Film

Eva Longoria to Direct & Executive Produce ‘The Gordita Chronicles’ Comedy Pilot for HBO Max

Lead Photo: In this screengrab, Eva Longoria speaks at the 26th Annual Critics Choice Awards on March 07, 2021. Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images for the Critics Choice Association
In this screengrab, Eva Longoria speaks at the 26th Annual Critics Choice Awards on March 07, 2021. Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images for the Critics Choice Association

Eva Longoria is set to direct and be an executive producer of new Latino comedy pilot The Gordita Chronicles for HBO Max. The Gordita Chronicles follows the life of a preteen Dominican girl who is having trouble fitting into a very opulent and extravagant Miami, in the 1980s no less.

Zoe Saldana along with her sisters will serve as producers on the show.

The family comedy is based on the childhood of Latina journalist Claudia Forestier (who will also serve as a producer and writer for the show). Forestier also is an executive story writer for Selena: The Series.

As for the cast, Juan Javier Cardenas and Diana Maria Riva will star in the pilot. Cardenas is mostly known as Dante in The Walking Dead. And Riva is most known for her role as Detective Perez in Dead to Me.

Longoria isn’t a stranger to television directing. She has more than a dozen credits ranging from Grand Hotel, Black-ish, and The Mick. Eva, however, is making her film directing debut with Flamin’ Hot. The biopic is about the Mexican janitor who invented the Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. Longoria made the announcement on instagram earlier this month.

“I’m BEYOND excited & honored to announce my part within this brilliant team of women coming together to create ‘The Gordita Chronicles’ 🎬💪🏽.” She went on to say, “The lack of representation and diversity in Hollywood continues to be a major focus, rightfully so, and I’m so honored to be a part of the change!”

The actress turned director is tackling the lack of representation in other ways as well. It was recently announced that she has been appointed to the board of directors at the Television Academy Foundation. Part of her role there will be to develop opportunities for students with diverse backgrounds alongside the Academy’s annual internship program.