In 2023 when This Fool starring Chris Estrada was unexpectedly cancelled after season two, fans were quick to rally—sparking online petitions and talk of lobbying Hulu to bring it back. Estrada’s unique comedic voice stood apart from the sitcom stars who came before him. Unlike the broader humor of Freddie Prinze, George Lopez, or Gabriel Iglesias, Estrada’s deadpan delivery, sharp wit, and occasional mean streak brought a refreshing edge to Latino comedy on television.

This Fool didn’t just make waves—it made Estrada a breakout star. It also proved there was an audience hungry for stories outside of the usual tropes. Estrada’s sharp writing and original voice earned him millions of new fans and solidified his place as one of comedy’s most exciting new comedic talents.

Now, Estrada is back with a brand-new project, and this time he’s stepping into network television.

Estrada is set to co-write and executive produce Forklift, a single-camera warehouse comedy currently in development at NBC. As with This Fool, Forklift is loosely inspired by Estrada’s own life. Before landing his first series at Hulu, Estrada spent years grinding in warehouse jobs, an experience he now flips into comedy gold.

Co-written with Rick Cisario, Forklift centers on Victor (played by Estrada), a forklift driver who is suddenly promoted to warehouse supervisor. His promotion changes the dynamics with his coworkers, who now view him in a completely different light and have a hard time adjusting to his new role. The premise promises the same grounded, working-class humor that made This Fool so resonant—this time through the lens of workplace politics and friendships.

Estrada’s rise is a big win not only for his fans but for the ongoing push to amplify Latino voices in Hollywood. While Latinos make up nearly 20% of the U.S. population, the stories told about them—and more importantly, the people telling those stories—remain disproportionately few. Estrada stands out because he’s not just starring in these shows; he’s writing and producing them.

By creating characters and situations pulled from his own lived experiences, Estrada brings authenticity and specificity to Latino storytelling that feels both universal and unapologetically personal.

Forklift has the potential to broaden his reach even further, introducing mainstream NBC audiences to his unique perspective. It’s also a hopeful sign that networks are starting to invest in stories that reflect the diversity of the communities they serve. Estrada and Cisario will also executive produce alongside Good Walk’s Kent Alterman and Sarah Babineau will serve as executive producer for Good Walk their production company. Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, is the studio.

With Forklift in the works, Estrada is proving that he’s not a one-hit wonder but a creative force with staying power. As he continues to navigate Hollywood on his own terms, fans can look forward to more of the sharp, socially conscious comedy that first put him on the map.

Estrada isn’t just back—he’s leveling up.

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Candyman, the anticipated fourth film of the successful horror-thriller franchise of the same title, is set for release in movie theatres this summer and features actor Colman Domingo of Ma Rainey’s Bottom fame.  

Helmed by Nia DaCosta, who makes her feature directorial debut, the screenplay was written by Oscar-winning filmmaker Jordan Peele of Get Out fame along with Win Rosenfeld and DaCosta.

The sequel is set in Chicago’s Cabrini Green neighborhood, which was terrorized by a word-of-mouth ghost story about a supernatural killer with a hook for a hand, easily summoned by those daring to repeat his name five times into a mirror. Now Cabrini is gentrified and inhabited by mobile millennials. Among them is a visual artist who learns about the neighborhood’s long-forgotten tragedy and tries to capture it in his paintings, unknowingly opening a door to a complex past with terrifying consequences. 

In addition to Domingo, who is of Belizean and Guatemalan descent, the film stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Aquaman), Teyonah Parris (Dear White People) and Nathan Stewart-Jarrett (Misfits). 

Postponed by nearly a year by the pandemic, Candyman will premiere Aug. 27.

Featured Photo: Yahya Abdul-Mateen in ‘Candyman’ (Credit: YouTube/Universal Pictures)

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The sequel has a major rock star joining the cast: Bono of the multiple Grammy Award-winning Irish band U2. 

In the first film, hustling theater impresario Buster Moon (McConaughey) attempts to save his theater with a singing competition that becomes grander than he anticipates. 

In Sing 2, Buster Moon and his friends must persuade reclusive rock star Clay Calloway (Bono) to join them for the opening of a new show.

The new chapter is written and directed again by Garth Jennings. Other cast members include Bobby Cannavale, Jimmy Crystal, Halsey Eric André, Pharrell Williams, Letitia Wright, Chelsea Peretti and Garth Jennings.

The Illumination/Universal film is produced by Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri and his longtime producing partner Janet Healy.

The family film will open nationwide Dec. 22. , just in time for Christmas.

Featured Photo: ‘Sing 2’ (Credit: Universal)

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By Justina Bonilla

The Forever Purge, the final film of the popular The Purge franchise, is scheduled to premiere July 2, 2021.

A strong presence of Mexican talent is featured in The Forever Purge both in front and behind the camera, including stars Ana de la Reguera and Tenoch Huerta and director Everardo Gout, as well as the Spanish-born, Mexico City-based cinematographer Luis David Sansans.  

The plot, according to Total Film: “[The Forever Purge] will take place after the events of [The Purge] Election Year (whereas The First Purge acted as a prequel to the 2013 original [film The Purge]) and will center on Adela (Reguera) and Juan (Huerta), who finds solace at a Texan ranch, having fled a drug cartel in Mexico. Things go awry when a group of outsiders decides to keep purging beyond the allotted time when people can break any and all laws.”

De la Reguera began her career in multiple Mexican telenovelas. She gained notoriety for her role as Sister Encarnacion in the Jack Black comedic film Nacho Libre. Later, she appeared in an array of American television shows such as Narcos, Twin Peaks (2017), From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series, and Anna.   

Huerta has acted in many Mexican films, including two films with writer-director Issa Lopez; the comedy Road to Fame and the fantasy horror Tigers are Not Afraid. On television, Huerta played Blue Demon, the legendary Mexican professional wrestler, in the series Blue Demon and had a recurring role in Narcos: Mexico.

Gout began his directing career as a second assistant director for Romeo + Juliet. He directed multiple shorts and television shows, most notably Mars for National Geographic. Later, Gout’s feature film Days of Grace, which featured Huerta as a part of the main cast, premiered at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.

Sansans has been working in Mexico for over 20 years. Like Gout, Sansans worked on Romeo + Juliet (video assistant operator) and Days of Grace (cinematographer). His own filmography features camera work for Man on Fire and Y Tu Mama Tambien and as a cinematographer for Narcos and Narcos: Mexico.

James DeMonaco wrote The Forever Purge script. DeMonaco is the main creator of The Purge franchise, also wrote the previous five The Purge films and wrote on The Purge TV series. He also directed the first three of The Purge films, The Purge, The Purge: Anarchy and The Purge: Election Year.

The Purge franchise is distributed by Universal Pictures and produced by Blumhouse Productions and Platinum Dunes.

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Vanessa Ramos Universal TV Deal

Vanessa Ramos is finding a home with Universal Television, a Universal Studio Group division where the writer/producer scored a multi-year overall deal. Ramos, known as Co-Producer on Superstore, Supervising Producer on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and most recently, Co-Executive Producer on Kenan, will develop projects for Universal TV for different platforms. 

“We are thrilled to continue building our relationship with Vanessa, who is an extremely talented writer and has contributed greatly to every project she’s been a part of,” said Jim Donnelly, EVP of Comedy Development, Universal Televsion. “Her sense of humor and range of ideas will add greatly to our roster at Universal Televsion, and we are excited to be a part of her future.” 

The comedic writer began her television career as a staffer on the Comedy Central Roast, the Emmy-nominated series of celebrity roast specials. As for new projects, Ramos recently exec produced a single-camera workplace comedy for NBC with David Caspe (Black Monday), John Fox (Dolemite is My Name) and John Davis (Game Night). 

Ramos currently serves as a Co-Executive Producer of Mr. Mayor and has written on the TV shows Big Mouth, Bordertown, Crashing and Superstore, which had it’s series finale last month. 

“I could not be more thrilled to make it official with Universal Television,” said Ramos to Deadline. “The whole team has been nothing but supportive and nurturing of my voice as a writer throughout my career, and no one said anything when I pitched a show while wearing sweatpants. I’m looking forward to collaborating on all sorts of fun projects together.”

Ramos is repped by UTA and 3 Arts Entertainment.

Annie Gonzalez Joins ABC Comedy Pilot ‘Bucktown’ 

ABC’s Bucktown has two more coming! Annie Gonzalez (Gentefied) and newcomer Sofia Capanna will join Jane Lynch (Glee), Shannon Woodward (Westworld) and Nicole Richie (The Simple Life) in the new ABC multi-cam sitcom. 

Bucktown follows Amy, played by Woodward, who moves back into her mother’s home after her boyfriend dumps her right before a big promotion. Amy reconnects with her teenage niece living there as her sister is doing her latest stin in rehab.

The project, produced by ABC Signature, is also executive produced by Marc Provissiero (Pen15) and Mandy Summers (The Greatest American Hero). 

Gonzalez recently finished shooting the second season of Netflix’s Gentefied, a series that follows three cousins who work together to keep their Grandfather’s popular Boyle Heights taco shop in business as the neighborhood becomes more gentrified.

Annie Gonzalez is repped by the Smith & Hervey/Grimes Talent Agency.

Natalie Morales Takes Lead in CBS Untitled Comedy 

Natalie Morales (The Little Things) has landed a lead role in CBS’s comedy pilot based on Sarah Cooper’s book How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men’s Feelings. Also, cast in lead roles are Amy Landecker (Transparent) and Alice Lee (Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist). 

The single-cam comedy will follow three women who are at different stages in their careers at a male-dominated company who help each other navigate modern gender politics in their professional and personal lives.

Morales will play Joanna, a conflict-averse, people-pleasing middle manager at the small tech company Lucent Muse. She lives with her boyfriend of two years, a sweet, loyal guy who might be too sweet and loyal for her.

Sarah Cooper penned the untitled series based on her book How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men’s Feelings with Cindy Chupack and Amy York Rubin directed. Morales also serves as a producer alongside Chupack, who serves as showrunner, and Executive Produces with Cooper and Nina Tassler, Denise Di Novi, via PatMa Productions. 

Morales’ acting credits include playing Detective Jamie Estrada on The Little Things and Michelle Gutierrez on Netflix’s Dead To Me. She directed and starred in Language Lessons, which premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival and won the Audience Award at SXSW. The Florida native is an exec producer and director on Plan B, a feature comedy on Hulu that will be released in spring 2021. She is repped by CAA.

The post Vanessa Ramos TV Deal; Annie Gonzalez in Bucktown; Natalie Morales as Lead first appeared on .

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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