Los Angeles, CA — Eugenio Derbez, who only last month received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, has now turned his attention to his latest project. Derbez will make his English language film debut in the comedy How to Be a Latin Lover and set up through his 3Pas Studios with producing partner Benjamin Odell and Pantelion Films which is set to begin principal photography this month.
In addition to the famed Mexican comedian, writer, actor and director, Derbez, (Instructions Not Included, Miracles from Heaven) he will be joined by Rob Lowe (The Grinder, Parks and Recreation), Kristen Bell (House of Lies, The Boss) and Raquel Welch (Legally Blonde, House of Versace). The film, slated for theatrical release in 2017, is directed by Ken Marino (Children’s Hospital, Burning Love).
When fading gigolo Maximo (Derbez), is kicked out of the house by his aged mistress, he is forced to return to live with his estranged sister and her pre-teen son in their humble home. Sporting a wardrobe consisting mostly of Versace speedos, Maximo focuses on finding himself another sugar mama to support his expensive tastes.
Additional casting includes, Rob Riggle, (21 Jump Street), Renee Taylor, (The Do Over), Rob Huebel, (Childrens Hospital), Michaela Watkins, (Casual) and Linda Lavin (The Good Wife).
Chris Spain and Jon Zack wrote the screenplay. Derbez and his 3Pas Studios partner Ben Odell are the producers with Mike Upton serving as executive producer.
Marino’s creative team includes director of photography John Bailey; production designer Marcia Hinds (Annie); costume designer Molly Grundman-Derbosi (Grandma); make-up artist Melanie Hughes-Weaver, (Pitch Perfect 2): hair stylist Michael White, (Mission Impossible-Rogue Nation).
How to be a Latin Lover is being produced by 3Pas Studios, Pantelion Films, Lionsgate and Televisa Cine. Pantelion Films will handle international sales of the film at this year’s Cannes film festival.
The producing entities are looking to target the U.S. Latino market with their projects and had great success with Instructions Not Included, which became the highest grossing Spanish-language film released in North America, breaking box office records with a combined domestic and international gross of over $99 million. They also released the highest grossing Spanish language animated feature of all time in the US Un Gallo con Muchos Huevos and over a half dozen other films which did not enjoy the same success as the aforementioned. Pantelion Films launched in 2010 setting out to be the first successful Latino Hollywood studio targeting U.S. Latinos.
3Pas Studios is the Santa Monica-based production shingle run by Mexican filmmaker/actor Eugenio Derbez and former Pantelion Films production chief Ben Odell. How to be a Latin Lover is 3Pas Studio’s first film under their first-look deal with Pantelion. Other projects 3Pas has in development include Ponce, written by Max Botkin, about the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon and his search for the fountain of youth although set in modern-day America; The Valet, a remake of the 2006 French Comedy; and an animated Speedy Gonzalez movie at Warner Bros., 3Pas Studios also has a first-look deal with Universal Television.
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