Salma Hayek is going into business with HBO Max. A press release announced that her production company, Ventanarosa, has signed a two year first-look deal with the streamer that will see her bringing in projects for potential development.
Jose Tamez, President of Ventanarosa, serves as Hayek’s producing partner, while Siobhan Flynn is their Head of Production & Development.
In 2017 Hayek penned an op-ed for The New York Times detailing her struggle to be taken seriously as a producer when working with Harvey Weinstein on Julie Taymor’s “Frida,” a biopic of Frida Kahlo that earned her an Oscar nod for Best Actress. “I was hoping he would acknowledge me as a producer, who on top of delivering his list of demands shepherded the script and obtained the permits to use the paintings,” she explained. “I had negotiated with the Mexican government, and with whomever I had to, to get locations that had never been given to anyone in the past — including Frida Kahlo’s houses and the murals of Kahlo’s husband, Diego Rivera, among others. But all of this seemed to have no value.”
Since “Frida,” Ventanarosa — which was founded by Hayek in 1998 — has found success with productions such as “Ugly Betty,” for which Hayek was nominated for two Emmys; animated film “The Prophet;” and most recently, Netflix series “Monarca.”
“We are thrilled to be joining HBO Max and Warner Media,” said Hayek. “Their team of passionate, talented and open-minded executives are a great support in our mission to make high quality global television that explores and celebrates diversity and inclusivity.”
Hayek was last seen in Sally Potter’s “The Roads Not Taken.” Her upcoming credits include Chloé Zhao’s “The Eternals.”