing a few episodes for series like Orville, Queen of the South, and Nancy Drew. Her latest work includes the episodics Snow Pierce, The Chi, and Mayans M.C.

In her biggest job yet, Rebecca Rodriguez is set to executive produce the TV series Zorro, created by her brother Robert, produced by CBS, and distributed by NBC.

Debris premieres March 1 on NBC. 

Featured Top Photo: In Debris (l-r): Yoshi Bancroft as Agent McGuire, King Lau as Situation Team Agent, and Riann Steele as Finola. Photo by: Sergei Bachlakov/NBC.

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Robert Rodriguez’s superhero, adventure filmWe Can Be Heroes premieres on Netflix on Christmas day. It is a sweet, feel-good family film starring some of Hollywood’s top talent.

Texan native, Rodriguez’s directorial debut film El Mariachi earned the distinction of being the lowest-budget movie to make $1 million at the US box office and launched his career in 1993. His cutting-edge visual style seen in his horror (From Dusk till Dawn) and action (Sin City) films, has made Rodriquez one of the most famous, influential, and beloved directors in contemporary American cinema. For We Can Be Heroes Rodriguez, once again takes on multiple roles including director, writer, producer, editor, and director of photography.

We Can Be Heroes is the stand-alone sequel to Rodriguez’s 2005 film The Adventures of Lavagirl and Sharkboy – 3D which follows a young boy named Max as he’s recruited by two imaginary superhero friends, Sharkboy and Lavagirl, to save their home planet, Planet Drool.

In We Can Be Heroes, Sharkboy and Lavagirl are now adults in the real world. They’re a part of a team of elite Earth superheroes called The Heroics led by Marcus Moreno (Pedro Pascual). When the earth is threatened by a massive alien invasion, The Heroics have their super children sent to safety, under the care of the strict government babysitter, Ms. Granada (Priyanka Chopra Jonas).

However, when The Heroics are kidnaped by the aliens, the superkids, led by Moreno’s daughter Missy (YaYa Gosselin,) escape from Ms. Granada. Together they go on an adventure learning to use their strengths and unique powers, as a team to save both their parents and the world.

Throughout the film, there is an emphasis on the importance of teamwork among the diverse group of people, including gender, race, and physical ability. Every superkid, despite what limitations others put on them, is able to use their individual power to excel both in the group and individually. This is especially evident in Missy who must overcome her own insecurities and believe in herself, in order to effectively learn to lead.

Intent on making We Can Be Heroes as true an authentic family film, Rodriguez collaborated with four of his five children, Racer Max, Rebel, Rogue, and Rhiannon. For instance, Racer Max who initially created the characters of Sharkboy and Lavagirl, was also a co-producer on We Can Be Heroes. While Rebel wrote the film’s score. The film’s music references rock icon David Bowie’s hit song Heroes, which can be heard throughout the film. The phrase, “We can be heroes”, is one of the most recognizable lyrics of the song.

Rodriguez shared how he wanted We Can Be Heroes to be a children’s version of The Avengers. Expressing how, “The genre is a great way to present a mythology, but grounded in family values and messages for children,” he said and added “If kids are going to watch a film over and over, you want to give them something that teaches them about family, working together, inspiring others, and using all of their personal power to change the world for the better”.

In these turbulent times when adults don’t seem to have all of the answers and with so much infighting among them, children are left to feel unsure about their futures. We Can Be Heroes gives children positive encouragement. It gives hope that with each new generation comes the opportunity to rebuild and go further than the generation before them.

We Can Be Heroes premiers on Friday, December 25, 2020.

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By Justina Bonilla

Danny Trejo is the hardest working man in Hollywood. The ex-con turned Chicano film icon has defied the odds to become one of the most beloved and recognized faces in American cinema and Los Angeles pop culture.

Though best known for his acting, Trejo is also pursuing a vast variety of endeavors, including restaurateur, author, producer, entrepreneur and substance/alcohol abuse counselor. Now, his extraordinary journey from prison inmate to Hollywood star is being featured in the documentary Inmate #1: The Rise of Danny Trejo, available now on stream and on demand.

Trejo, a Los Angeles native from Pacoima, CA, spent his early life heavily impacted by crime and substance/alcohol abuse. After spending many years in and out of jail from Los Angeles juvenile hall to county jail, to Folsom Prison and San Quentin, Trejo had a life changing experience in 1968, at 24 years old.

Trejo was facing the possibility of the death penalty, because he allegedly injured a lieutenant with a rock during a prison riot in Soledad State Prison in California. The alleged attack was labeled as an attempted murder on a prison staff with a deadly weapon.

Praying to God, Trejo asked, “If you let me die with dignity, I’ll say your name every day, and I will do whatever I can for my fellow man.”

With no witness to the alleged crime, the charge was dropped, and Trejo was released from prison on August 3, 1969.

Post-prison, Trejo worked a variety of odd jobs until he became an alcohol/substance abuse counselor, which he still does to this day. Trejo received his first film role by helping a production assistant through his work as a drug counselor.  Also, thanks to his boxing background, he was hired to train an actor to box for Runaway Train (1985).  Trejo was also asked to do a bit part in the film. This opportunity led him down a path of success beyond his wildest dreams.

Along the way Trejo’s tough Chicano persona got him cast as the nameless assassin in Robert Rodriguez’s Desperado (1995). Trejo continued to build his acting resume in supporting roles, with a cult following, until Rodriguez cast Trejo as Uncle Machete in Spy Kids (2001), bringing him international fame. The character Machete made another appearance as the vengeful machete-wielding anti-hero in a faux film trailer for the double-feature film Grindhouse (2007).

With so much interest in a Machete film, Rodriguez co-wrote/directed Machete (2010) with Trejo in his first leading role. Trejo became Hollywood’s top Chicano action star, known respectfully as El Machete. The success of Machete led to its sequel Machete Kills (2013), with fans hoping for the possibility of the third installment, Machete Kills in Space.

As a child, Trejo often told his mom that they should open the restaurant with her mouthwatering recipes and amazing cooking techniques. After making a name for himself in Hollywood, Trejo pursued that dream and opened the successful Trejo’s Tacos in 2016.

In 2017, Trejo also opened Trejo’s Cantina-Hollywood and Trejo’s Coffee & Donuts. Trejo has also opened other locations of his taco restaurant, including the Los Angeles International Airport and at the popular Original Farmer’s Market in Los Angeles. Trejo also partnered with the Lincoln Beer Company to release his own line of beer called Trejo’s Cerveza.

In June 2019, Trejo started his own independent record company, Trejo’s Music. The company focuses on up and coming music artists. He is also a music producer for the label. Trejo’s Music released their first album, Chicano Soul Shop Vol 1, as a modern interpretation of the classic lowrider music of the 1960s and 1970s.

Adding to his food endeavors, Trejo released the cookbook Trejo’s Tacos: Recipes and Stories from L.A., in April 2020. This unique cookbook, with 75 recipes from his popular award-winning tacos to donuts. It also pays homage to his colorful life and Los Angeles experience.

As of June 2020, Trejo has over 380 acting credits to his name, including the Hollywood blockbuster Heat, television’s The Young and the Restless animated series King of the Hill and indie films such as Sherrybaby.

Known to some of the highest profile talent in Hollywood, Trejo has helped others start their film careers, including Oscar-winning singer/songwriter Lady Gaga.

According to Trejo, he and Gaga were at the famous Los Angeles Shamrock Social Club tattoo shop, when she showed interest in also acting in Machete Kills. Trejo immediately called Rodriguez about Gaga. Her role in Machete Kills as La Chameleón, was her first credited film role, leading her to her Oscar-nominated leading role in A Star is Born (2018).

Trejo has been blessed with a long and groundbreaking career beyond his wildest dreams. According to Trejo, his cinematic hero is the old Hollywood icon John “The Duke” Wayne. Wayne was a flawed, but highly beloved badass, dominating the classic western film genre. The hero Wayne was to many on film, as what Trejo is to many film fans today.

Wayne never made it to space, whereas Trejo  might still make it to space, going beyond the stars and so much further than we can imagine. Viva Machete!

Running time: 1 hour 47 minutes. Available to rent or buy on Amazon, Google Play and streaming on various platforms and pay TV operators.

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The world is still reeling from the news of the shocking and devastating deaths of Laker Icon Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna Bryant, the six family friends and pilot, from the tragic Sunday morning helicopter crash. Millions of Latino fans in America and abroad regard Kobe’s untimely death as the loss of a beloved member of the Latino community. And profoundly heartbroken over the loss of one of our princesses, GiGi.  

Over the years, the Latino community has deeply admired non-Latino icons such as Bryant, President John F. Kennedy, Attorney General Bobby Kennedy, Comedian Richard Pryor and Music Legend Prince. However, Kobe’s impact was deeper. Most notably because Kobe respected his Latino fans throughout his career, and once commented that it was the Latino fans that first embraced him when he moved to L.A.

Kobe took time to learn about the culture, learned Spanish and gave to charity, work he did with his Mexican-American wife, Vanessa. Yet, his greatest legacy, was being a loving family man to his wife and four “mejicana” daughters as he once called them.

Among Kobe’s collaborations on commercials and short films with well-known Latino celebrities in sports and film, a few stand out. The result was the embodiment of Kobe’s pop-culture impact which now, will live on as a testament to his persona. Each captures a different aspect of him, from the power of the man and his silly side.

Nike SB Commercial 2009: Paul Rodriguez Jr.

Paul Rodriguez Jr., son of Latino comedic pioneer Paul Rodriguez, known as P-Rod, a street skateboarder, actor, rapper, and recording artist. Rodriguez has won a total of eight medals at the X Games. Kobe does a brief cameo in Rodriguez’s extended Nike commercial, which focuses on Paul Jr. skating around iconic images of Los Angeles.

In the behind the scene footage, Kobe is seen expressing his amazement of Paul Jr.’s skills stating, “Yo, that’s nuts”. When Paul Jr. is later interviewed about his experience of working with Kobe, he wanted to do his best for an athlete he admired.

The Black Mamba Nike 2011 Commercial: Robert Rodriguez and Danny Trejo

For this unique project, Kobe collaborated with director Robert Rodriguez. Rodriguez co-wrote and directed this six-minute short film about Kobe’s Black Mamba persona. Which also included appearances by Danny Trejo, Bruce Willis, and Kanye West as a part of the cast.

The most memorable part of this short, is the ending. Robert says to Kobe, “Black Mamba doesn’t end. Heroes come and go”. While Kobe smiles and replies, “But, legends are forever”.

In this LA Times interview, Kobe and Robert describe how this project came to be. With Kobe emphasizing he was a fan of Robert’s work for a very long time and felt that he was the only person who could direct it.

The full trailer is available online. But, WARNING The ending of this trailer, might cause distress. A helicopter is shown exploding and on fire. Which is a result of Kobe, who survives unscathed, throwing a bomb at the villains’ escape helicopter, causing it to explode.

Guitar Hero World Tour 2008 commercial: Alex Rodriguez

This short commercial, spoofs the iconic Risky Business scene where Tom Cruise dances at home along to the classic song, Old Time Rock and Roll, with four major athletes. Alex Rodriguez, Tony Hawk, Michael Phelps and Kobe are dancing, being silly and having fun in this one of many of Guitar Hero reimaginings of this iconic scene. Alex would refer to Kobe as a close friend, whom he highly respected and admired.

Kobe is seen as many things, including a trailblazer, pioneer, hero, icon, the greatest Laker of all time, greatest basketball player of all time and “The King of Los Angeles”. But, we will always see him as a part of La Raza.

All the helicopter occupants:

Kobe Bryant

Gianna ‘GiGi’ Bryant

John Altobelli

Keri Altobelli

Alyssa Altobelli

Sarah Chester

Payton Chester

Christina Mauser

Ara Zobayan

Latin Heat extends our deepest condolences, thoughts, prayers, and love to those who lost their lives or loved ones.

Rest in Peace King Kobe, Princess Gianna, and to the beloved friends who also lost their lives.

WE LOVE YOU

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It was recently announced that El Gato Negro comic book, created by Richard Dominguez, is coming to Apple TV. Set in South Texas, the comic book tells the story of two crime-fighting characters El Gato Negro, a luchador and his grandson Francisco Guerrero who avenge the death of Francisco’s best friend by drug-smugglers with all the twists and turns along the way. 

Robert Rodriguez, best known for Once Upon a Time in Mexico, has signed on to direct and executive produce the series along with singer and actor Diego Boneta (Rock of Ages)  who is set to play Francisco and is producing the series through his company Three Amigos. MGM Television is in the early development phase of the project; Joel Novoa will co-produce.

Boneta has been developing this project for a while, and it was losing stream until he met up with writer Eric Carrasco (Supergirl) during San Diego Comic-Con, whose pitch infused new energy into the project. In addition, Boneta’s long-standing relationship with MGM (Luis Miguel series) and Rodriguez clout, is just what the project needed to get off the ground.

El Gato Negro, rooted deeply in Latinx culture, with its comedy and dramatics, is just what America needs as we face unprecedented racism against our Latinx community. A release date hasn’t been announced.

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Two new big budget studio films, Miss Bala and Alita: Battle Angel are produced by predominantly Latino filmmakers starring Latinas Gina Rodriguez and Rosa Salazar, in the title roles respectively, as new kinds of cinema icons, Kick Ass, Action Heroines.

With Roma leading the way forward, we will have to wait and see if Miss Bala and Alita: Battle Angel mark a new cinematic era for complex fully realized Latina lead roles and the opportunity for Latina actresses to portray them in major motion pictures.”

From Virgin to Badass?

Golden Globe award-winning actress Gina Rodriguez (Jane The Virgin) stars as Gloria in Sony Pictures Miss Bala opening nationwide on Friday February 1.  Miss Bala an English language remake and refashioning of the critically acclaimed 2011 Mexican film of the same name directed by Gerardo Naranjo.

Rodriguez portrays Gloria, a young Mexican-American makeup artist who discovers an inner strength in a dangerous world of cross border crime when she tries to rescue a friend who becomes involved with a violent drug cartel and disappears after winning a beauty contest.  Ismael Cruz Cordova (Ray Donovan) a Puerto Rican actor co-stars as Lino, the charismatic drug cartel leader. Aislinn Derbez plays Isabel. If the last name sounds familiar, the actress is the daughter of famed Mexican actor/producer/director Eugenio Derbez (Latin Lover).  The film also stars Anthony Mackie (The Avengers) and features the additional talents of Ricardo Abarca, Matt Lauria, and Christina Rodlo.

Pablo Cruz (Cesar Chavez) who produced the original film under his production company Canana in Mexico partnered with Kevin Misher (The Scorpion King: Book of Souls) on the remake which shot on location in and around Tijuana, Baja California Mexico. They brought Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight Sagas) to put the new spin into action.

Pablo Cruz (Cesar Chavez) produced the original film and for the remake partners with Kevin Misher shot the remake under the direction of Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight Sagas) on locations in and around Tijuana, Baja California Mexico.  Graciela Mazon(The Mask Of Zorro) served as costume designer for the film.

Battle Angel

Alita: Battle Angel starring Rosa Salazar (Maze Runner, Divergent) in the title role is a $200 million Twentieth Century Fox production directed by Robert Rodriguez (Sin City, Spy Kids) and a collaboration of a script with James Cameron (Avatar, Titanic) who also produced is producer on this highly anticipated film which opens nationwide in 3D on February 14^th.
Christoph Waltz, Jennifer Connelly, Marshashala Ali and Jackie Earle Haley also star in this epic adventure of a female cyborg who must rediscover her past that is based on a popular Japanese Anime/Manga based on Yukito Kishiro graphic novel series “Gunnm”.  David Valdes (The Green Mile, Unforgiven) produced along with Cameron and John Landau at Rodriquez’s Troublemaker Studios in Austin Texas.

In a recent interview by Mia Galuppo in The Hollywood Reporter’s, Salazar (who is of Peruvian descent) talked about being aware of the star-making impact a movie like Alita can have, “I’m always grateful to be hired, especially as a Latin woman in the business.” She added, “And I’m always grateful when the most essential part of my character isn’t that she is Latin.”

While Miss Bala and Alita Battle Angel are movies for action and Sci-Fi movie fans, both have particular appeal to the under served Latino audience, (which makes up 25% of the movie going audience according to the MPAA) the industry’s most loyal and fastest growing young demographics.  

2017 and 2018 demonstrated that diversity sells tickets with such multi-cultural and multi-ethnic films as Coco, Crazy Rich Asians and Black Panther which smashed box office records, not only domestically but also worldwide. On the other end of the spectrum, just two of 2017’s top 100 grossing films featured Latino actors in lead roles

According to USC’s Annenberg inclusion imitative annual report on female and minority film representation. None of 2018’s top 100 films featured a Latina actress in a lead role.

In a just broadcast NPR interview Rodriquez remarked on her trailblazing lead role in Miss Bala,  “ It’s about an ordinary woman who becomes an extraordinary woman and really solidifies her power and finds her strength. If this film is a success, they [the Studios] will make more.”

These two new films arrive hot on the heels of the ten Oscar nominations for Alfonso Cuaron’s Roma including Best actress Yalitza Aparicio and Best Supporting actress Marina de Tavira.

With Roma leading the way forward, we will have to wait and see if Miss Bala and Alita: Battle Angel mark a new cinematic era for complex fully realized Latina lead roles and the opportunity for Latina actresses to portray them in major motion pictures.

The post Gina Rodriguez and Rosa Salazar Star in Two New Major February Film Releases first appeared on .