News

Amazon Studios has ordered a pilot for the drama series Once Upon a Time in Aztlan from STXtelevision, starring and executive produced by George Lopez via his Travieso Productions banner.

Written by Javier Rodriguez, the one-hour drama revolves around a Chicano family in the deep suburbs of Los Angeles as they come to terms with the falsehoods of the American dream, and their ability to defy expectations.

Rodriguez executive produces with photographer/director Estevan Oriol, LA-based artist Mister Cartoon, and Michael Connolly who put the Latinx package together under his STXtelevision-based Mad Hatter Entertainment banner. Matthew Carnahan joined the package in the writers room and serves as EP.

Ricardo de Montreuil is directing the pilot and will executive produce along with Oriol and Cartoon’s longtime collaborators Mark Suroff and Marco Valadez, who produced the hit documentary LA Originals, which Oriol directed.

In a competitive situation, the George Lopez drama series “Once Upon a Time in Aztlan” has been set up at Amazon for development, Variety has learned exclusively.

Lopez will star in and executive produce the one-hour series under his Travieso Productions banner. Javier Rodriguez created the series and will executive produce along with famed photographer and director Estevan Oriol, iconic LA-based artist Mister Cartoon, and Michael Connolly, who put the package together under his Mad Hatter Entertainment banner. Ricardo de Montreuil will direct the pilot and executive produce along with Oriol and Cartoon’s longtime collaborators Mark Suroff and Marco Valadez. Oriol previously collaborated with Cartoon, Suroff, and Valdez on the documentary “LA Originals,” with Oriol directing and the latter three executive producing.

The series will be a production between STXtv and Amazon Studios. STXtv acquired the spec script over the summer and subsequently took it to market, focusing on streaming and cable outlets.

Exclusive: In what is expected to be a hot TV package, STXtv is bringing Once Upon a Time in Aztlan, a new TV series anchored by George Lopez, famed photographer Estevan Oriol and iconic Los Angeles-based artist Mister Cartoon aka Mark Machado to the market. Michael Connolly, under his Mad Hatter Entertainment banner, brought the elements together. Lopez is in final talks to star and executive produce through his Travieso Productions, and Javier Rodriguez will pen the pilot. Oriol and Cartoon also will exec produce.

“I’m thrilled to be teaming up with Cartoon, Estevan, Jada and Michael for this series and developing a show with STXtv,” Lopez said. “Cartoon and Estevan are the DaVincis of our community; they have been the street chroniclers of our uniquely Chicano story … our American story. I’m looking forward to working with them and the rest of the team to expand their canvas...

Stuck at home and looking for something fresh? Just because theaters are closed due to the coronavirus doesn’t mean there aren’t new movies to be seen. Many distributors are getting creative and releasing their films directly to home platforms — including the first major studio release do so in “Trolls World Tour,” Still, it can be tough to find where they’re all hiding.

Variety presents a roundup of all the new releases, with excerpts from our reviews and links to where you can watch them.

Studio movies, straight to streaming:

Trolls World Tour

Distributor: Universal Pictures

Where to Find It: Lots of options on Universal’s website

“Trolls World Tour” … has the same delectably tactile and distinctive eye-candy look as “Trolls”; it’s set in a storybook kingdom that’s all sweetness and light and glitter and fuzz and bursting psychedelic pastels. And since a key element of...

Self-portraits are respected, if not encouraged in virtually all artforms. Except cinema. There, when a director turns camera on themselves, it can seem indulgent, if not downright gratuitous. It’s a tricky line to walk, sharing without showing off, revealing insights no one else could while maintaining enough distance for audiences to relate. When it goes right, audiences get something seismic, ground-breaking like “Exit Through the Gift Shop,” the Banksy bombshell dismantling of his own mystique. “La Originals” is the opposite, a feature-length sizzle reel in service of its makers’ still semi-underground reputation.

In this Netflix original, which was supposed to premiere at the coronavirus-canceled SXSW Film Festival last month, photographer Estevan Oriol assembles a monumental tribute to the downtown Los Angeles scene from which he and best friend/business associate Mister Cartoon (tattoo legend Mark Machado) emerged to become unlikely influencers. You know their work: Oriol shot the famous “L.

Estevan Oriol and Mister Cartoon talk about a new film focusing on their ascension within the star-studded La hip-hop world after a chance meeting in 1992

It’s 1992, and two lowriders walk into a Penthouse Players record release party at the Hollywood Athletic Club. They did not arrive together, but as two of the only Chicanos at the party, they were quickly introduced. Both steeped in the 1990s hip-hop zeitgeist, they bond over music, art and the beloved Los Angeles pastime of custom lowrider cars. Bedazzled in intricately designed, glinting candy paint with wire-spoke wheels, whitewall tires and bouncing hydraulics, a lowrider isn’t just something you own, it’s something you are.

Related: 'He dominated me!' The livestreaming beat battles shutting down lockdown...

Estevan Oriol and Mister Cartoon are the go to photographer and tattoo artist for tons of influential celebrities in music, film and the art world. La Originals, a new Netflix documentary tells the story of Los Angeles native icons whose art influenced hip hop legends. Eminem, Snoop Dog, Cypress Hill and other icons appear in the new Netflix doc premiering Friday, April 10.

Netflix’s next feature documentary will offer a deep dive into Los Angeles’ street art scene through a variety of well-known voices. “La Originals” is scheduled to hit the streaming service later this month, and Netflix released the official trailer Wednesday morning, highlighting the featured talent of hip-hop A-listers and one iconic basketball star.

Per Netflix’s synopsis, “La Originals” is a documentary that will explore the culture and landmarks of the chicano and street art movement that cemented Mister Cartoon and Estevan Oriol’s status as behind-the-scenes hip-hop legends. The 90-minute documentary will include interviews and other scenes with hip-hop legends and other high-profile entertainers, including Kobe Bryant, Eminem, Michelle Rodriguez, Danny Trejo, Snoop Dogg, Cypress Hill, Blink-182, Wilmer Valderrama, Terry Crews, George Lopez and more.

More from IndieWire'The Innocence Files' Trailer: Netflix's Emotional Crime Documentary Looks at Wrongful Convictions'Peninsula' First Trailer: 'Train to Busan' Sequel...

In today’s TV news roundup, Quibi unveiled the first trailer for “Punk’d” hosted by Chance the Rapper, and Showtime announced a documentary about an elite basketball community that is co-executive produced by NBA star Kevin Durant.

Dates

Gildart Jackson, the award-winning audiobook narrator and actor best known for his roles in “Charmed” and “Whodunnit?,” will host a webcast called Fireside Reading starting April 1 at 8 p.m. Et / 5 p.m. Pt on Instagram. Cozied up next to a roaring fire, Jackson will read a chapter a day of classic novels, beginning with Charles Dickens’ “Great Expectations.”

TBS has announced “American Dad” will return with the remaining episodes of Season 16 beginning April 13 and be followed immediately by the premiere of Season 17 on April 27. Notably, the May 4 episode will feature an original song from The Weeknd, and he will also appear in the episode as an animate version of himself. This season...

"And the more we hung out, the more we just started building on ideas of things that we could do to make money that weren't illegal." And with that, they built an empire. Netflix has unveiled an official trailer for a documentary called La Originals, a film marking the feature directorial debut of renowned photographer / entrepreneur Estevan Oriol. The doc film is an exploration of the culture and landmarks of the chicano and street art movement that cemented Mister Cartoon and Estevan Oriol's status as behind-the-scenes hip hop legends. Quite a story. Featuring appearances by Estevan, Mister Cartoon, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Cypress Hill, Blink 182, Michelle Rodriguez, Wilmer Valderrama, Danny Trejo, & George Lopez. This looks like a fascinating and eye-opening story of a cultural movement, and two talented people from Los Angeles. Here's the official trailer (+ poster) for Estevan Oriol's doc La Originals, direct from Netflix's YouTube: An exploration of the...

Instead of inviting the real Donald Trump on The Late Show on Wednesday night, Stephen Colbert sat down with a cartoon version of the Gop candidate to talk about his recent Twitter feuds, his campaign manager and his controversial rhetoric.  Colbert said he may have invited Trump on the show (he didn't), "but he was busy being on every other show on television."  First, Colbert asked "Mr. Cartoon Trump" how he responded to Anderson Cooper comparing the candidate to a 5-year-old at this week's CNN Town Hall.  Cooper had pressed him on Tuesday about the

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• Demian Bichir is in negotiations to take the lead in the untitled Low Riders film for Universal, Blumhouse Productions, and Imagine Entertainment. Ricardo de Montreuil is attached to direct the film. Cheo Hodari Coker and Elgin James wrote earlier drafts of the script; Josh Bierne-Gordon and Justin Tipping wrote the current draft. Set in the East Los Angeles world of lowrider cars and street tagging, the story follows a teenager caught in the middle of his traditional father, whom Bichir would play, and his estranged gangbanger brother, both of whom are competing in the annual lowrider “Supershow.” Imagine Entertainment’s...

Here’s a look at Ben Affleck’s ‘Batman’ from Zack Snyder’s Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice. The photo first appeared at Comic Con as well as DC Comics website.

Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice stars Henry Cavill, reprising his role as Superman/Clark Kent and Ben Affleck as Batman/Bruce Wayne. The film opens May 6, 2016.

The new image appeared on the Batman 75 Anniversary wall.

Photo - ©Melissa Howland/We Are Movie Geeks

DC Entertainment is hosting all-star panels, can’t-miss events, and exclusive reveals, all to celebrate the milestone 75th anniversary of the world’s most popular Super Hero – DC Comics’ Batman. Celebration highlights include a pair of panels that will bring together a spectacular collection of Batman talent, a once-in-a-lifetime art exhibit, and a rare look at some of the most famous Batman film costumes in history.

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment are...

Clifton Collins Jr. is the latest actor to take part in our Q&A series and he should be no stranger to genre fans with recent roles in Pacific Rim, Hellbenders 3D, and Transcendence. In this feature, Clifton Collins Jr. talks to us about working with Johnny Depp, researching the technical singularity, his role in Stung, and his upcoming book, 101 Ways to Cook Ramen (Prison Style):

Thank you for taking the time to talk with us today. We’re big fans of your work over here and always look forward to talking with you about your latest project. What was it that initially drew you to Transcendence and the character of Martin?

Really appreciate that, nothing better than good folks who appreciate ones work! I think that’s what keeps me working as hard as I do, so thank you for that!

Johnny Depp for starters. I’ve been...

Esquire Network has set a premiere date for its upcoming series How I Rock It, hosted by NBA star and former UCLA standout Baron Davis. The six-part series will debut on the new channel at 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 20. Photos: Slam Dunk! Hollywood's Best Basketball Movies In How I Rock It, Davis will profile athletes, musicians, celebrities, designers, influencers and street-style icons who are "setting a stylish new standard for today’s man." Topics will include Jason Lee's love of vintage motorcycles, Mr. Cartoon's tattoos, John Varvatos' rock and roll clothing line and Marcus Samuelsson's

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Lost amid the hubbub caused by Maker Studios' impending acquisition of Blip is the network's continued efforts to debut new collaborative channels. Maker's latest partnership pairs it with noted photographer Estevan Oriol, who will explore Los Angeles' singular lifestyle on a new channel. Oriol's channel is called SanctionedTV, and at launch it features three web series. The most prominent of these is Tattoo Stories, which enters the parlor of Oriol's longtime business partner, Mister Cartoon. Tattoo Stories is far from the first web series to explore the world of body ink, but it is making an impact thanks to its high profile guests. The most recent episode features Snoop Dogg, a fellow Maker Studios creator. The other two launch programs are La Women, where Oriol brings viewers along on his photo shoots, and Skid Row Stories, which examines La's most downtrodden individuals. "Our partnership with Sa Studios will provide a new,...

Maker Studios has partnered with photographer Estevan Oriol and marketing company Sa Studios Global to produce SanctionedTV, a new YouTube channel devoted to Los Angeles art, life and culture. Oriol will provide the artistic vision and focus of the channel. The Mexican American photographer and director has captured numerous iconic musical acts and actors of the past two decades, including Eminem, Cypress Hill, Forest Whitaker and Danny Trejo. Also read: Maker Studios Founder Sues His Own Company – and His Girlfriend He has also partnered with tattoo artist Mister Cartoon on a clothing...

Mister Cartoon has inked A-listers Justin Timberlake, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dog, Beyonce, Danny Trejo and others. The renowned tattoo artist and muralist talks to CineMovie about taking his art to Sean Penn and Ryan Gosling's Gangster Squad.

Mark Machado aka Mister Cartoon exclusively designed a billboard for the upcoming feature film Gangster Squad featuring Sean Penn as 50s gangster Mickey Cohen. The billboard was unveiled on Platinum Motorsport’s wall on the famous Sunset Strip. Ashley Michelle was there live as Mister Cartoon spray painted his signature mark below the exclusive billboard. The Los Angeles native also created a customized car inspired by the movie set in Los Angeles during the 1950s when an elite Lapd force went after Chicago

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Should you ever forget Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker is Also a member of the Transplants, just take a look at his head -- because TB just finished tattooing their logo onto his melon. Barker recently put the final touches on his head piece ... work that was done by one of the more famous tattoo artists around, Mister Cartoon. Travis clearly feels pretty committed to the punk rock/rap group these days ... even though it's really...