Developed by Nicaraguan-American Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and based on Archie Comics, the series is a bold and subversive take on the wholesome town of Riverdale and some of its teen residents, including Archie, Betty, Veronica and Jughead, as they discover the darkness and dangers that bubble underneath their town’s wholesome façade.

The long-running series features two Latino actors in prominent roles, Camila Mendes as Veronica Lodge and Mark Consuelos as Veronica’s father, Hiram Lodge. Main cast members also include K.J. Apa as Archie Andrews, Lili Reinhart as Betty Cooper and Cole Sprouse as Jughead Jones. Riverdale has brought recognition to Brazilian-American Mendes. The role of Veronica won her a Teen Choice Award and nominations to several other honors, including the People’s Choice Awards, MTV Movie + TV Awards and Kids’ Choice Awards.

The series was originally scheduled to return for its midseason premiere March 6.

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Actress Analisa Velez is joining the cast of The Game, a Paramount+ revival of the award-winning comedy/sports/drama series that for many seasons ran first on The CW and more recently on BET.

Velez is part of a few new faces added to original series regulars Brittany Daniel, Hosea Chanchez, Pooch Hall and Wendy Raquel Robinson. The other newcomers are Adriyan Rae (Chicago Fire) and Vaughn Hebron (Tyler Perry’s The Oval). Velez plays Raquel Navarro, a supporting recurring role.

The reboot series is relocating from San Diego to Las Vegas and will continue a modern-day examination of Black culture through the prism of a professional football team. The show will tackle racism, sexism, classism and more as they fight for fame, fortune, respect and love at the same time they try to keep their souls. The first season will consist of 10 episodes and stream exclusively on Paramount+.

“This one is for the village that got me here!,” posted Velez on her Instagram account, sharing media reports about the new show. “Couldn’t have got this opportunity without the help of a lot of amazing people. Friends and family, welcome: ‘The Game’ into your homes and Raquel into your (I know it’s cheesy, but boy am I proud).” 

Velez is a stage actor and producer who is now making the transition from stage to TV. Last year she starred in the play The Purists directed by Billy Porter, which earned her the Elliot Norton Award for Outstanding Actress. Her other stage credits include Tell Hector I Miss Him at Atlantic Theater Company and Queen Latina and her Power Posse at Cherry Lane Theatre, both off-Broadway venues in New York. She also produced with Raw Heater

Velez’s television and film credits include the series Amazon Instant Video Sneaky Pete and the indie rom-com Almost Love streaming now on Netflix. She is also a singer and you can get to know her music by first following her on Instagram @analisavelez.

The Game is executive produced by original show creator Mara Brock Akil (Being Mary Jane), showrunner and writer Devon Greggory (American Soul), Salim Akil (Black Lightning), and original executive producer Kelsey Grammer (Girlfriends) and Tom Russo (Black-ish) of Grammnet NH Productions. Kevin Bray (Insecure) will direct the first two episodes of the inaugural season. The series is produced by CBS Studios, Akil Productions and Grammnet NH Productions.

It is worthwhile to mention that The Game is a spinoff of Girlfriends, the successful comedy about a group of Black modern women facing life’s tests and triumphs together. That series starred Tracee Ellis Ross (Black-ish), Golden Brooks, Persia White and Jill Marie Jones. The show won two NAACP Image Awards. 

All nine seasons of The Game are currently available on Paramount+. The series will be distributed internationally by ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group.

Featured Photo: Analisa Velez (Credit: Carlos R. Rivera Rodriguez/Courtesy of Paramount+)

The post Analisa Velez to Co-Star in Paramount+’s ‘The Game’ Reboot first appeared on .

Andrea Sixtos, is best known for her groundbreaking role in Hulu’s East Los High where she played Jocelyn Reyes, a high school gay student.  Fast forward to the present, and now we find her recurring in a superhero world in the role of “adult” Zoe Ramirez in CW’s super popular series Arrow, which just got picked up for Season 8!

A consummate actress, Sixtos tackles each role with serious respect. With her chameleon-like ability to fully inhabit the characters, she always impresses.  In other words, Andrea gives it her all to bringing her characters to life on screen.

Arrow Creator and Executive Producer Greg Berlanti’s popular action adventure/crime TV series, Arrow, has been on air since since 2012 and has its own “Arrowverse”.  The characters are based on the DC Comics character of Oliver Green/Green Arrow.

Loyal Arrow fans love the series which follows the escapades of Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell), a former billionaire businessman and politician, and the aftermath of outing himself as the vigilante Oliver Green.  The tale is set in the “Arrowverse, sharing continuity with other television series of the universe.”

Season seven features “Zoe’s” big reveal in episodes 4 and 6. It is 2040, and a grown up “Zoe” (Sixtos), daughter of Rene Ramirez (Rick Gonzalez)“Wild Dog”, is being groomed to become the future Black Canary, a superhero, whose skills have yet to be revealed.  Rumors are that she possesses superior martial arts skills, and like her predecessor, is a badass fighter and part of the futuristic Green Arrow’s resistant effort.

We caught up with Andrea to talk about her new exciting role and how she tackles her acting career.

Latin Heat:  Who is “Zoe Ramirez”? Give us some backstory on your character.

Andrea Sixtos:  Zoe is the daughter of Rene Ramirez aka “Wild Dog” and Laura Ramirez who unfortunately passed away when Zoe was pretty young. 

When Zoe was a kid, seeing her dad Rene fight crime, save lives and keep the city safe was truly inspiring to her. She was proud of the work he did and looked up to him. Flash forward 20 years and Rene is now mayor of The Glades, and Star City is no longer his focus and he’s turned somewhat against vigilantism. Meanwhile, Zoe is hiding from him the fact that she’s now a Canary working to help save Star City which inevitably causes distance between them but Zoe won’t give up hope that he’ll one day remember his way.

LH:  How does your Zoe’s relationship with her dad remind you of your own?

AS: Well that’s easy, my dad has always been my hero. I’ve always looked up to him and what he stands for. He’s brave. He loves his family and has always fought to keep us safe. Love my papa… and, momma of course [chuckles].

LH:  I understand your character’s storyline takes place in the future, can you tell me how her future connects with the show’s current storyline?

AS: My futuristic storyline is set in 2040, which I think is the friggin’ coolest! In the present storyline young Zoe is seen learning how to fight and is always encouraging her dad to be the hero she believes he is. She frequently watches him run off on a new mission with big admiring eyes. She’s also given a canary pin as a gift from Dinah Drake [current day Black Canary], which is a big hint that Zoe would be involved in the vigilante world as an adult. 

LH:  How physical is your role?

AS: As of right now, my role hasn’t been too physical but I expect the physicality to be amped up in future episodes. I’ve been athletic my entire life, playing sports, kickboxing, always staying fit, so I’ll be ready when the time comes to kick some ass! [Laughs]

LH:  What is it about Arrow that appealed to you?

AS:  Everything about it! I was excited for the opportunity to audition for a superhero show. I mean, it’s a dream really. I also love the CW and think they make some great content. I’ve always felt I’d fit well in one of their shows and boom! Here I am.

LH:  How many callbacks did you get and how did you learn you had booked the gig?

AS: I had two callbacks for the role and I found out I booked it when my agents and manager, called me saying ‘I hope you got your passport!’ It was a VERY exciting moment for us all. 

LH:  What is most challenging in working on a popular TV series? 

AS:  Well, I am working on a hugely popular show and I’m hoping and praying the OG Arrow fans enjoy watching my character join the team. There’s a lot weighing on how they react to our storyline and that can be a little stressful, but so far so good! 

LH:  Do you have a favorite action hero or heroine, who is it and why?

AS:  I think all superheroes deserve lots of recognition because they all fight crime for the greater good of humanity. But if I had to pick just one I’d have to go with Batwoman. Not only is she insanely badass and sexy, but she only uses skilled martial arts and detective work as her abilities, no superhuman powers which I think is so… so… cool. 

LH:  Let’s talk about your acting career: When did you start in the business and what has been the most frustrating and most rewarding thus far?

AS:  I started acting at the age of 13 and because I basically grew up in the business, it’s always been my way of life. Studying, going to the auditions, booking some, losing most, but I always continued moving forward, never giving up.

Most frustrating thing about it—All the countless hours lost sitting in rush hour traffic on the 101 and 405 freeways going to and from auditions. [Laughs] And, of course not booking those roles that I truly wanted deep down in my core is hard. But something that I’ve learned over the years is that everything happens for a reason. I didn’t book those roles because they weren’t mine to have—they were someone else’s. I’d say to learning that lesson has been very rewarding. I’ve gained tougher skin through the let downs and I know that my job as an artist is to put my best foot forward, soak in the lessons and CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD. What’s mine to have is already in motion and patience is one hell of a virtue. 

LH:  Do you have a favorite role from past credits? Which one was the most difficult to say goodbye to?

AS: Playing Jocelyn on East Los High was definitely a favorite role of mine that was pretty hard to part with. It was an unforgettable experience that I’m really grateful I had. I learned a lot. I’d say the hardest thing to walk away from was the family we’d created on set. Luckily, I’m still very close friends with a few of them today.

LH:  Any other projects brewing in the near future?

AS:  I’ve been lucky enough to be busy working on Arrow these past few months so my schedule has been pretty tight but I’m looking forward to jumping into something new as soon as the chance arises! 

Thank you, Andrea Sixtos!

Andrea Sixtos is repped by Momentum Talent and Literary Agency; Nelson Management; and Cunningham Escott Slevin & Doherty (CESD) Commercial Talent Agent.
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Arrow
Mondays (8:00-9:00 PM) on The CW

Berlanti Productions, Warner Bros. TV, and DC Entertainment.
Showrunner: Beth Schwartz

Principal Cast: Stephen Amell, David Ramsey, Emily Bett Rickards, Echo Kellum, Rick Gonzalez, Juliana Harkavy, Katie Cassidy Rogers, Kirk Acevedo.

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The post Andrea Sixtos: On Her Recurring Role on CW’s “Arrow” first appeared on .