New ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’ Film Musical Brings Queer Romance to the Fore

Jennifer Lopez Takes on Multiple Roles in Bill Condon’s 2025 Adaptation of the Classic Story, Emphasizing a “Universal Message of Love.”

The classic story of two prisoners forming an unlikely bond, “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” is receiving a fresh adaptation for 2025 as a movie musical. The new film, directed by “Dreamgirls” director Bill Condon and distributed by Lionsgate, Roadside Attractions, and LD Entertainment, is set to arrive in theaters on Friday.

Jennifer Lopez’s Multi-Faceted Role

Singer and actor Jennifer Lopez has taken on multiple, complex roles in the movie musical, following in the footsteps of acclaimed actors like Sonia Braga and Chita Rivera who have played characters in previous adaptations. Lopez plays three figures: the mysterious Spider Woman, the glamorous Hollywood actress Aurora, and the film star Ingrid Luna.

Lopez was determined to make each character her own, stating that she had to “let that go and make it your own” instead of trying to imitate past performers.

“I really felt like each one of the characters had a different tone and singing voice,” Lopez explained. She gave a breakdown of her approach to the musical personas:

• A “darker tone” for the Spider Woman songs.
• A “lighter, more hopeful, more romantic tone” for Aurora’s parts.
• A “strong, powerful superstar performer of a woman” for the film star, Ingrid Luna.

Deeper Dive into Queer Romance

Director Bill Condon noted that the 2025 version delves more overtly into the queer romance that develops between the two main characters, while still acknowledging the impact of the original.

The film’s plot follows Valentín Arregui, a political prisoner played by Diego Luna, who shares a cell with Luis Molina, a window dresser convicted of public indecency, played by Tonatiuh Elizarraraz. The two men find solace and eventually form an unlikely romance as Molina entertains Valentín with the detailed plot of a Hollywood musical starring Ingrid Luna (Lopez).

Condon emphasized the groundbreaking nature of the original 1985 film, which was directed by Argentine Brazilian director Héctor Babenco. “Let me just say that film was groundbreaking for its time, and as a young gay man watching that movie, it meant a lot to me,” Condon said.

Resilience and Universal Love

For actor Tonatiuh, who goes by his first name professionally, the film is an important opportunity to explore both art and the experiences of marginalized communities.

“We were doing something that was bigger than us, but it was also bringing us joy,” he said. “It reminds us of the power that Latinos and that queer individuals have, the dignities behind our communities, and the resilience behind that.” However, Tonatiuh stressed that beyond these specific themes, the film ultimately carries a “universal message of love.”

The source material for the film began with a 1976 novel by Argentine author Manuel Puig, which was adapted into the influential 1985 film, and subsequently a 1993 Broadway musical directed by Harold Prince, which serves as the direct source for the new movie.

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