STX and Jennifer Lopez Reteaming for Gangster Drama The Godmother

STX and Jennifer Lopez Reteaming for gangster drama The Godmother

STXfilms has announced they’re reteaming with Jennifer Lopez for the upcoming film The Godmother, a captivating new film based on notorious Colombian drug lord Griselda Blanco. Lopez will star as Blanco and produce alongside Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas and Benny Medina. Julie Yorn will produce from a screenplay by Regina Corrado (Deadwood: The Movie) and Terence Winter (The Wolf of Wall Street, Boardwalk Empire, The Sopranos). Terence Winter, Alex Pettyfer, Alex Brown and Rick Yorn will executive produce.

Sources close to the project tell Coming Soon that Lopez is also considering the film for her directorial debut, putting her in front of and behind the camera should she commit to directing. Check back here as we learn more!

Based on a true story, The Godmother chronicles the incredible rise-and-fall of Griselda “La Madrina” Blanco who outsmarted and outhustled the men around her to rise from an impoverished childhood in Colombia to become one of the world’s biggest drug lords who reportedly was worth more than $2 billion, and was a key figurehead in Miami’s ruthless and murderous Cocaine Cowboy Wars.

“I’ve been forever fascinated by the story of Griselda Blanco and jumped at the chance to play her on screen,” said Lopez. “She is all things we look for in storytelling and dynamic characters – notorious, ambitious, conniving, chilling. In a genre dominated by legendary kingpins, I’m eager to shine a spotlight on this anti-hero and excited to partner with STX for the third time so we can bring this compelling, complicated story to life.”

“We love working with Jennifer, Elaine and Benny.They are extraordinary producers and we value their partnership and trust. This is an epic true crime story that Jennifer is passionate about telling and we can’t wait to begin production on THE GODMOTHER with her and her team,” said Fogelson.

The Godmother marks the third project between STXfilms and Lopez, who previously collaborated on last year’s successful romantic comedy Second Act and the upcoming Hustlers, which opens September 13.

Lopez is repped by CAA and managed by TheMedinaCo. Winter and Corrado are repped by CAA. Kate Vorhoff is overseeing the project on behalf of STXfilms.

(Photo by J. Lee/FilmMagic for Getty Images)