Eva Longoria & George Lopez to Star in Film Adaptation of ‘Alexander and the Terrible’
Actors Eva Longoria and George Lopez are continuing to amplify stories from and about the Latinx community
Photo: Wikimedia commons/ImagineCup; Wiki Commons - Brooke Army Medical Center
Actors Eva Longoria and George Lopez are continuing to amplify stories from and about the Latinx community. This week, it was confirmed that the longtime friends would star in Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, the second film adaptation of the beloved children’s book of the same name by Judith Viorst—but with a Latinx twist. This version will feature Latinx talent behind and in front of the camera, specifically following a Mexican American family “who have recently lost their connection to each other and their roots, as they embark on an epic road trip that immediately goes hilariously wrong,” according to The Hollywood Reporter. This is the second time Disney is adapting the beloved book after the 2014 film of the same name starring Jennifer Garner and Steve Carell. Besides co-hosting award shows, the film marks the first time that Longoria and Lopez will appear together on the big screen. The film will be directed by Marvin Lemus, co-creator and showrunner of the hit Netflix show Gentefied, in his directorial debut. The script was written by screenwriter Matt Lopez, who previously wrote the Latinx remake of The Father of the Bride starring Andy Garcia and Gloria Estefan.
“Thrilled and honored for these legends to bring this script to life,” George Lopez wrote in an Instagram story announcing the film.
“I’m fulfilling my lifelong dream of directing a feature,” Lemus wrote in an Instagram post sharing the news. “And not only will my directorial debut be a freaking DISNEY movie, it will star two ICONS…This book was one of my favorites. It was one of the few that centered a grumpy little boy who wanted to complain about everything. It was a simple message. Sometimes you have bad days. And it helped validate that feeling in a world that wanted you to be peppy and happy all the time. Anybody that knows me knows how obsessed I am with Disney movies, Pixar, and the magic of cinema. Movies saved my life growing up by giving me an escape and fueling my imagination so I could get through some hard times. I’m making this movie to honor the little brown boy in Bakersfield who desperately needed to see a family that looked like his on screen grappling with the curses passed down in his family. And ultimately remind him those curses are truly gifts. I’m excited for this adventure and I truly can’t wait for y’all to see what we’re cooking up. #sisepudo #netflixwho”
Lopez, who plays the family’s grandfather in the film, will next be seen in the DC superhero film Blue Beetle and a new comedy for NBC, Lopez vs. Lopez, which he will star in alongside his real-life daughter Mayan. Longoria will play Alexander’s mother and a travel writer. She is currently also at work on Land Of Women, a limited series for Apple TV+ and the television adaptation of The House of the Spirits based on the book by Isabel Allende for Hulu.
“It’s truly an honor to bring one of Isabel Allende’s iconic works to the screen for audiences worldwide alongside FilmNation, Francisca, and Fernanda,” Longoria previously said in a statement. “This is a story rich in themes of family, love, and magic. I am excited to show the world the beauty, creativity, and masterclass talent that our community continues to produce.”
No release date has been announced but Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is set to begin production in New Mexico next spring and will be available to stream on Disney+.
