Acclaimed singer-actress Jennifer Lopez has officially signed a multi-year first-look deal with Netflix to develop films and television shows exclusively for the streamer. Lopez, through her Nuyorican Productions, is set to produce a slate of films, television series, scripted and unscripted content, with emphasis on projects that support diverse female actors, writers, and filmmakers. She will be producing along with Nuyorican partners Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas and Benny Medina.
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The first two projects under the overall deal are the action film The Mother, and the film adaptation of Isabel Ojeda Maldonado’s novel The Cipher, which are both being led by Lopez. Set to be directed by Niki Caro, The Mother centers around a deadly female assassin who comes out of hiding to teach her daughter how to survive. Production is expected to begin this fall in time for its late 2022 release, with Lopez currently training for the role.
“I am excited to announce my new partnership with Netflix,” Lopez said in a statement. “Elaine, Benny and I believe there is no better home for us than a forward-leaning content creation company that seeks to defy conventional wisdom and directly market to the millions across the globe who no longer view art and entertainment with the kind of boundaries and limitations of the past. We at Nuyorican Productions are thrilled to find like-minded partners in Ted Sarandos, Scott Stuber, Bela Bajaria and the whole team and look forward to getting to work right away.”
Lopez first gained recognition as a Fly Girl dancer in Fox’s sketch comedy series In Living Color which ran on-air for five seasons from 1990-1994. She made her acting breakthrough for her acclaimed performance as Selena in Gregory Nava’s biopic about the late legendary singer. The award-winning singer’s other film credits include Anaconda, The Cell, Maid in Manhattan, Enough, Monster-in-Law, and Hustlers. For her work in Selena and Hustlers, she earned two Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress, respectively.
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Lopez also currently has two other projects lined up for 2022: Universal Pictures’ romantic comedy titled Marry Me which also stars Owen Wilson and Sarah Silverman, and Lionsgate’s action rom-com Shotgun Wedding with Josh Duhamel.
