Roger Ross Williams Directs Gael García Bernal And Bad Bunny In Queer Wrestler Biopic ‘Cassandro’

Gael García Bernal tells the story of queer wrestler Saúl Armendáriz in the Roger Ross Williams-directed biopic, Cassandro. The film comes to select theaters Sep. 15 and streaming on Prime Video Sept. 22.

Bernal plays Armendáriz, an El Paso wrestler who creates the persona Cassandro and becomes a wrestling star known as the “Liberace of Lucha Libre.” According to the film’s description, not only does Armendáriz rise to international stardom, but “he upends not just the macho wrestling world, but also his own life.”

Written by Williams and David Teague, the film also stars Roberta Colindrez, Perla De La Rosa, Joaquín Cosío, and Raúl Castillo with special appearances from El Hijo del Santo and Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio (aka pop star Bad Bunny)

Bernal executive produces with Paula Amor, Mariana Rodríguez Cabarga, A. Müffelmann, Matías Penachino, David Teague, Jason Blumenthal and Steve Tisch. Gerardo Gatica, Todd Black, David Bloomfield, Ted Hope and Julie Goldman serve as producers with Armendáriz acting as consultant.

Aramide A. Tinubu reviewed the film for Shadow and Act when it premiered at Sundance, writing that the film is a “warm welcome” for those unfamiliar with luchador culture.

“A layered and emotional work about what it means to show up as your true self and to be seen and recognized, the film is much quieter than expected,” Tinubu wrote. “Bernal has a softness to his performance that tugs at the audience, even when some of his choices raise your eyebrows.”