Jennifer Lopez Will Battle The Man As A Former Stripper In Annapurna’s ‘The Hustlers’
I don’t know about everyone else, but I’m ready for the greatJennifer Lopez, Movie Star comeback tour. The J.Lo-naissance, if you will. And if anyone can make it happen, it’s going to be the folks atAnnapurna, a company known for their critically acclaimed and edgy entertainment.
Lopez will star inThe Hustlers, a fact-based thriller about a former high-class stripper who turns the tables on a bunch of Wall Street scumbags via some modern day Robin Hood-ing. Sign me up.
Colliderhas the news aboutThe Hustlers, which will be written and directed byLorene Scafaria, the director ofSeeking a Friend for the End of the WorldandThe Meddler. The film is based on aNew York Magazine story written by Jessica Presslerand it sounds like it could be a delicious blend of Martin Scorsese-esque crime tale and empowering feminist storytelling. Collider describes the film as following…
I dig it. I also dig casting Lopez in material like this. While her star as a pop music icon has never faded, Lopez’s film career has seen better days. Her last major role was in the 2015 thrillerThe Boy Next Door, which was rightfully mocked for a script bad enough to melt the brain. But that certainly wasn’t Lopez’s fault. With the right material, she has been tough and charming and hilarious and endearing on the big screen. IfThe Hustlerscan showcase the J.Lo we saw inOut of Sight,Selena, and yes, nice fluff likeMaid in Manhattan, it’ll all be worthwhile.
Scafaria herself acknowledged the inherent badassery of her leading lady in her own statement:
“The film is an empathetic look at women and men, our gender roles, what we’re valued for, what we’ve been told is our value in every movie, TV show, every corner of culture. Men have been told they’re worth the size of their bank accounts. Women have been told they’re worth the symmetry of their faces, their bodies, their beauty and that’s what this film is based on. The rules of the club are the rules of the world. There is no other actor who could embody this raw and dynamic character with such complexity, humanity and intelligence. It’s always been her. She’s fucking Jennifer Lopez.”
Additional details aboutThe Hustlersremain unknown, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see this one get a 2019 release date. Lopez will be seen next inSecond Act, a romantic comedyset to open later this year. Bring on the J.Lo-naissance.
