First Look: Jennifer Lopez Shines in the Musical Drama ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’

‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’ is an upcoming American musical drama film directed and written by Bill Condon. It’s based on the 1992 stage musical by Terrence McNally, John Kander, and Fred Ebb, which itself is adapted from Manuel Puig’s 1976 novel. This marks the second time the novel has been turned into a movie, following the 1985 version directed by Héctor Babenco.

Jennifer Lopez stars in the lead role, adding to her involvement as an executive producer. Diego Luna and Tonatiuh join her in the main roles as Valentin Arregui and Luis Molina, respectively.

The film is set to make its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 26, 2025, building anticipation for a fresh take on this classic story.

The story takes place in an Argentinian prison in 1981, during the tumultuous Dirty War. Luis Molina, a gay hairdresser, is serving an eight-year sentence for allegedly corrupting a minor. To cope with the grim reality of his incarceration, Molina retreats into his imagination, envisioning glamorous films featuring a fictional actress, Ingrid Luna. In one of these fantasies, she plays the “Spider Woman,” a mysterious figure who delivers deadly kisses to her victims.

Molina’s routine is disrupted when he is joined in his cell by Valentin Arregui Paz, a committed Marxist revolutionary. Despite their differences, the two men develop an unexpected and profound friendship, offering each other comfort and connection in a world defined by oppression and despair. Their bond grows deeper as they navigate their personal struggles and begin to influence each other’s views on life, love, and loyalty.

You can check out the first images from the movie below:

On March 20, 2024, Jennifer Lopez announced that filming for ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’ had officially started, aiming for a quick production schedule so she could prepare for her ‘This Is Me… Live tour,’ which was later canceled on May 31. Principal photography began in New Jersey on March 21, 2024.

By May 10, Lopez shared on ‘Live with Kelly and Mark’ that she had finished filming her scenes for the role of Aurora, mentioning that she had lost weight for the part and describing the experience as “equal parts exhilarating and exhausting.” The entire production concluded on June 16, 2024.

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