Rodrigo Santoro

Rodrigo Santoro Talks WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING, LOVE ACTUALLY, the 300 Sequel, Possibly Playing Ayrton Senna in a Biopic, and a Lot More

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: May 19th, 2012 at 2:01 pm

While not as well known in America as some of his counterparts in What to Expect When You’re Expecting, Rodrigo Santoro is absolutely the bigger star in places like Brazil.  That’s because while Santoro has acted in some Hollywood movies and TV shows like Love Actually, 300, I Love You Phillip Morris (which is severely underrated) and Lost (he played Paulo), in Brazil he’s acted in countless movies and he’s a big time movie star.

At the recent Los Angeles press day for What to Expect When You’re Expecting (he plays Jennifer Lopez‘s husband), I landed an extended interview with Santoro.  During our wide ranging conversation we talked about how he got into acting, his favorite movies, how he got cast in What to Expect, the success of Love Actually, and the 300 sequel/spin-off 300: Battle of Artemisia . In addition, Santoro addresses the rumor of him playing famed Brazilian Formula One racer, Ayrton Senna, in a feature film.  If the project comes together it sounds like it could be really cool, and he definitely looks the part.  Hit the jump to watch. 

Exclusive: Rodrigo Santoro Confirms He’s Developing an Ayrton Senna Biopic; Film Would Be Made in Conjunction with Senna’s Family

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: May 7th, 2012 at 3:34 pm

Though his name may not be super familiar here in the United States, Formula 1 driver Ayrton Senna is a legend around the world.  The Brazilian made a name for himself as one of the greatest F1 drivers to have ever raced, with an all-too-short career spanning nearly a decade.  Sadly, Senna was killed in a crash in 1994 during the San Marino Grand Prix.  His life was chronicled in Asif Kapadia’s excellent 2010 documentary Senna (currently available on Netflix Instant Watch), and rumors have been swirling that a biopic of the racer could be on its way soon.

Steve recently got the chance to sit down with actor Rodrigo Santoro at the press day for What to Expect When You’re Expecting, and he asked Santoro about the rumors that he might portray Senna in a feature film.  Santoro confirmed that, though nothing is official, “talks are going on” and elaborated a bit on how the project’s development is coming along and what a huge undertaking it would be to portray the racing legend.  Hit the jump to see what he had to say.

Rodrigo Santoro Talks 300 Spin-off 300: BATTLE OF ARTEMISIA; Says Filming Begins in July

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: May 5th, 2012 at 1:46 pm

While attending the press junket for What to Expect When You’re Expecting, Steve got to sit down with actor Rodrigo Santoro, who talked about reprising his role as the God-King, Xerxes, in the upcoming 300 spin-off, 300: Battle of Artemisia. Originally based on the Frank Miller comic, “Xerxes,” the script has evolved to focus on an Athenian protagonist taking on the Persian king in a setting that parallels that of the original 300.  Santoro commented on the progress of the shoot, how it might be filming in Bulgaria, the overall story and the challenge of returning to play Xerxes again.  Check out our previous coverage of 300: Battle of Artemisia here.

Directed by Noam Murro (Smart People) and also starring Eva Green (Dark Shadows) and Sullivan Stapleton (Animal Kingdom), 300: Battle of Artemisia opens August 2nd, 2013.  Hit the jump to see what Santoro had to say.

Exclusive New TV Spot for WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: April 19th, 2012 at 9:28 am

We’ve been provided with an exclusive new TV spot from What to Expect When You’re Expecting to share with our readers.  The star-studded ensemble comedy tells the intertwining story of five couples that are having very different experiences while expecting babies.  This new spot focuses on the different ways the soon-to-be fathers and mothers deal with impending parenthood, with a nice appearance by Rebel Wilson to liven things up.

Hit the jump to watch the spot.  The film also stars Chris Rock, Rob Heubel, Anna Kendrick, Cameron Diaz, Dennis Quaid, Jennifer Lopez, Rodrigo Santoro, Joe Manganiello, Chace Crawford, Matthew Morrison, Brooklyn Decker, Thomas Lennon, and Wendy McLendon-Covey.  What to Expect When You’re Expecting opens on May 12th.

Rodrigo Santoro in Talks to Reprise Xerxes in 300: BATTLE OF ARTEMISIA; Says Sequel Takes Place at the Same Time as the Original

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: March 14th, 2012 at 3:58 pm

During the international press tour for his new movie Heleno, actor Rodrigo Santoro sat down with out partner site Omelete, and he talked about possibly returning to play Xerxes in Noam Murro‘s upcoming 300 sequel, 300: Battle of Artemisia.  While the script was originally based on the prequel comic Xerxes, written by 300 author Frank Miller, the sequel has morphed into a story with an Athenian protagonist taking on the Persian king.  Santoro says he’s still in talks to return as Xerxes, and that the sequel will show a bit more of his character’s backstory.

Hit the jump for more.  300: Battle of Artemisia stars Sullivan Stapleton and Jamie Blackley.  Santoro will next be seen in What to Expect When You’re Expecting.

New Trailer for WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: March 7th, 2012 at 1:16 pm

A new trailer for the star-filled feature version of What to Expect When You’re Expecting has arrived. When a trailer begins with the voiceover, “Having a baby can be a real mother,” it can only go uphill. The movie is essentially Valentine’s Day with babies, as we see a bunch of famous people deal with the ups and downs of pregnancy. Chris Rock and Rob Heubel continue to be the highlights of the footage, and this trailer inexplicably gets rid of all the female characters halfway through. I’m no expert, but I’m fairly certain that ladies are a vital necessity for the production of little humans.

Hit the jump to watch the trailer. The cast also includes Anna Kendrick, Cameron Diaz, Dennis Quaid, Jennifer Lopez, Rodrigo Santoro, Joe Manganiello, Chace Crawford, Matthew Morrison, Brooklyn Decker, Thomas Lennon, and Wendy McLendon-Covey. What to Expect When You’re Expecting opens on May 12th.

First Trailer for WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING Starring Elizabeth Banks and Cameron Diaz

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: December 8th, 2011 at 4:16 pm

The first trailer for What to Expect When You’re Expecting has debuted and it’s actually not bad at all. Given the film’s large ensemble and multiple storyline style, I figured we were in for the Valentine’s Day of baby movies, but What to Expect actually looks like a solid comedy. The standouts here are Elizabeth Banks and Rob Heubel, with the latter playing a man who really, really shouldn’t be a father. Unlike Valentine’s Day or New Year’s Eve, this movie appears to be actually telling real stories with interesting characters, with some solid laughs thrown in for good measure.

Hit the jump to watch the trailer. The cast also includes Anna Kendrick, Cameron Diaz, Dennis Quaid, Jennifer Lopez, Chris Rock, Chace Crawford, Matthew Morrison, Brooklyn Decker, Thomas Lennon, and Wendy McLendon-Covey. [Update: We've been sent a high resolution image from the film, which is now included after the jump].

Forest Whitaker and Johnny Knoxville Join Arnold Schwarzenegger in THE LAST STAND

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: October 17th, 2011 at 11:27 am

Filming has begun on Arnold Schwarzenegger’s comeback film The Last Stand and the movie has added two more actors to its cast.  Oscar-winner Forest Whitaker and masochist Johnny Knoxville have signed on to Kim Jee-Woon’s crime drama.  Schwarzenegger will play sheriff of a sleepy border town who serves as the last line of defense against a drug cartel leader (Eduardo Noriega) headed for the Mexican border.  Harry Dean Stanton, Rodrigo Santoro, and Luis Guzman have also been announced to co-star.

There’s currently no word on who any of the supporting actors other than Noriega will play.  Whitaker recently signed on to star in the voodoo thriller Vipka, and Knoxville will co-star with Patton Oswalt in an untitled comedy from Todd Rohal.   The Last Stand also stars Harry Dean Stanton, Rodrigo Santoro, Luis Guzman, Zach Gilford, and Jaimie Alexander.  Hit the jump for the press release, which includes the full synopsis.

Casting Call: J.B. Smoove Serves THE DICTATOR; Rodrigo Santoro Learns WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: July 5th, 2011 at 8:45 pm

Hollywood is quickly learning there is no comedy that won’t benefit from the motormouthed presence of J.B. Smoove.  According to THR, The Dictator is the latest film to catch on.  Sacha Baron Cohen stars as a despot who “risked his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed.”  From the photos we’ve seen so far, the dictator looks to be another memorably ostentatious character from the man who gave us Borat.  Little is known about Smoove’s character other than the name, “Usher.”  Anna Faris, Ben Kingsley, and Jason Mantzoukas also star in The Dictator, helmed by Borat/Bruno director Larry Charles.  Megan Fox and John C. Reilly are set for cameos.

Smoove will reprise the role of Leon Black for season eight of Curb Your Enthusiasm, which premieres July 10 on HBO.  The actor will next be seen theatrically in The Sitter (December 9) and We Bought a Zoo (December 23).  In an effort to conquer all screens, Smoove is launching an “original comedy website” under the name TheRuckus.com later this month.

Hit the jump for details on Rodrigo Santoro’s new role in What to Expect When You’re Expecting.

David Strathairn, Molly Parker, Parker Posey, Rodrigo Santoro, Tony Shalhoub, Lars Ulrich, and More Join HEMINGWAY & GELLHORN

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: March 10th, 2011 at 8:56 pm

David Strathairn, Molly Parker, Parker Posey, Rodrigo Santoro, Tony Shalhoub, Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich, Santiago Cabrera, Saverio Guerra, Peter Coyote, and Diane Baker have joined the cast of Hemingway & Gellhorn.  The HBO film tells the story of Ernest Hemingway (played by Clive Owen) and Martha Gellhorn (Nicole Kidman), two literary minds who challenged each other throughout a “tumultuous romance and subsequent five-year marriage.” (Gellhorn reportedly inspired one of Hemingway’s most acclaimed novels, For Whom the Bell Tolls.)  Philip Kaufman (Quills) is set to direct; James Gandolfini will executive produce.

Hit the jump for the character breakdown.

Mandy Moore and Rodrigo Santoro Join FALLING SLOWLY

by Jason Barr    Posted: February 28th, 2011 at 7:08 pm

Mandy Moore (Tangled) and Rodrigo Santoro (I Love You Phillip Morris) will star in the supernatural thriller Falling Slowly. The film will mark the directorial debut of Buried scribe Chris Sparling and the sparse details provided by Variety confirm that Moore and Santoro will make turns as a couple whose apartment is “haunted by a dark presence.” Julie Snyder will produce the pic which is garnering my early attention solely based upon the strength of Sparling’s Buried script (for which he won the National Board of Review award for Best Original Screenplay).

In addition to Falling Slowly, Santoro also lends his pipes to the upcoming Fox animated film Rio alongside Anne Hathaway and Jesse Eisenberg. As for Moore, the recording artist-turned-actress performed a song from Tangled (for which she voiced the lead) at last night’s Academy Awards ceremony.

First Trailer for Roland Joffe’s THERE BE DRAGONS

by Ramses Flores    Posted: September 14th, 2010 at 7:59 pm

We have the first teaser trailer for director Roland Joffe’s (The Killing Fields) upcoming epic, There Be Dragons.  The film tells the story of “two childhood friends who become separated during the political conflict to find themselves on opposite sides as war erupts.”  Rodrigo Santoro, Olga Kurylenko, Derek Jacobi, Wes Bentley, Charlie Cox,  Dougray Scott, and Golshifteh Farahani star.

Hit the jump to watch the trailer and to read a plot synopsis for the film.

Official Trailer for I LOVE YOU PHILLIP MORRIS Starring Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: January 14th, 2010 at 12:32 pm

You can keep your Valentine’s Day.  The film I want to see on March 26 is I Love You Phillip Morris starring Jim Carrey, Ewan Mcgregor, Leslie Mann, and Rodrigo Santoro.  The film received lots of love at last year’s Sundance Film Festival and I think it’s great that such big name actors like Carrey and McGregor are willing to go gay for such a bizarre-yet-charming-looking romantic comedy.

The official trailer for the movie has come online and it’s approved for all audiences.  This means it has significantly less butt-sex than is actually in the movie.  Make no mistake, Phillip Morris is a very R-rated film but it also looks very funny.  How do I know there’s lots of butt-sex?  Because that’s what people who have seen the film told me and they even show a little bit of it in this French trailer (but nothing graphic).  They also show Carrey and McGregor kissing because they treat their audiences like they’re adults while apparently Americans are all squeamish children who like our homosexuals as long as we don’t see any act that would define them as homosexuals (sorry, but flamboyant attitudes, an eye for fashion and style, and other stereotypical behaviors do not make someone gay; having a physical attraction solely towards a member of the same sex makes someone gay).

I’ve included both trailers after the jump along with the official synopsis.  I Love You Phillip Morris opens March 26.

Anne Hathaway, Neil Patrick Harris and Rodrigo Santoro Are Voicing Blue Sky Studios RIO

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: October 23rd, 2009 at 9:14 am

While Blue Sky Studios has produced some great looking movies (the “Ice Age” films and “Horton Hears A Who”), only “Horton” impressed me with both its animation and story. However, since it was based on a Dr. Seuss book, that shouldn’t surprise anyone. Anyway, Blue Sky Studios, Fox Animation and director Carlos Saldanha have announced their next animated project and it’s called “Rio”. According to THR, the film follows the adventures of a nerdy macaw who leaves his small-town Minnesota cage for Rio de Janeiro. While I’m sure there is a lot more to the story, that’s the logline for now.

While the story sounds a little weak, they’re trying to get Anne Hathaway, Neil Patrick Harris and Rodrigo Santoro to voice the film. Anything that has Neil Patrick Harris voicing a character gets a pass from me. Of course, with the three “Ice Age” movies, “Horton” and “Robots”, Blue Sky and Fox have made $2.4 billion in worldwide grosses since 2002. Clearly my opinion doesn’t really matter. Chris Jenkins (“Surf’s Up”) and Bruce Anderson (“Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who!”) are producing.

POST GRAD Review

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: August 20th, 2009 at 7:10 pm

It seems a little unfair to rip into a movie like “Post Grad”.  I don’t mind doing it with a movie like “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” because it comes from strong source material, has solid actors, and cost a $150 million to make so a failure is not only a disappointment but a little offensive.  But “Post Grad” is so insipid, so in love with its empty characters, barely able to understand its own premise, and comes to such sickening conclusions, I can’t let it pass.  When the only way to survive it is to wonder how the next scene will be worse than the one that came before, I feel justified in ripping the film apart since it ripped apart my soul for what felt like an eternity.  I can’t understand why Fox Searchlight didn’t dump this straight to DVD and now it’s gonna be taking up 1,958 screens this weekend and wasting the time of those foolish enough to pay a ticket because they thought the movie looked kind of cute judging from the standee in the lobby.

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