Diego Luna

Diego Luna Talks MISS BALA, CASA DE MI PADRE, Neill Blomkamp’s ELYSIUM, and CONTRABAND

by Sheila Roberts    Posted: January 17th, 2012 at 8:42 am

Miss Bala, Mexico’s official Oscar entry for Best Foreign Language Film, chronicles three terrifying days in the life of Laura Guerrero (Stephanie Sigman), a beautiful young woman whose humble effort to escape a life of grim poverty goes diabolically wrong when it delivers her into the hands of a gang that’s terrorizing northern Mexico led by drug boss Lino (Noé Hernández). Although she wins the beauty queen crown she aspires to, her experiences as an unwilling participant in Mexico’s violent war leave her shaken and transformed.

In an exclusive interview at the press day for Miss Bala, we sat down with the film’s executive producer, Diego Luna, to talk about the acclaimed crime drama which opens in New York and Los Angeles on January 20th. Luna told us about his longtime collaboration with director Gerardo Naranjo, how the character of Laura is really a metaphor for what’s happening today in Mexico, and why he believes film has the ability to bring about social change by raising awareness. He also discussed his upcoming projects, Contraband which opens this weekend, Casa de mi Padre with Will Ferrell and Neill Blomkamp’s Elysium. Hit the jump for the full interview.

Stephanie Sigman, Gerardo Naranjo, and Producer Diego Luna Interview MISS BALA

by Sheila Roberts    Posted: January 16th, 2012 at 7:00 am

Miss Bala, the official Mexican Oscar entry in the Best Foreign Language Film category, works brilliantly as both a realist film and as an allegory for what is happening today in Mexico. The film tells the story of Laura Guerrero, a young woman whose aspirations of becoming a beauty queen inadvertently deliver her into the hands of a gang that’s terrorizing northern Mexico. Her experiences as an unwilling participant caught in the crossfire of Mexico’s violent drug war leave her shaken and transformed.

At a recent press day for Miss Bala, we sat down at a roundtable interview with director Gerardo Naranjo, actress Stephanie Sigman, and executive producer Diego Luna to talk about what inspired them to make a film about what was happening today in their country. They discussed how they struggled to find the right tone for a difficult and suspenseful story that shows but does not judge and where nothing is clearly black and white. They described the logistical challenges they faced making the film safely on location. They also shared their viewpoint that everyone on both sides of the drug war is in some way a victim, why all of us share some responsibility for what is happening, and how they hope the film will inspire a debate that will raise awareness.

Diego Luna Talks Will Ferrell’s CASA DE MI PADRE and Neill Blomkamp’s ELYSIUM

by Sheila Roberts    Posted: January 13th, 2012 at 6:49 pm

We attended the press day today for Miss Bala, Mexico’s official Oscar entry for Best Foreign Language Film, which tells the story of Laura (Stephanie Sigman), a young woman whose aspirations of becoming a beauty queen turn against her, delivering her into the hands of a gang that’s terrorizing northern Mexico. Although Laura succeeds in winning the beauty queen crown, her experiences as an unwilling participant in Mexico’s violent war leave her shaken and transformed. In an exclusive interview, we sat down with the film’s executive producer, Diego Luna, to talk about the film which opens January 20th. We’ll post the full interview shortly, but in the meantime, we wanted to share what Luna had to say about his upcoming projects including Contraband, Will Ferrell‘s Casa de mi Padre, and Neill Blomkamp‘s Elysium. Hit the jump to read more:

New Trailer for CASA DE MI PADRE Starring Will Ferrell

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: January 13th, 2012 at 12:31 pm

Following a number of short, mini-teaser trailers for Casa de Mi padre, the first full-length trailer has finally arrived. The movie, entirely in Spanish, stars Will Ferrell as a Mexican rancher who must save his family’s farm while defeating a notorious drug lord and winning the hand of the lovely Sonia. This trailer is absolutely ridiculous, and that’s a very, very good thing. Ferrell is at his most goofy here, and the film looks to be a laugh riot. The supporting cast is surprisingly fantastic (Gael Garcia Bernal, Diego Luna) and a swell appearance by Parks and Recreation’s Nick Offerman as the American in the film put a big smile on my face.

Hit the jump to watch the trailer. Casa de Mi Padre opens March 16th.

5 Movie Clips and 16 Images from CONTRABAND

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: January 7th, 2012 at 5:11 pm

We’ve been provided with five clips and sixteen images from director Baltasar Kormákur’s crime thriller Contraband. The film is set in the world of international smuggling and stars Mark Wahlberg as a man trying to escape his days as a criminal. When his brother-in-law (Caleb Landry Jones) botches a deal, Wahlberg’s character must settle his brother-in-law’s debt in order to keep him safe from a drug boss (Giovanni Ribisi).  The film also stars Kate Beckinsale, Ben Foster, J.K. Simmons, and Diego Luna.

Hit the jump to check out the clips and images.  Contraband opens January 13th, 2012.

5 Clips from CONTRABAND Starring Mark Wahlberg

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: December 19th, 2011 at 7:03 pm

We’ve been provided with five clips from the crime thriller Contraband. The film is set in the world of international smuggling and stars Mark Wahlberg as a man trying to escape his days as a criminal. When his brother-in-law (Caleb Landry Jones) botches a deal, Wahlberg’s character must settle his brother-in-law’s debt in order to keep him safe from a drug boss (Giovanni Ribisi).

Hit the jump to check out the clips.  The film also stars Kate Beckinsale, Ben Foster, J.K. Simmons, and Diego Luna.  Contraband opens January 13th, 2012.

New Trailer and Images for CONTRABAND Starring Mark Wahlberg, Kate Beckinsale, Ben Foster, and Giovanni Ribisi

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: September 29th, 2011 at 10:44 am

The trailer for Contraband has gone online and I have no idea what differentiates it from other Mark Wahlberg crime movies.  He’s either a cop or a good-guy criminal and in this movie he’s the latter.  He plays a former smuggler who’s called back into the game when his brother-in-law (X-Men: First Class‘ Caleb Landry Jones) steals from the wrong gangster (Giovanni Ribisi with a bizarre, distracting accent).  Wahlberg then puts together a team of crooks (including characters played by Ben Foster and Lukas Haas) and it looks a little like The Italian Job with smuggling and cool duct tape masks.  Hopefully, the film will have something to make it stand apart from other movies where Wahlberg plays a frantic, hard-nosed character.

Hit the jump to check out the trailer and a number of new images.  The film also stars Kate Beckinsale, J.K. Simmons, and Diego Luna.  Contraband opens January 13, 2012.

Diego Luna in Talks for Neill Blomkamp’s ELYSIUM; Cyndi Lauper Joins THE LAST BEAT

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: June 9th, 2011 at 5:03 pm

We’ve got a couple of casting stories for you this evening. First up, Variety reports that Diego Luna is in talks to join director Neill Blomkamp’s (District 9) highly anticipated upcoming sci-fi flick Elysium. The cast now includes Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, William Fichtner, Wagner Moura, Sharlto Copley and Alice Braga. Plot details are under wraps, but Foster recently stated that she plays the head of an alien planet, and we know that the story is set 100 years in the future on a distant planet. Blomkamp wrote and will direct the film which is set to begin filming this summer. Elysium hits theaters on March 1^st, 2013.

Additionally, the perpetually crazy-haired Cyndi Lauper has joined the cast of Robert Saitzyk’s music-centered flick The Last Beat. Written and directed by Saitzyk, the film centers on “a rock star who goes to Paris in a search for a more artistic existence  as a poet and writer.” THR reports that the original soundtrack will feature songs inspired by 70’s music (from Rock to French Pop), and filming is set to commence in Paris this summer. The cast includes Shawn Andrews (Dazed and Confused), French actress Virginie Ledoyen, Cameron Richardson (Hard Breakers) and Seymour Cassel (The Royal Tenenbaums).

Early Synopsis for Untitled Spanish Comedy Starring Will Ferrell, Diego Luna, and Gael Garcia Bernal

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: January 16th, 2011 at 9:51 pm

Last September, we reported that Will Ferrell would be starring the comedy Casa de mi padre (House of My Father) with Y Tu Mama Tambien costars Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna.  What’s odd about the movie is that it Ferrell will star even though the movie is in Spanish with English subtitles.  Early reports suggested that the film would be in the over-dramatic style of Spanish telenovelas.  We have now been provided with a synopsis for the film.

It should be noted that the film is currently in the test screening process, which means the synopsis we have could change.  However, it sounds like this project, which is currently going by “Untitled Spanish Comedy”, could be very interesting.  Hit the jump for the synopsis.

Casting Call: Fanning and Farmiga in PURE LIFE, Haas and Luna in CONTRABAND, and Randy Couture Joins Willis and Phillippe in SET UP

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: January 7th, 2011 at 12:42 pm

We’ve got casting news for a trio of films for you today. First up, Elle Fanning (Somewhere) and Vera Farmiga (Up in the Air) are set to star in the indie drama Pure Life. Directed by Van Fischer (Neo Ned), the film a 13-year-old girl in search of romance. Living in poverty, she finds a “bad boy” she deems worthy of taking her virginity. The Playlist reports that Farmiga will play the girl’s “hard-working and short-tempered” mother.

Hit the jump for casting news regarding UFC fighter Randy Couture joining Bruce Willis and Ryan Phillippe in Set Up, and Lukas Haas and Diego Luna signing up for Contraband.

Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna Join Will Ferrell en la CASA DE MI PADRE

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: September 9th, 2010 at 10:04 pm

The odds that Casa de mi padre, a Spanish-language film set to star Will Ferrell, is all a big hoax went down 12% tonight.  Mexico natives Gael Garcia Bernal (Blindness) and Diego Luna (Milk) have joined the cast along with Genesis Rodriguez (Entourage), Pedro Armendariz Jr. (The Legend of Zorro), Hector Jimenez (Nacho Libre), and Adrian Martinez (Kick-Ass), effectively legitimizing the project.

The plot of the film — said to be in the style of an “overly dramatic telenovela” — is still under wraps.  Though one potentially revealing detail has surfaced in the description of Luna’s character.  Details after the jump.

Biopic in the Works About Labor Activist Cesar Chavez

by Keith Demko    Posted: March 19th, 2010 at 8:40 am

The first thing I thought when I heard a Cesar Chavez biopic was at least in the early stages of development was, how has it taken so long? After all, he’s a hero to millions of Hispanics and gringos alike, and his life would just make a grand tale.

It seems that screenwriter Keir Pearson and producer Larry Meli agree, and have optioned the life rights of the labor activist Chavez, and will be producing this with Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna’s Canana Films. Pearson, by the way, was nominated for an Oscar for co-writing Hotel Rwanda with director Terry George, and also has, among other projects, a biopic of Roberto Clemente in the works for HBO and Playtone.

And just in case anyone really hasn’t heard of Chavez, he dedicated his life to improving the working conditions of California farm workers, eventually co-founding the National Farm Workers Association, which would later become the United Farm Workers. Though it’s of course far too early to be talking about who could pull this role off, Garcia Bernal would certainly seem to be a perfect choice. What say you? [THR]

Sundance 2010: First Images from 3 BACKYARDS, Diego Luna’s ABEL, BLUE VALENTINE Starring Ryan Gosling, DOUCHEBAG, HAPPYTHANKYOUMOREPLEASE, and NIGHT CATCHES US

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: December 6th, 2009 at 8:34 pm

As we move closer to the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, the first glimpses of movies playing at the festival are arriving online.  Since there are so many, we’ve decided to group them into a single article for your viewing pleasure.  The films we’ve included in this group are 3 Backyards starring Edie Falco and Elias Koteas; Abel directed by Diego Luna; Blue Valentine starring Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams; Douchebag, which just has a catchy title; HappyThankYouMorePlease starring Kate Mara, Malin Akerman, Richard Jenkins, Tony Hale, and Josh Radnor (How I Met Your Mother) who also wrote and directed the film; and Night Catches Us starring Kerry Washington and Anthony Mackie.  Hit the jump for the first images as well as brief synopses for all of these movies.

The 2010 Sundance Film Festival will run from January 21-31^st.

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