Jennifer Lopez’s ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’ Nears Sale to Roadside Attractions, Lionsgate

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The musical adaptation of ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman,’ directed by Bill Condon and featuring Jennifer Lopez, is nearly ready to secure a purchaser, following its well-received debut at the Sundance Film Festival in January.

I’m being considered by Roadside Attractions, Lionsgate, and LD Entertainment for the domestic rights acquisition. However, as of now, no deal has been finalized.

The film adaptation of Manuel Puig’s novel was one of the more prominent premieres at Sundance in recent times. Set within an Argentinian prison in 1981, the movie revolves around Luis Molina (portrayed by Tonatiuh), a cross-dresser who is incarcerated for engaging in homosexual acts. To cope with the harshness of his confinement, he weaves intricate tales about the silver screen adventures of his favorite actress, Ingrid Luna (played by Lopez). Among these stories is that of the spider woman character, who dispatches her victims with a fatal kiss. Molina’s life takes an unexpected turn when he forges an unusual friendship with his new cellmate (Diego Luna).

During the opening night, Lopez, adorned in a shimmering dress with intricate web patterns, struggled to hold back tears as “Kiss of the Spider Woman” received a prolonged standing ovation. To the crowd at the Eccles Theatre in Park City, she expressed, “This moment I’ve been yearning for my entire life.”

At the debut screening, Lopez, clad in a dazzling gown with delicate web detailing, found it hard to suppress her emotions as “Kiss of the Spider Woman” was met with thunderous applause. To the audience at the Eccles Theatre in Park City, she confided, “This is the moment I’ve been longing for all my life.

After the critically acclaimed 1985 movie “Kiss of the Spider Woman” directed by Héctor Babenco, which earned an Oscar for William Hurt’s portrayal of Molina, this is the second film adaptation. The stage version, created by John Kander and Fred Ebb, premiered on Broadway in 1993 and received seven Tony Awards, with Chita Rivera, Brent Carver, and Anthony Crivello earning recognition for their performances.

Condon has established himself as a leading filmmaker in the movie musical genre, with his work spanning films like “Chicago,” “Dreamgirls,” Disney’s revamp of “Beauty and the Beast,” and “The Greatest Showman.” Lopez’s filmography encompasses titles such as “Selena,” “Out of Sight,” “Hustlers” and the recent motivational film “Unstoppable.” His cinematic journey began at Sundance with the period drama “Gods and Monsters,” released in 1998, featuring Ian McKellen and Brendan Fraser.

27 years ago, this place was where I arrived. The film, ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman,’ has been on my mind ever since then. At the premiere, Condon mentioned that it’s a movie he’s longed to bring to life for his entire career.

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2025-03-24 03:57