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EXCLUSIVE: Annie Gonzalez is making her official debut as Jenni Rivera, the legendary Regional Mexican singer known adoringly by her fans as La Diva de la Banda, in the official trailer for the ViX Original Film, Jenni (above). The biopic will premiere via the TelevisaUnivision streamer and select theaters in the U.S. and Mexico on December 6.
From a screenplay by Shane McKenzie and Kate Lanier, Jenni follows Rivera’s journey from the beginning of her career in her hometown of Long Beach, California, to her meteoric rise in the music industry up to the last days before her tragic and unexpected death in a 2012 plane crash at the age of 43.
The project also tackles the struggles she endured in her personal life and how she persevered and found strength from within. This story of resilience and bravery shows the building blocks of what made Jenni Rivera who she was and the remarkable legacy she left behind.
“When I read the script, I was drawn to the woman behind the microphone. It was her heart and soul that made her who she was and what the story is about,” Gonzalez tells Deadline about what attracted her to the role.
“The story takes place before her fame and what led to that, which I identified with. There’s a lot in there that I either experienced or know people who have. It felt like such an important story because we see Jenni as this chingona, this peleona, this fighter, this force. But what we don’t see behind every strong woman usually, is all the shit that they had to go through and fight to become someone like Jenni. [To portray her], I just pulled from my own life,” she added.
Gonzalez reflects on the experience further by sharing how this journey with Rivera was “cathartic” for her in a personal way. “It gave me a chance to fully experience myself through this. This project has freed me in so many ways,” the star of Flamin’ Hot reveals.
When Deadline announced the project was greenlit at ViX in 2023 with Gonzalez taking the lead role and making her official debut as an executive producer, there were questions about whether or not the film would reflect Rivera’s real life—the black, white, and the grey. As is evident in the trailer above, the production did not shy away from anything.
“There’s not much sugar coating going on here. This is a real opportunity to bring her fans closer to her and her heart which lives on. It also helps people who might not have known much about her, the f***ing magic she was, and introduces them to her music. There’s a lot of grit to this film,” Gonzalez shares.
She continues, “When we tell stories of people who have passed, especially our icons, we create a polished version of their lives. We as a society today are tired of the polish. Give us something real so that we can aspire to something honest. Life isn’t about being perfect, it’s about being who you are.”
While her fame catapulted her to the upper echelons of success, Rivera was transparent about how her life and loved ones were tainted by domestic violence and sexual assault. In 2008, she founded the Jenni Rivera Foundation and became an advocate for anyone who experienced abuse, especially women and children. So including such topics in her biopic is very on-brand for Rivera.
Gonzalez proudly shares how she was selected for the role by the surviving members of the Rivera family following a lengthy audition and interview process. She was also entrusted to sing many of Rivera’s biggest hits, but fans can be sure they will also hear their Diva’s vocals spotlighted in the film’s soundtrack. Gonzalez’s hope for audiences is that they will connect with “La Mariposa del Barrio” and find inspiration.
“There’s so much magic in Jenni because of her fight. She fought for who she was every second of the way. She offered grace to women around the world who faced adversity. I hope people see it and are inspired to fight the way she did. She taught me how to fight,” Gonzalez emphasized.
Alongside Gonzalez, the film stars Manuel Uriza as Pedro Rivera, Jenni’s father and Regional Mexican entrepreneur; Cinthya Carmona as Chiquis Rivera, singer, TV personality and the oldest daughter of Jenni; Jero Medina and Miguel Angel Garcia as Trino Marín, Jenni’s first husband and father of her three oldest children, at later and earlier stages in his life, respectively. Gabriela Reynoso plays Jenni’s mother Rosa Saavedra; J.R. Villarreal as Juan “Cinco” Lopez, Jenni’s late second husband; and newcomer Tatiana Alicia Beltrán portrays the young Jenni Rivera.
Jenni is produced by Javier Chapa and Phillip Braun of Mucho Mas Media and Alec Meachem from De Line Pictures, with Gigi Saul Guerrero (Culture Shock, Bingo Hell) serving as director.
In light of the recent election and other equally important world news, Gonzalez hopes Jenni audiences enjoy the ride and are inspired.
“We are faced with adversity all around us that could make us feel defeated or like victims, whether personal or professional. And as you’ll see in the film, Jenni took everything that happened to her and understood that the villain and the victor lived inside her. I hope this inspires more humanity in the world and less judgment. We are all trying to do the best we can with the tools that we have,” Gonzalez concludes.
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
