5 days ago
Watch Jennifer Lopez spin a fantastical web in teaser for 'Kiss of the Spider Woman'
Jennifer Lopez is making a bold new move in her career.
The multi-hyphenate star is at the center of the teaser trailer for Kiss of the Spider Woman, a film adaptation of the 1993 Tony Award-winning Broadway musical hit from Dreamgirls and Beauty and the Beast director Bill Condon.
Lopez plays Ingrid Luna/the Spider Woman, a fictional silver screen diva who brings dazzling technicolor into the bleak life of prisoner Molina (Tonatiuh Elizarraraz), a window dresser convicted of public indecency. The film switches from Molina's harsh reality to a fantastical, musical utopia as he recounts the plot of a Hollywood musical to his cellmate, Valentín (Diego Luna), a political prisoner.
Set to John Kander and Fred Ebb's — the legendary duo behind Chicago and Cabaret — award-winning score and a book by Tony Award winner Terrence McNally, Condon's adaptation draws inspiration from the Broadway musical and the acclaimed 1976 novel of the same name by Argentinian writer Manuel Puig.
The Broadway musical won seven Tony awards, including Best Musical and Best Actress in a Musical for Chita Rivera, who originated the role of the Spider Woman.
Condon's adaptation isn't the only time the Spider Woman has made her way to the big screen. Héctor Babenco directed the first film adaptation of the novel, which premiered in 1985. The critically acclaimed film starred William Hurt, Raúl Juliá, and Sônia Braga.
Hurt won the Best Actor award when the film premiered at the 1985 Cannes Film Festival, as well as the Academy Award and BAFTA for Best Actor. Babenco became the first Brazilian filmmaker to earn an Oscar nomination for Best Director, and the film was the first Brazilian production to receive a nod for Best Picture. It also received a Best Adapted Screenplay nomination.
Lopez is not only the star of the film, but also serves as an executive producer alongside Luna, her ex-husband Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and 12 others.
The movie debuted at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival back in January and received a standing ovation from the audience, which reportedly left Lopez in tears.
The mother of two previously opened up about taking the role during an interview with Variety's Awards Circuit podcast in November. She called it "the most challenging and rewarding role I've ever had."
"It's a dark story, but also one about love and survival — about helping each other through hard times," Lopez added. "I think that's a message we really need right now."
She recalled Kander being with her in the studio when she recorded her songs.
"He's [98] years old and still so full of life," Lopez said. "Hearing him say, 'I've never heard this song sung better' — it was one of the best moments of my career."
Kiss of the Spider Woman is set to premiere in theaters Oct. 10.
Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
