'Matador' TV Series Cast Highlighted in New Trailer by Robert Rodriguez, El Rey Network for Hispanic Heritage Month
"The best way to rid the world of inaccurate truths is to create new ones, and we can only do that by creating characters and content that allows audiences to see the Latino community through a different lens." -- Robert Rodriguez, Founder and Chairman of El Rey Network.
El Rey Network and its founder and chairman, filmmaker Robert Rodriguez, are celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with an exclusive video that highlights its Latino talent featured on its popular TV series, including "From Dusk Till Dawn," "Matador" and "El Rey Network Presents: The Director's Chair."
"It shapes us, you know our beginning and how we start," Rodriguez said in "El Rey Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month."
In addition to Rodriguez, other notable El Rey movers and shakers featured in the video include "Matador" Executive Producer Roberto Orci, "From Dusk Till Dawn" Cinematographer Eduardo Enrique Mayen, "From Dusk Till Dawn" Executive Producer Juan Carlos Coto, "Matador" lead actor Gabriel Luna and "From Dusk Till Dawn" lead actress Eiza Gonzalez.
Oscar-nominated Mexican director and longtime friend of Rodriguez, Guillermo del Toro, who is known for directing "Pacific Rim," "Pan's Labyrinth," "Kung Fu Panda 2" and "Puss in Boots," was featured on Rodriguez's "El Rey Network Presents: The Director's Chair."
In the episode, Del Toro spoke with Rodriguez about his San Diego Comic Con appearance, where Del Toro teased "Crimson Peak" (due out in theaters next year). He also shared his excitement for "The Book of Life" and teaming up with animator/illustrator Jorge Gutierrez, 20th Century Fox and Reel FX to create the incredibly artistic animated film, which hits theaters Oct. 17.
"Most everybody gave up, and I never gave up," Del Toro told Rodriguez.
"To this day ... the most thrilled I've ever been about making movies is that first time," he added.
Rodriguez is most known for his films "From Dusk Till Dawn," "Sin City: A Dame To Kill For, "Spy Kids" and "Desperado," and as mentioned, more recently his TV series, "From Dusk Till Dawn" as well as his partnership with Roberto Orci on "Matador," both on El Rey Network.
"Matador," the action-packed, 13-episode series, which was picked up for a second season, chronicles the unexpected rise of Tony "Matador" Bravo (played by Gabriel Luna), a DEA agent who becomes a professional soccer player for the LA Riot by day and a skilled covert operative, executing missions for the CIA by night.
Orci, a writer, producer and sci-fi guru, is most known for his films, "Mission Impossible 3," "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" and "Star Trek" and also for co-creating and executive producing the hit TV shows "Fringe," "Hawaii Five-0" and "Alias." (On July 8, El Rey Network and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) teamed up to host an exclusive premiere screening of "Matador" at The Paley Center in New York City where Latin Post moderated an exclusive Q&A with Orci.)
Rodriguez, Del Toro and Orci, as well as the casts and crew of "From Dusk Till Dawn," "Matador" and "El Rey Network Presents: The Director's Chair," are helping pave the way for other Latino talent to thrive in both the TV and film industry.
"All the world ever did was take ... at El Rey, we take it back," said "From Dusk Till Dawn" actor Wilmer Valderrama during an episode of the popular movie-turned TV series.
El Rey Network is "a new 24-hour English language network is founded and curated by Rodriguez and his artistic collective; the network unites the most culturally diverse generation in history through fearless, badass and original content that awakens the renegade in everyone. The network's action-packed content is anchored by original signature dramas, feature films, grindhouse genre, cult classic action, and horror/sci-fi."