‘Blue Beetle’ Star Adriana Barraza Joins Jean Reno in ‘The Penguin and the Fisherman’ (Exclusive)
Academy Award and Golden Globe-nominated actress Adriana Barraza (“Blue Beetle”) has joined Jean Reno in the family film “The Penguin and the Fisherman,” TheWrap has exclusively learned.
“The Penguin and the Fisherman,” directed by David Schurmann, and co-written by Kristen Lazarain & Paulina Lagudi Ulrich and cinematography by Anthony Dod Mantle (“Slumdog Millionaire,” “127 Hours”) is based on the incredible true story of Joao Perei de Souza (Jean Reno), a Brazilian fisherman, who rescues a penguin (DinDim) covered in oil, near death and washed up on a remote island beach off of Brazil, far from his Patagonian home.
After DinDim returns to the wild, Joao is heartbroken — until a year later when DinDim returns. The story of their transcendent friendship and its impact on their little village is one for the ages.
Barraza joins Reno in the co-lead role playing Joao’s resolute wife Maria, who finds new love with her husband, through the spirit and miracle of the visiting penguin.
The film, which is in production now in Brazil, is being produced by City Hill Arts, producers include Jonathan Lim, Robin Jonas, Steven P. Wegner, Andreas Wentz, Nicolas Veinberg, Shaked Berenson and Patrick Ewald.
Barraza is best known for her collaborations with Academy Award-winning director Alejandro González Iñárritu in his Oscar-nominated films “Amores Perros” and “Babel,” in which she made history as only one of six Mexican actresses to ever be nominated for an Academy Award. Other notable credits include “Cake” opposite Jennifer Aniston, “We Can Be Heroes” directed by Robert Rodriguez for Netflix and the current worldwide Netflix hit series “Diario De Un Gigolo.”
Next up, Barraza has a supporting role in the coming of age drama “Monica” opposite Trace Lysette, Patricia Clarkson and directed by award winning Italian director Andrea Pallaoro. The film premiered at the Venice International Film Festival this September and received an 11 minute standing ovation. The other project set for release August 2023 is a lead role in the anticipated DC Comics / Warner Bros feature film “Blue Beetle” opposite Xolo Maridueña and directed by Angel Manuel Soto.
Barraza is repped by Innovative Artists and DePaz Management.
