ESAI MORALES JOINS THE CAST OF EL REY NETWORK/MIRAMAX'S "FROM DUSK TILL DAWN: THE SERIES"

Austin, TX- March 18, 2015 -- El Rey Network and Miramax announced today that Esai Morales (Criminal Minds, NYPD Blue) has joined the sophomore season of Robert Rodriguez's "From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series" in a recurring role. Morales has been cast in the role of "Lord Amancio Malvado," a figure of terrifying cruelty and power who has a complicated and obsessive relationship with Santánico Pandemonium (Eiza González). The series is currently in production in Austin, TX. Morales is repped by Innovative Artists, LINK and attorney Eric Feig.

Morales is currently a series regular on HBO's "The Brink". He is best known for the commanding role of Lt. Tony Rodriguez in the Emmy-winning series "NYPD Blue," for which he won both an ALMA and Imagen Award. Morales most recently portrayed section chief Mateo "Matt" Cruz on CBS's "Criminal Minds." This summer, he is set to star in the HBO Jack Black/Tim Robbins comedy, "The Brink." His work on other critically-acclaimed TV series include Showtime's "Resurrection Blvd.," the PBS drama "American Family," the STARZ Original, "Magic City" as well as CBS's "Jericho" and Syfy's "Caprica," opposite Eric Stoltz. His career began on stage, including memorable roles in Oscar Wilde's "Salome" with Al Pacino on Broadway; Joe Papp's Shakespeare in the Park production of "The Tempest" with Raul Julia; "Tamer of Horses" for the Los Angeles Theater Center (for which he received the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award) and more. Morales' most memorable film credits include Kevin Costner produced "Rapa Nui;" the award-winning HBO film "The Burning Season: The Chico Mendes Story" directed by John Frankenheimer; the Gregory Nava film "Mi Familia"; and Luiz Valdez's Golden Globe(R) nominated "La Bamba." He also starred in and executive produced "Gun Hill Road," a Grand Jury Nominee at the Sundance Film Festival in 2011. Morales is also a founding member of the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts, an organization that promotes the advancement of Latinos in the media, telecommunications and entertainment industries.

Morales joins the returning internationally renowned cast: D.J. Cotrona (Dear John, G.I. Joe: Retaliation); Zane Holtz (Holes, The Perks of Being a Wallflower); Jesse Garcia (Quinceañera, Sons of Anarchy); Eiza González (Lola: érase Una Vez); Wilmer Valderrama (That '70s Show, To Whom It May Concern); Madison Davenport (Noah, Shameless); Brandon Soo Hoo (Tropic Thunder, Ender's Game, Incredible Crew); Jake Busey (Motorcycle Gang, Contract); and recent cast additions Danny Trejo (Machete, Con Air), and Briana Evigan (Step Up 2).

Season one of "From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series" centered on bank robber Seth Gecko (Cotrona) and his violent, unpredictable brother, Richard "Richie" Gecko (Holtz), who were on the run to Mexico when they encountered former pastor Jacob Fuller (Robert Patrick) and his family, who were taken hostage. Using the family RV to cross the border, chaos ensued when the group detoured to the Titty Twister, a strip club populated by culebras, snake-like ancient creatures who survive by drinking human blood. They were forced to fight until dawn in order to get out alive.

Season two explores a new chapter in this supernatural crime saga that travels from Mexico to the edgy, tricked-out Texas of Robert Rodriguez. It also deepens and complicates the core relationships between the characters, while adding new faces and new dynamics. Season Two begins with our characters in their separate worlds - Santánico (González) and Richie (Holtz) are outside Houston, living like Bonnie and Clyde; Seth and Kate (Madison Davenport) are scraping by South of the Border; and Freddie Gonzalez (Jessie Garcia) is protecting his wife and young daughter in a Houston suburb. And Carlos Madrigal (Valderrama) and Scott Fuller (Brandon Soo Hoo) emerge from the Titty Twister, changed men. They will all come together once again - this time facing off against an even bigger threat.

"From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series" is a Miramax production in association with Rodriguez International Pictures, FactoryMade Ventures, and Sugarcane Entertainment. Executive producers are Robert Rodriguez, Carlos Coto (also showrunner), Diego Gutierrez (also writer) and FactoryMade Ventures and El Rey Network co-founders John Fogelman and Cristina Patwa.

Miramax is distributing "From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series" internationally in all territories.

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About El Rey Network

El Rey Network is a 24-hour English language network founded by maverick filmmaker Robert Rodriguez. 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. El Rey Network LLC (www.elreynetwork.com ) is jointly owned by Robert Rodriguez and FactoryMade Ventures with a minority stake held by Univision Networks & Studios, Inc.

About FactoryMade Ventures

FactoryMade is an incubator for entertainment businesses and was founded by John Fogelman and Cristina Patwa. The company builds IP-based franchises and production and distribution platforms by leveraging its strong ties to the Hollywood creative community and partnering with global brands and investors. FactoryMade ventures include El Rey Network and Tres Pistoleros Studios with Robert Rodriguez and Univision Communications and the Lucha Underground sports wrestling league with Mark Burnett and Mexico's Lucha Libre AAA. In addition to working with corporate partners such as Telefonica, they previously spearheaded the creation of Hasbro's film and TV businesses (Transformers, G.I. Joe, Hasbro TV Studios, the Hub Network), and developed retail's first digital gaming and e-commerce platform with HSN (HSN Arcade).

About Miramax

Miramax is a global film and television studio best known for its highly acclaimed, original content. The studio's new projects include both film and TV, among them the Kevin Hart comedy The Wedding Ringer, which Miramax released in January 2015 together with Sony's Screen Gems; Mr. Holmes, directed by Academy Award(R) winner Bill Condon (Gods and Monsters, Kinsey) and starring Academy Award(R) nominees Sir Ian McKellen (The Lord of the Rings film franchise, X-Men film franchise) and Laura Linney (Kinsey, You Can Count on Me, The Savages), which Miramax will release with Roadside Attractions in the U.S.; as well as The 9th Life of Louis Drax, currently in post-production and starring Jamie Dornan (Fifty Shades of Grey, "The Fall"), Aaron Paul ("Breaking Bad," Need for Speed, Triple Nine) and Sarah Gadon (Dracula Untold, The Amazing Spider-Man 2). Building on its unparalleled library of characters and groundbreaking storylines, Miramax is also currently developing new television series alongside industry luminaries, with projects that include Robert Rodriguez's "From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series," now heading into its second season. Collectively, the library of more than 700 motion pictures has received 282 Academy Award(R) nominations and 68 Oscars(R) with four Best Picture awards, and includes such celebrated independent films as Pulp Fiction, No Country for Old Men and City Of God - as well as scores of commercial hits such as Chicago, Good Will Hunting and Bridget Jones's Diary. Since the purchase of Miramax in 2010 by Qatar Holding, together with the investor group led by Miramax Chairman Thomas J. Barrack, Jr.'s Colony Capital, the studio's world-class global distribution team has successfully brought this renowned collection to existing and emerging platforms in nearly every country in the world.