| Kiss of the Spider Woman | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Bill Condon |
| Screenplay by | Bill Condon |
| Based on |
byManuel Puig |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Tobias A. Schliessler |
| Music by | John Kander |
Production |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Kiss of the Spider Woman is an upcoming American musical drama film written and directed by Bill Condon. It is a feature adaptation of the 1992 stage musical of the same namebyTerrence McNally, John Kander and Fred Ebb, which is in turn based on the 1976 novel of the same namebyManuel Puig. It is also the second film adaptation of the novel, following the 1985 film directed by Héctor Babenco. Jennifer Lopez is set to star in the titular role and serve as an executive producer, with Diego Luna and Tonatiuh co-starring as Valentin Arregui and Luis Molina.[1]
Set in an Argentinian prison in 1981 during the Dirty War, Luis Molina, a gay hairdresser, is serving an eight-year sentence for allegedly corrupting a minor. To escape the horrors of his imprisonment, Molina imagines films starring a classic screen actress named Aurora, including a role of the spider woman, who kills her prey with a kiss. Molina's life is upended when a Marxist, Valentin Arregui Paz, is brought into his cell, and the two form an unlikely bond.
In December 2023, Jennifer Lopez was announced to star as Aurora in a film adaptation of the musical with Bill Condon directing from his own screenplay. The independently-financed production will be executive produced by Lopez, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas and Benny Medina through their Nuyorican Productions banner, while Barry Josephson, Tom Kirdahy, Greg Yolen and Matt Geller will serve as producers and Sergio Trujillo will choreograph the musical sequences. Upon the announcement, a casting call opened for an unknown to play the role of Molina.[2][3] In March 2024, dancer Tony Dovolani announced on his Instagram page that he had joined the cast as a mob boss.[4] In April 2024, it was announced that Diego Luna and Tonatiuh has joined the cast as Valentin Arregui and Luis Molina, with Ben Affleck and Matt Damon boarding the project as producers through the Artists Equity banner. Luna will also serve as an executive producer.[5]
On March 20, 2024, Lopez announced that production on the film had begun, with the intention to have a fast turnaround time so she can launch her This Is Me... Live tour on June 26.[6] Principal photography began on March 21, 2024 in New Jersey.[7][8] On May 10, 2024, Lopez confirmed on Live with Kelly and Mark that she completed filming on her scenes and that she lost weight for the role of Aurora, describing the shoot as "equal parts exhilarating and exhausting."[9] Production wrapped on June 16, 2024.[10]
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