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, 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]
Filming
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, which was later cancelled on May 31.[6]Principal photography began in New Jersey on March 21, 2024.[7][8] On May 10, 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]
