Samuel Goldwyn Films has snagged the U.S. rights to “The Queen of Spain,” a comedy that sees Oscar winner Penélope Cruz playing a film star. ScreenDaily reports that a VOD launch is planned for August 29.
A follow-up to 1998’s “The Girl of Your Dreams,” “The Queen of Spain” centers on Macarena Granada, “who flees Hollywood in the 1950s and returns to her roots in Spain where she signs on to star in an epic film as Queen Isabella of Spain,” the source summarizes. “The Girl of Your Dreams” depicts Macarena earlier in her career when she’s invited to film a project in Nazi Germany’s UFA Studios.
Both Spanish-language films were helmed by Fernando Trueba (“Belle Epoque”).
“This movie captures the era in the middle of ’50s where we see the encounter of Spanish Cinema (under Franco) with American Films (at McCarthy times),” said the director. “It’s a comedy that is a tribute to classical comedy, it’s my love letter to movies and its people.”
“The Queen of Spain” screened at the Berlinale back in February.
Cruz won an Oscar in 2009 for “Vicky Christina Barcelona.” She also scored nods for “Nine” and “Volver.” She’ll play fashion designer Donatella Versace in the upcoming season of “American Crime Story,” set to debut next year.
