Jennifer Lopez has been cast as the Cocaine Godmother in what has to be her most brilliantly titled role to date.The singer-actor will play infamous Colombian drug baroness Griselda Blanco in an as-yet-untitled HBO TV movie that she will also executive produce, Variety has learned.
The film will follow the life of the notorious Blanco, who rose to become the most powerful cartel leaders in history after revolutionising the US drug trade during the Miami drug wars of the 1970s and 80s. She was jailed for 20 years for drug trafficking and some 200 murders, before being deported to Colombia in 2004. Blanco, a multimillionaire known as the Cocaine Godmother and the Black Widow, died from gunshot injuries after being shot by two armed motorcyclists in her hometown of Medellin in 2012.
“I’ve been fascinated by the life of this corrupt and complicated woman for many years,” Lopez said in a statement. “The idea of teaming with HBO felt like the perfect fit for finally bringing Griselda’s story to life.”
Further casting information and a release date is yet to be announced. Magic Mike’s Alex Pettyfer is attached as a co-executive producer but it remains unknown whether he will also star.
HBO’s new project arrives after USA Network enjoyed success with Queen of the South, which was also based partly on the rise and fall of Blanco. Blanco, who is believed to have trafficked 300 kilos of cocaine per month at the height of her illegal activities, was also the subject of 2006 crime documentary Cocaine Cowboys.
Elsewhere, Lopez has been growing her TV presence as an actor in NBC drama Shades of Blue and a judge on American Idol.
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