Greenlit means a project is officially a go, so all you have to do is follow these leads to stay up to date. You never know where you’ll find an opportunity to land an audition!
Interested in learning about the latest casting and project news? We’ve got you covered. Last week it was announced that the upcoming standalone feature, starring Xolo Maridueña, has added Harvey Guillén, Bruna Marquezine, and Belissa Escobedo to its cast. Along with this exciting news, Giancarlo Esposito is making headlines as he will continue his relationship with AMC as the star of the new crime drama series “The Driver.” It also appears that three is the magic number with the “Deadpool” franchise as Shawn Levy has come on board to helm the next installment. Last, but not least, get ready for a return to Shondaland with a new Netflix whodunit series in the works.
“The Driver”
It appears that Giancarlo Esposito and AMC are a match made in TV heaven. According to Variety, The “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul” star is back at the cabler with the new drama series “The Driver. ”The series, which is based on a U.K. format and will have a six-episode first season, will focus “on a taxi driver (Esposito) whose life is turned upside down when he agrees to chauffer a New Orleans-based Zimbabwean gangster notorious for exploiting undocumented immigrants at the U.S. southern ports.” Esposito will also executive produce the series in addition to starring. Theo Travers, a writer for “Billions,” “Power,” and “House of Lies,” among others, will serve as the showrunner. “The Driver” will debut on AMC and AMC Plus in 2023 with an exact date to be announced at a later date.
“The Residence”
It’s back to Shondaland for Netflix viewers. According to Deadline, the streamer has given a series order to “The Residence,” a murder-mystery drama. The eight-episode series is based in part on Kate Andersen Brower’s book “The Residence: Inside the Private World of the White House” and is described as “a screwball whodunnit set in the upstairs, downstairs, and backstairs of the White House, among the eclectic staff of the world’s most famous mansion.” The project comes as part of an overall deal between Netflix and showrunner Paul William Davies, as well as the exclusive deal between Netflix and Shondaland, which includes “Bridgerton,” “Inventing Anna,” and more. Davies has worked on previous Shondaland projects, including “Scandal” and “For the People,” which he created and executive produced. Casting has yet to be announced for “The Residence,” but expect to see Shondaland regular Linda Lowy in the casting room.
“Blue Beetle”
DC may have its hands full with “The Batman” flying high at the box office, but now, it’s Blue Beetle’s time to shine. According to The Wrap, Harvey Guillén, Bruna Marquezine, and Belissa Escobedo have joined the Warner Bros./DC standalone centered on Jaime Reyes, “the alter ego of the Blue Beetle, a vigilante who has a scarab grafted onto his spine that gives him tremendous powers and the ability to emit blue energy,” per Variety. Guillen’s role is currently being kept under wraps, but Marquezine is set to play the female lead and love interest, Penny, and Escobedo is set to play Milagros, Jaime’s younger sister. Xolo Maridueña will star in the titular role, making it the first DC film to star a Latinx hero. Angel Manuel Soto of “Charm City Kings” is directing from a screenplay by Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer (“Miss Bala”). Originally only slated for release on HBO Max, the film is instead due out in theaters on Aug. 18, 2023. Chelsea Ellis Bloch and Marisol Roncali are the casting directors.
“Deadpool 3”
First reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Shawn Levy is next up to helm the “Deadpool” franchise, having been tapped as the director for the third installment. Levy is already familiar with series star Ryan Reynolds, who has recently starred in both Levy’s “Free Guy” and “The Adam Project.” This will be the first film in the “Deadpool” series since Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox. Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick will return to write from a previous draft by “Bob’s Burgers” writers Wendy Molyneux and Lizzie Molyneux-Logelin. Further casting hasn’t been announced for “Deadpool 3,” but in addition to Reynolds, the 2018 sequel starred Josh Brolin, Morena Baccarin, Julian Dennison, Zazie Beetz, T.J. Miller, Leslie Uggams, Karan Sonni, and others. A release date is also unknown at this time. As for casting directors, Mary Vernieu and Marisol Roncali were the CDs for “Deadpool 2.”
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