Category: Cast

Meet the character and talent lineup of Disney·Pixar’s ‘Coco’

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Disney·Pixar’s “Coco,” a multi-generational story about the power of family relationships, features characters from the Land of the Living, and their loved ones who’ve moved on to the Land of the Dead. Joining aspiring musician Miguel, voiced by Anthony Gonzalez; charming trickster Hector, voiced by Gael García Bernal; and musical icon Ernesto de la Cruz, voiced by Benjamin Bratt; are a host of colorful characters and the voice talent behind them that bring both worlds to life. Directed by Lee Unkrich (“Toy Story 3”), co-directed by Adrian Molina (story artist “Monsters University”) and produced by Darla K. Anderson (“Toy Story 3”), “Coco” opens in U.S. theaters on Nov. 22, 2017.

“These parallel worlds couldn’t be more different,” said Unkrich. “One is the Rivera family’s charming and hardworking hometown of Santa Cecilia, and the other is the vibrant, rich land where loved ones go when they’ve passed. ‘Coco’ introduces characters from both worlds on the eve of Día de los Muertos—one extraordinary night when a living boy named Miguel gets a glimpse of the other side.”

Added Molina, “Our voice cast is incredibly talented, helping to shape our eclectic group of characters. Each actor has told us they find something relatable in this film, so they’re finding it easy to capture the heart of this story—it’s all about family, so we hope that these characters will resonate with everyone.”

FROM THE LAND OF THE LIVING

ANTHONY GONZALEZ (“Ice Box,” TNT’s “The Last Ship”) lends his voice to MIGUEL, a 12-year-old aspiring musician who struggles against his family’s generations-old ban on music. When a magical mishap lands him in the Land of the Dead, Miguel seeks out his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz, to help him return to the Land of the Living before it’s too late.

ANA OFELIA MURGUÍA (Amazon’s “Mozart in the Jungle,” “Bandidas”) voices Miguel’s cherished great-grandmother MAMÁ COCO. She is very old and fragile, but that doesn’t stop Miguel from sharing his daily adventures with her.

RENÉE VICTOR (“Weeds,” “The Apostle”) provides the authoritative voice of ABUELITA, Miguel’s grandmother and the ultimate enforcer of the Rivera family’s ban on music. She loves her family very much and will do anything to protect them. But when she gets angry, she wields a mean slipper.

JAIME CAMIL (CW’s “Jane the Virgin,” Disney Junior’s “Elena of Avalor,” “Secret Lives of Pets”) is the voice of PAPÁ, Miguel’s supportive father who hopes that someday Miguel will join him in the family shoemaking business.

SOFÍA ESPINOSA (“Gloria”) provides the voice of Miguel’s loving MAMÁ who gently encourages her son to embrace their family’s traditions.

LUIS VALDEZ (“Which Way Is Up,” director “La Bamba” & “Cisco Kid”) is the voice of TÍO BERTO, Miguel’s uncle, a hard worker in the Rivera family shoemaking business.

LOMBARDO BOYAR (“Happy Feet,” TNT’s “Murder in the First”) lends his voice to a friendly MARIACHI who Miguel encounters in Santa Cecilia Plaza.

FROM THE LAND OF THE DEAD

GAEL GARCÍA BERNAL (Amazon’s “Mozart in the Jungle”) helps bring to life HECTOR, a charming trickster in the Land of the Dead who is forced to enlist help from Miguel to visit the Land of the Living.

BENJAMIN BRATT (FOX’s “Star,” “Doctor Strange”) is the voice of Miguel’s idol ERNESTO DE LA CRUZ, the most famous musician in the history of Mexico. Revered by fans worldwide until his untimely death, the charming and charismatic musician is even more beloved in the Land of the Dead.

EDWARD JAMES OLMOS (“Blade Runner,” “Stand and Deliver”) lends his voice to CHICHARRÓN, a curmudgeonly friend of Hector’s who is sadly being forgotten—an unfortunate condition in the Land of the Dead.

ALANNA UBACH (“Meet the Fockers,” Bravo’s “Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce”) provides the voice of MAMÁ IMELDA, Miguel’s great-great-grandmother, the matriarch of the Rivera family and the founder of their successful shoemaking business. Miguel meets Mamá Imelda in the Land of the Dead and discovers she does not share his passion for music.

SELENE LUNA (“My Bloody Valentine,” “Celebrity Wife Swap”) voices TÍA ROSITA, Miguel’s late aunt who resides in the Land of the Dead.

ALFONSO ARAU (“Three Amigos,” director/producer “Like Water for Chocolate,” director “A Walk in the Clouds”) is the voice of PAPÁ JULIO, Miguel’s late great-grandfather who he meets in Land of the Dead.

HERBERT SIGUENZA (“Larry Crowne,” “Ben 10: Alien Swarm”) lends his voice to both TÍO OSCAR and TÍO FELIPE, Miguel’s late identical twin uncles who he meets in the Land of the Dead.

OCTAVIO SOLIS playwright “Lydia, Santos & Santos”) is the voice of an ARRIVAL AGENT in the Land of the Dead’s Grand Central Station.

GABRIEL IGLESIAS (“Planes,” “The Nut Job,” “The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature”) provides the voice of the HEAD CLERK in the Land of the Dead’s “Department of Family Reunions.”

CHEECH MARIN (“Cars 3,” “Tin Cup,” CBS’ “Nash Bridges”) is the voice of a CORRECTIONS OFFICER in the Land of the Dead.

BLANCA ARACELI (“The Bridge”) voices the EMCEE for a colorful talent show in the Land of the Dead.

ABOUT THE MOVIE

Despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel (voice of newcomer Anthony Gonzalez) dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz (voice of Benjamin Bratt). Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself magically transported to the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Hector (voice of Gael García Bernal), and together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel’s family history. Directed by Lee Unkrich (“Toy Story 3”), co-directed by Adrian Molina (story artist “Monsters University”) and produced by Darla K. Anderson (“Toy Story 3”).

Disney•Pixar’s “Coco” opens in Philippine cinemas on November 22, 2017.

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Steve Carell knows how good it feels to be bad in ‘Despicable Me 3’

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Illumination Entertainment (Despicable Me, Minions, The Secret Life of Pets, Sing) has long believed that the key to success is the unique talents of its creative forces. It’s latest comedy adventure Despicable Me 3 brings back this world-class talent from its previous chapters led by Oscar-nominated actor, Steve Carell.

(Watch the Despicable Me 3 featurette “Steve Carell Reflects” below.)

In the film, after he is fired from the Anti-Villain League for failing to take down the latest bad guy to threaten humanity, Gru finds himself in the midst of a major identity crisis. But when a mysterious stranger shows up to inform Gru that he has a long-lost twin brother—a brother who desperately wishes to follow in his twin’s despicable footsteps—one former super-villain will rediscover just how good it feels to be bad.

Since he began voicing Gru, Steve Carell has grown to consider the former super-villain a member of his own family. Carell’s dedication has been felt by the entire cast and crew. Producer Chris Meledandri, who has worked with him since their days together on Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who!, compliments: “Steve is not only immensely likable as an actor, he is also funny, inventive and a consummate craftsman. His acting chops are precise, even though they feel naturalistic; there’s nothing haphazard. I’ve never worked with anybody who has been a more significant creative partner as an actor than Steve. He is very respectful of the words that have been written, but we encourage him to bring his own personality and his own voice—given that he’s the architect of Gru—to these recording sessions. He’s responsible for defining how Gru’s continuing to evolve.”

“In Despicable Me, Gru became a father, and in Despicable Me 2, he got married,” Carell states. “His family has expanded exponentially, and he has become a member of the Anti-Villain League. A lot has transpired, but he is still feeling a bit of a tug to the world of villainy.”

Inspired by the images of Eric Guillon, Carell had given Gru a curious Eastern European accent almost a decade earlier. Similarly, Guillon’s designs for Dru informed the persona and voice Carell would create for Gru’s twin brother. “Once I saw what Dru was going to look like, I went from there,” explains Carell. “He looks a lot like Gru and they have the same body type, but they move differently. Still, there are a few very specific exceptions. He has a lot of blond hair and dresses fashionably. The voice came out of who I thought the alter-ego of Gru was.”

The film’s directors were impressed by Carell’s ability to capture such distinct voices for both Gru (with a deeper, cynical and methodical tone) and Dru (with lighter, more lively and joyous vocals), especially within a single recording session. “There are many scenes where Dru and Gru are together, and Steve is doing both of their voices,” says Balda. “In order to stay in character, he would do all the Gru lines at the beginning, and then he would do all the Dru lines to give a separate feeling to them. It was fascinating to watch him go back and forth.”

Although the twins were separated at birth, Carell points out that genetics seem to be all they share. “When Gru brings Lucy and the girls to this faraway land to meet his brother, it seems like Dru is a parallel version of Gru. He is light, silly, extremely buoyant and effusive—all the things that Gru does not necessarily have as a part of himself.” Still, as audiences will discover, the brothers share more than they know. “What might at first appear like an opposite personality is not necessarily that.”

Opening in Philippine cinemas on June 14, 2017, Despicable Me 3 is distributed by United International Pictures through Columbia Pictures.

‘Kingsman’ star Sofia Boutella resurrects ‘The Mummy’ in title role

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The breakout star of Kingsman: The Secret Service and Star Trek Beyond, Algerian actress Sofia Boutella the titular character of Ahmanet, in Universal Pictures’ new action-adventure, The Mummy (now playing in Philippine cinemas).

Centuries ago, Ahmanet was raised as a fearless warrior and heir to her father’s throne. She was destined to be the first female pharaoh, but when the king finally fathered a son, Ahmanet was cast aside. Driven mad by betrayal, she was entombed for eternity by the very people who swore loyalty to her. Her fate? Erasure from history.

Accidentally awoken by soldier of fortune Nick Morton (Tom Cruise), this original and extraordinarily powerful monster sets out to reclaim her stolen kingdom and ascend to her rightful place as pharaoh. With her evolving powers, the strange and seductive Ahmanet forges an unbreakable connection with Nick, and in so doing, intertwines their destinies.

“Led by Sofia as The Mummy, Ahmanet,” Cruise commends, “the women in this film are both strong, powerful, smart, and driven.”

Director Alex Kurtzman knew exactly the performer he wanted in the film’s title role. “I saw Sofia in Kingsman, and then I stalked her until she said, ‘yes’ to this movie. She brings a real humanity to the princess, and audiences will feel for her. Even when she is doing horrifying things, you always feel that it is being done by someone who’s not that far from us…and who’s just crossed a line that maybe we wouldn’t.”

Boutella admits that what especially drew her to the part was the empathy she felt for the character. “It would be too easy just to make it obvious that she’s just mean or hate-able, and I liked that Alex never wanted to ‘monster-ize’ Ahmanet,” she reflects. “Even though she is technically a monster, it was important for all of us to find the psychology of her character and understand why she did what she did in that time to survive. You begin to feel for her. I don’t see her as a monster; she’s a survivor.”

The actress constantly challenged herself to make unexpected choices with the role, and found Kurtzman and Cruise to be especially sound collaborators. “Remember, Ahmanet came to this modern time with old habits from an ancient Egypt,” Boutella explains. “She’s a princess who was promised to become pharaoh and worked very hard in her era. When Alex, Tom and I discussed the character, I often said, ‘I’m not going to go with the obvious.’ I absolutely loved being on set with them and their notes.

“Everywhere you can expect the scene to go, we would stretch it and bring completely the opposite,” Boutella continues. “We would take dialogue that would make you think Ahmanet is aggressive or manipulative and change the way it was delivered. We discussed that she wanted to be respected for how hard she worked to earn her father’s respect. We also wanted to honor what she was about to become…and that it was taken away from her.” She adds, reflectively: “Her back was put up against a wall, but she’s a survivor who has been trapped for 5,000 years. Everyone wants to live.”

The Mummy is distributed by United International Pictures through Columbia Pictures.

Amandla Sternberg, from ‘Hunger Games’ to ‘Everything, Everything’

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She first gained recognition for her role as Rue in “The Hunger Games,” alongside Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson. Now, teen star Amandla Sternberg stars as Maddy in in Warner Bros. Pictures’ new romantic drama Everything, Everything (in Philippine cinemas June 21, 2017).

Based on the bestselling book of the same name by Nicola Yoon, Everything, Everything tells the unlikely love story of Maddy (Sternberg), a smart, curious and imaginative 18-year-old who due to an illness cannot leave the protection of the hermetically sealed environment within her house, and Olly (Nick Robinson), the boy next door who won’t let that stop them. Gazing through windows and talking only through texts, Maddy and Olly form a deep bond that leads them to risk everything to be together…even if it means losing everything.

Amandla Stenberg is huge fan of the book and the script—adding, “I was immediately drawn to the whimsy and the quirkiness of the story and the real life, tangible emotional aspects of it that I could connect to, especially as a teenager. I also loved that this beautiful and meaningful teen romance movie involved seeing an interracial couple in a completely subliminal way.”

Producer Elysa Dutton notes, “I think this urgency for love really resonates for people, especially at the age these characters are. First love is so exciting, and for Maddy, she’s missed a lot of firsts so she’s not going to miss this. Even though she knows this is potentially a life-threatening decision, there’s no choice for her but to take this risk, to really live.”

Both Sternberg and Robinson enjoyed the process of exploring this unusual and often awkward first love relationship—finding the normalcy within its inherent irregularities.

“I had never met Amandla before this film but I’d heard only great things, so I was really excited to work with her,” Robinson recalls. “She’s just a really cool person and I had a great time getting to know her.”

“Both Amandla and Nick were fantastic,” director Stella Meghie states. “Amandla is just angelic,” she continues. “Like Maddy, she’s intelligent and mature, and also romantic, and she definitely brought those sensibilities to the character. My main goal was to make sure that people would believe these two characters fall in love, and Amandla and Nick really clicked from the start. Their chemistry was just so natural and I think that shows in the film.”

Everything, Everything is distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and in select international territories by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures.

The undead and her prey: Meet ‘The Mummy’ characters

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A badass female mummy, a down-on-his-his-luck soldier of fortune and and engimatic doctor lead the mysterious characters in Universal Pictures’ new action-adventure The Mummy (in Philippine cinemas on June 7, 2017).

Nick Morton (Tom Cruise) is a soldier of fortune who plunders conflict sites for timeless artifacts… ones he sells to the highest bidder. When Nick and his No. 2 (Chris Vail) are attacked by insurgents in the Middle East, in the ensuing battle, they accidentally unearth a tomb of an Egyptian pharaoh they come to know as Ahmanet. Nick is not simply the one responsible for setting Ahmanet free, he’s fulfilling an ordained destiny he couldn’t have possibly imagined. Now, he is the only one who can stop her ascension to a global ruler who will enslave humanity.

Ahmanet (Sofia Boutella). Centuries ago, Ahmanet was raised as a fearless warrior and heir to her father’s throne. She was destined to be the first female pharaoh, but when the king finally fathered a son, Ahmanet was cast aside. Driven mad by betrayal, she was entombed for eternity by the very people who swore loyalty to her. Her fate? Erasure from history. Accidentally awoken by Nick Morton, this original and extraordinarily powerful monster sets out to reclaim her stolen kingdom and ascend to her rightful place as pharaoh. With her evolving powers, the strange and seductive Ahmanet forges an unbreakable connection with Nick, and in so doing, intertwines their destinies.

Jenny Halsey (Annabelle Wallis) is a British officer of Cultural Heritage, who is enlisted by Nick to unearth the sarcophagus for transport. The Egyptologist’s own mother was long certain that there was a female pharaoh who’d been erased from history. Now, Jenny has finally found the princess she heard of only in myth and legend. When Jenny, Nick and Vail rappel down to an antechamber unearthed by human war, they unleash Princess Ahmanet, accidentally setting off a series of otherworldly phenomena.

The enigmatic Dr. Henry Jekyll (Russell Crowe) oversees Prodigium, a secret organization with a mandate to recognize, examine, contain and destroy evil in our world. A scholarly English gentlemen grounded in the modern day, he not only protects the world from monsters, he protects monsters from the world. Is Jekyll a friend or foe? Like all our principal characters, it depends upon your perspective, and their end game…

Chris Vail (Jake Johnson). Although Vail likes to think of himself as a “liberator of precious antiques,” others prefer the term “modern-day grave robber.” While Nick is into the adventure as much as he is the adrenaline rush, Vail has no qualms about admitting he’s only in it for the money. Vail and Nick have been partners in crime for years, but nothing could prepare them for the evil they have awakened.

Col. Greenway (Courtney B. Vance). A career military man tasked with ensuring U.S. military operations in the Middle East go by the book, Greenway embodies “steadfast.” When he discovers the chaos Nick and Vail have caused, he hauls them in for questioning. Once Ahmanet rises, however, the colonel—and all of humanity—must rely on Nick as he leads our struggle for survival.

The Mummy is distributed by United International Pictures through Columbia Pictures.

‘Narcos’ star Ana de la Reguera plays matchmaker-nurse in ‘Everything, Everything’

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Star of Netflix’s hit crime drama and Golden Globe-nominated series Narcos, Ana de la Reguera now appears in Warner Bros. and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures’ new romantic drama Everything, Everything.

Based on the bestselling book of the same name by Nicola Yoon, Everything, Everything tells the unlikely love story of Maddy (Amandla Sternberg), a smart, curious and imaginative 18-year-old who due to an illness cannot leave the protection of the hermetically sealed environment within her house, and Olly (Nick Robinson), the boy next door who won’t let that stop them.

De La Reguera plays, Maddy’s nurse, who has brought sunshine into the girl’s everyday life for the past 15 or so years.

Question: Why did you want to be a part of Everything, Everything?

Ana de la Reguera: The novel was wonderful and deservedly embraced by young people everywhere, and it’s from an interesting author. I also love that it is a movie about all of these different characters, including my character, Carla, that impact the life of this wonderful young woman, Maddy, played by Amandla Stenberg. Maddy and Carla, who’s a nurse treating Maddy at home, become close. So, I was very, very excited to portray Carla.

Q: You mention the relationship that Carla has with Maddy. Carla is Maddy’s nurse, but they’re also friends. How was that to play?

De La Reguera: Carla has known Maddy most of her life—they grew up together. Carla is Maddy’s confidante, and they joke a lot together. I really wanted to make Carla less serious and bring more light and fun to her. She loves making Maddy laugh!

Q: What would you say was the biggest challenge in playing the role?

De La Reguera: I wanted Carla to be relatable and make sure the audience understands the friendship between her and Maddy. But I was careful not to make it look silly, and I really hope people enjoy Carla.

Q: What was it like acting opposite Amandla Sternberg who plays Maddy?

De La Reguera: It was great. Amandla is a super-smart young woman who carries so much of the film on her shoulders. She was always prepared and professional. I think she’s going to have an amazing career. It was great to work with Amandla and share time with her.

Q: Looking back on the experience of making the film, was there anything that was particularly challenging or fun to play?

De La Reguera: It was exciting to play a scene where Carla arranges for Maddy to meet Olly, played by Nick Robinson. I knew that was the moment in the movie that everyone is going to be waiting for.

Q: What do you hope audiences experience when they see Everything, Everything in the cinema?

De La Reguera: I think audiences are going to fall in love with Maddy and Olly, and with Amandla and Nick. They really have a special chemistry, and they’re beautiful together. I think that’s what you want in love—to find someone who you connect with. With just one look, something special happens. Everyone will relate to that because everyone has had a moment like that, or if they haven’t, they want to!

Opening across the Philippines on June 21, 2017, Everything, Everything distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and in select international territories by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures.

Dwayne Johnson anchors ‘Baywatch’ with boundless personality

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Superstar Dwayne Johnson rocks the beach as lifeguard hero Mitch Buchannon in Paramount Pictures’ big-screen adaptation of Baywatch (in Philippine cinemas May 31, 2017).

In Emerald Bay, no one looms larger than legendary lifeguard, Lieutenant Mitch Buchannon. As the leader of the Baywatch team, Mitch has become something of a local folk hero.

“Mitch’s singular goal on any given day is to protect his beach and the people who come there to enjoy it,” Johnson explains. “He cares deeply about the people of Emerald Bay and they love him for it, to the point that the locals have created their own mythology around him. ‘Did he create Google?’ ‘Did he help launch the first rocket to the moon, even though he’s in his early forties?’ He’s shrouded in mystery.”

“No one else on the planet could have played this role like Dwayne,” says producer Beau Flynn. “I like to think of him as Poseidon, God of the Ocean. He’s so at home in the water, and he fills the screen with the vibe and energy he brings.”

“Baywatch is The Avengers of the beach,” Johnson declares. “Everyone is highly proficient at what they do, and has their own area of expertise.”

The film follows devoted lifeguard Mitch Buchannon as he butts heads with a brash new recruit (Zac Efron). Together, they uncover a local criminal plot that threatens the future of the Bay.

“Baywatch is just about the most successful television show of all time,” says Johnson. “So I was drawn to the challenge of reintroducing a beloved property to a new audience who might not have grown up with it.”

“Obviously, there was a lot about the original show that worked,” he adds. “So we wanted to keep some of the core elements in place while raising the stakes for a feature film. The stunts are bigger, the action is more intense, but we’re not taking ourselves as seriously as the show. We worked hard to find the right balance. As badass as the action in this movie is, we’re all in on the joke. We’re all having fun. We’re laughing with Baywatch, not at Baywatch.”

This summer, Baywatch will provide the world with a refreshing beach getaway, free of sunburns, swimmer’s ear and sand in their shoes. Johnson sums up: “The number one thing you can expect when you see Baywatch is FUN. We’re talking next level, life-changing, filthy, awesome fun. You’re going to laugh your ass off.”

Baywatch is distributed in the Philippines by United International Pictures through Columbia Pictures.

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‘Quantico’s’ Priyanka Chopra makes splash in ‘Baywatch’ with Dwayne Johnson, Zac Efron

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International superstar and Miss World 2000 winner Priyanka Chopra (ABC’s Quantico) makes her American film debut in Paramount Pictures’ Baywatch, in Philippine cinemas May 31, 2017.

The new Baywatch team (led by Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron) is put to the test when a dangerous new drug begins washing up on the shores of Emerald Bay. The timing coincides with the opening of The Huntley Club, a high end beach resort owned by the villainess Victoria Leeds (Chopra).

“I don’t think a lot of people understand what a ginormous hit Baywatch was in India,” Chopra says. “I’m still a huge fan, so when I read the script I was concerned about what they’d do to my favorite characters… but I couldn’t stop laughing. I’m thrilled to be playing the antagonist, because it’s a completely new character and I could be whatever I wanted to be.”

Initially, the film’s villain had been written for a man, but the filmmakers agreed Chopra’s casting could bring a new dynamic to the character.

“If you put a strong guy up against Dwayne Johnson in the film, you know that guy is going to lose,” director Seth Gordon reasons. “But Priyanka brings a certain savvy-ness and sophistication to Victoria that Mitch Buchannon hasn’t reckoned with in an opponent.”

Victoria proves to be Mitch’s opposite in every way. “Mitch is an earnest public servant; Victoria is patronizing, super rich and purely evil. He’s never out of uniform, she wears couture designer clothes and finds the beach disgusting. As an actor, to be able to play evil is always interesting. You’re able to do all the things that you can’t do in real life,” Chopra explains.

Chopra balanced a grueling shooting schedule, splitting time between Baywatch’s Florida and Georgia location shoots and Quantico’s New York set.

“Literally, every day of mine was committed to either Baywatch or Quantico,” Chopra remembers. “But I’m grateful it worked out, because I really wanted to do this and was a hundred percent sure it wouldn’t happen. I’m grateful they had enough confidence in me to be able to do both.”

As the owner of The Huntley Club, Leeds seeks to acquire and close Emerald Bay’s mom & pop shops to expand her operation, bringing her into direct conflict with Mitch and the Baywatch team.

“There’s only one Emerald Bay,” says Johnson. “It may just be a strip of sand, but it means everything to this team. They’ll do anything to protect it.”

In September 2015, Priyanka made her American TV acting debut as Alex Parrish on ABC’s hit drama Quantico, making history as the first Indian actor to star as the lead of a TV drama series.

Quantico is currently in its second season and has been licensed in 212 territories (excluding the U.S. and Canada), across 54 languages. In January 2016, Priyanka won a People’s Choice Award for her role in Quantico in the category of “Favorite Actress in a New Television Series,” again making history as the first Indian actress to win a People’s Choice Award; in April 2016 she was featured on the cover of TIME magazine’s coveted TIME 100 issue, as one of the Most Influential People in the world; and in 2017 she won her second People’s Choice Award for “Favorite Actress in a TV Drama.”

Baywatch is distributed in the Philippines by United International Pictures through Columbia Pictures.

All hands on deck for ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: Salazar’s Revenge’

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It’s “all hands on deck” as beloved characters return and new ones make their mark in Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean: Salazar’s Revenge, in the Philippines cinemas on May 24, 2017. Find out below who’s coming back and who’s joining for the first time.

CAPTAIN JACK SPARROW (Johnny Depp). The dreadlocked, ring-and-bangle-bedecked buccaneer of dubious morality and personal hygiene, is either the greatest or worst pirate ever, depending upon who is offering their opinion. With his beloved Black Pearl still encased in a bottle and down on his luck, Captain Jack is about to face even more dire circumstances, which will call upon all of his considerable wiles to survive, when he is pursued by his deadliest enemy yet, the ghostly Captain Salazar.

CAPTAIN SALAZAR (Javier Bardem). The fearsome Captain Salazar, at the helm of his ship, the dreaded Silent Mary, is known as “El Matar Del Mar” (“The Butcher of the Sea”). With his terrifying crew of the undead, Salazar rids the Caribbean of pirates with demonic ferocity—not only because of his loyalty to the Spanish Crown, but also because of a particular vendetta against one pirate in particular—but he always leaves one man alive to tell the terrifying tales.

HENRY (Brenton Thwaites). A handsome and spirited young sailor in the Royal Navy, Henry is sailing the seas in desperate search of the Trident of Poseidon, the one object which can free his father from an eternal curse.

CARINA SMYTH (Kaya Scodelario). Carina is a brilliant and strong-willed young mathematician and astronomer, whose beauty is more than matched by her intelligence and fortitude. Rather than swords or daggers, her “weapon” is Galileo’s Diary, left to her by a father she’s never known, a guide to the stars which may become a vehicle to the greatest treasure of them all…one which carries all the power of the seas.

GIBBS (Kevin R. McNally). The ever-loyal first mate to Captain Jack Sparrow…except when he’s not…Mr. Gibbs can still be counted upon to hurl himself bravely into a fight (especially when it’s to his benefit), or be the first to find the rum.

SHANSA (Golshifteh Farahani). A mysterious and powerful sea witch, Shansa is gifted with uncanny abilities and is often called upon by pirates and sailors alike to help turn the tide against their enemies.

SCARFIELD (David Wenham). A military martinet to the core, Scarfield is ruthless in his determination to carry out his orders to the letter, even…or especially…if it means executing his enemies.

SCRUM (Stephen Graham). If brains were the true measure of a man, Scrum would be even more diminutive than he already is. Hardly the sharpest sword in the scabbard, Scrum makes up for his dull edge with a natural-born talent for music—and duplicity.

CAPTAIN HECTOR BARBOSSA (Geoffrey Rush). Unlike his fellow buccaneer Captain Jack Sparrow, Captain Barbossa has been enjoying the riches of a growing empire of piracy, having acquired both the Queen Anne’s Revenge and a mighty sword from the defeated Blackbeard. The shrewd Barbossa, a master of parlay and deal-making as well as a mighty swordsman, now finds himself in a dangerous alliance in a search for the Trident of Poseidon.

The rip-roaring Pirates of the Caribbean: Salazar’s Revenge finds down-on-his-luck Captain Jack feeling the winds of ill-fortune blowing strongly his way when deadly ghost sailors, led by the terrifying Captain Salazar, escape from the Devil’s Triangle bent on killing every pirate at sea—notably Jack. Jack’s only hope of survival lies in the legendary Trident of Poseidon, but to find it he must forge an uneasy alliance with Carina Smyth, a brilliant and beautiful astronomer, and Henry, a headstrong young sailor in the Royal Navy. At the helm of the Dying Gull, his pitifully small and shabby ship, Captain Jack seeks not only to reverse his recent spate of ill fortune, but to save his very life from the most formidable and malicious foe he has ever faced.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Salazar’s Revenge is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Philippines.

Zac Efron channel Ryan Lochte in new sexy comedy ‘Baywatch’

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Nurturing an impressive body of work that encompasses both film and television, Zac Efron has proven to be one of Hollywood’s most sought-after talents.

This season, Efron co-stars opposite Dwayne Johnson in Paramount Pictures’ Baywatch, the highly-anticipated comedy based off the popular ’90s TV show.

In Philippine cinemas starting May 31, Baywatch follows devoted lifeguard Mitch Buchannon (Johnson) as he butts heads with Matt Brody (Efron), a brash new recruit. Together, they uncover a local criminal plot that threatens the future of the Bay.

From the beginning, Baywatch had been envisioned as a buddy comedy, and the producers knew they’d need an actor who could hold his own against Johnson’s larger than life on-screen alter ego. They found a perfect foil in Efron, who is quickly becoming a go-to actor for ‘R’ rated comedies, having recently added Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates (2016) and Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (2016) to his already impressive resume.

“I wasn’t allowed to watch Baywatch growing up,” Efron laments. “But I do remember sneaking it, late at night, after Howard Stern on a crappy old TV with a dial. One time, I was channel flipping and came across this awesome show full of boats and explosions and I just thought the whole thing was amazing. When the show was over, I realized it was Baywatch, and I was like, ‘Holy cow. That was amazing.’”

“Zac’s incredibly handsome, charming and funny,” Johnson says of his co-star. “He’s got this great boyish quality at times, and I love him like a brother. He’s one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet, so it’s that much more fun to have him play a cocky asshole and mix it up with him.”

Efron plays Matt Brody, a bad boy Olympic swimmer and two time gold medalist who arrives in Emerald Bay expecting a spot on Mitch’s highly competitive, handpicked Baywatch team.

“Brody throws a wrench in things,” Johnson explains. “We’ve got this team that’s gelling, but he’s this hotshot coming off the Olympics, who thinks he can just join the team without being trained properly.”

“At the Olympics, Brody won his solo events, but messed up the team relay because he got drunk the night before,” says Efron. “He did some illegal stuff, and joining Baywatch is part of his parole.”

“We drew some inspiration from Ryan Lochte in our approach to Brody, which Zac responded to immediately,” director Seth Gordon recalls. “The character was written before the real Lochte got himself into trouble, which ended up being unexpectedly prescient.”

“The world has had to live without Baywatch for such a long time, so I couldn’t be more excited to be bringing it back,” says Efron enthusiastically. “We’re building on one of the greatest TV shows of all time, and Dwayne, Ilfenesh, Jon, Alexandra, Kelly and Priyanka are all so amazing and talented. It’s going to be hilarious and action-packed. I’m really stoked about it.”

Baywatch is distributed in the Philippines by United International Pictures through Columbia Pictures.