Blogamole › Dexter

By Michael Lopez

Jimmy Smits has certainly shown a lot of versatility with his acting career. He's played tough New York cops, a Star Wars diplomat and now a badass Latino biker! According to Deadline.com, the 56-year-old star has signed on for the show, Sons of Anarchy.

Anarchy has become a huge cult hit for the FX network, with its gritty portrayal of a California motorcycle gang. Smits will reportedly be playing Neron Padilla, a former gangbanger who becomes a mentor to the younger bikers.

By all accounts, Padilla will be a very tough dude. And it's actually not the first time Jimmy's played an over-the-top bad guy. Fans of Dexter may remember his Emmy-nominated run as serial killer Miguel Prado, which lasted the entire third season.

We'll definitely be excited to see how well Smits can handle himself on a Harley. And fans can expect him to undergo a major makeover before the cameras start rolling. Neron is supposed to be heavily tattooed and VERY intimidating.

Are you a fan of Sons of Anarchy? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Bikers, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Dexter, Jimmy Smits, Sons of Anarchy, Television

By Michael Lopez

Yes, we know that Comic-Con is still over a month away, but that doesn't mean you can't start prepping for the biggest pop culture "geek festival" of the year. Everything from comic books, to movie announcements, to costume contests make this an event that can't be missed. And judging from this year's lineup, 2011 may be the wildest one yet.

So far, several popular TV and movie franchises have already confirmed their participation. On the TV side, upcoming shows like J.J. Abrams' Alcatraz and the apocalyptic Terra Nova are supposed to make major revelations with their panels.

Existing cult series like Fringe and Dexter have also added their names to the roster. One hit show in particular that is rumored to get a big response is the medieval drama Game of Thrones. The finale proved to be a huge smash for HBO and introduced flying dragons for season two. Expect to see A LOT of sword-wielding costumes in the audience for that panel.

And we haven't even started to scratch the surface of the movie lineups. The cast of the highly-touted Twilight: Breaking Dawn sequel will be on hand to answer questions, as will the stars of the new Spider-Man reboot.

Interestingly, one movie franchise that will be notoriously absent is Marvel's Avengers. A huge presence in the comic world, many were shocked to hear the Joss Whedon film featuring Iron Man and Thor would not be participating.

But let's not forget the bread and butter of the 31-year-old convention; the comics! So far, Comic-Con 2011 has locked in X-Men writer Alan Davis, Watchmen co-creator David Gibbons, and DC co-publisher Jim Lee for meet-and-greets. There will also be some tributes to the legendary MAD Magazine, and appearances from contributors like Dick DeBartolo and Sergio Aragonés.

So if you're interested in going, we recommend booking those San Diego hotels quick! The event can typically bring in tens of thousands of visitors to the city.

Comic-Con 2011 runs from July 21-24 at the San Diego Convention Center.

Have you been to Comic-Con yet? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Avengers, comic-con, Comic-Con 2011, Comics, Dexter, Game of Thrones, Hot Stuff, MAD Magazine, Spider Man, Twilight: Breaking Dawn

By Michael Lopez

You've got to love the casting agents for the Showtime series Dexter. Every year they seem to add a fantastic array of guest stars and, by the looks of things, season 6 may be the best one yet. Not only have they signed Mos Def and Colin Hanks for important roles, they've also nabbed legendary Latin thespian Edward James Olmos.

For over thirty years, Olmos has been entertaining audiences with a broad variety of work. He's gone from Battlestar Galactica sci-fi to the high-paced action of Miami Vice, to delicate, introspective dramas, like Stand and Deliver. And for Dexter, he'll be going face-to-face with a serial killer.

A definite cult classic by TV standards, Dexter follows the life of a somewhat sympathetic murderer. Though he certainly loves the art of the dismemberment, Dexter Morgan (played by Michael C. Hall) only targets other serial killers, acting as a sort of psychopathic Robin Hood.

It is unclear whether or not Edward will play a fellow murderer (or perhaps be a Dexter target). All that is known is that he'll be portraying a "brilliant, charismatic professor of religious studies." But mystery is all part of the show's charm. We're sure plenty of more clues will emerge during the big season premiere on May 25.

Are you a fan of Dexter? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Colin Hanks, Dexter, Edward James Olmos, Hot Stuff, Michael C. Hall, Mos Def, Television

Twilighters have no fear! Screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg isn't dishing out any spoilers for the ending of the film, but she is teasing that the 'forward-thinking' ending "suggests that there is more to come" once Twilight hits theaters on November 21st (in case you forgot!).

As the notorious screenwriter behind hit shows like the violently gripping "Dexter" and dramatically addicting "O.C," Rosenberg is a master at drawing parallels between good and evil. Forget the ending of the flick, Melissa's undeniable craft will have you wondering about all the conflicting scenes, including when Bella finally confronts Edward about his true identity. Believe or not, she grabbed most of her inspiration from surreal killer Dexter and forbidden lovers Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal in "Brokeback Mountain." Spider monkeys curious about what else Melissa spilled about? Be sure to check out all of the adaption 411 right below the jump!

Tags Dexter, Melissa Rosenberg, MTV NEws, O.C., Showtime, Twilight