In September’s “Hustlers,” Jennifer Lopez will play a stripper who, along with her co-workers, robs her Wall Street bro customers. Now there’s word the multi-hyphenate will take on another true crime story. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Lopez will portray Colombian drug lord Griselda Blanco in STXfilms’ “The Godmother.” She’s also producing and possibly helming the project, which would mark her feature directorial debut.
Lopez and fellow producers Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, Julie Yorn, and Benny Medina have been attached to the project for nearly three years. It was originally in development at HBO.
Known as the “Cocaine Godmother,” Blanco was an infamous cartel leader who streamlined the U.S. cocaine market in the ’70s and ’80s. Also called the “Black Widow,” it’s believed Blanco ordered over 200 murders during her reign.
“I’ve been forever fascinated by the story of Griselda Blanco and jumped at the chance to play her on screen,” Lopez said. “She is all things we look for in storytelling and dynamic characters — notorious, ambitious, conniving, chilling.”
Regina Corrado (“The Strain”) and Terence Winter (“The Sopranos”) penned “The Godmother.” The pic “chronicles the notorious drug lord who outsmarted rivals as she rose from an impoverished childhood in Colombia to become a key figurehead in Miami’s drug trade wars.”
Catherine Zeta-Jones, who is Welsh, played Blanco in a 2017 Lifetime movie.
Lopez, STX, Goldsmith-Thomas, and Medina previously collaborated on 2018’s working world comedy “Second Act” and Lorene Scafaria’s “Hustlers,” which will debut at TIFF before hitting theaters September 13. The dream team is also working on “Marry Me,” a rom-com from director Kat Coiro. Lopez will play a songstress who discovers her rocker fiancé cheated — right before she’s about to marry him onstage at Madison Square Garden. She reacts by pulling a rando (Owen Wilson) out of the audience to wed instead.
Last year, Lopez directed the music video for her song “Limitless.” From 2016-2018, she starred as Harlee Santos on NBC’s cop drama “Shades of Blue.” That series is among her producing credits, as are “The Fosters” and its spinoff, “Good Trouble.” Her recent acting credits include “Will & Grace” and “The Boy Next Door.” Lopez received a Golden Globe nomination for “Selena” in 1998.
