Jennifer Lopez Will Be Building a Drug Empire in 'The Godmother'

For decades, Jennifer Lopez has been a force to be reckoned with in anything and everything she does. Whether it is on stage, in the recording booth, or as an elite entrepreneur, her status as one of the best the game has ever seen has been more than solidified several times over. But when it comes to acting, I’ve always thought she could be so much more. Films like The Wedding Planner, Maid in Manhattan, and Angel Eyes were good, but I felt they weren't showcasing her true potential. Whether it was the times or the fact that she wasn't getting the offers, I’d always thought that she could play a badass like a champion. In her videos, she makes bad look so good. If looks could kill, she would be considered a weapon of mass destruction armed with the attitude to back it all up. And now it seems she is about to take on a role, I feel at least, that she was born to play.

Jennifer Lopez's next cinematic endeavor will have her building herself quite the impressive drug empire in The Godmother, a new movie headed for theaters based on the true story of drug kingpin Griselda “La Madrina” Blanco. The film will be based on the incredible rise-and-fall of Blanco, who went from being just another poor child from Columbia to become one of the world’s biggest drug lords. Blanco was a high ranking member of the Medellín Cartel and a significant part of the Miami cocaine drug trade during the 80s. At one point, the criminal mastermind was reportedly worth more than $2 billion. Everything about this woman's life screams blockbuster.

The Godmother has been in development for some time now, and it appears that Lopez got tired of waiting for Hollywood to get off its butt and get this epic film going. The original plan was for mega-producer Mark Wahlberg to get this one developed, with Jennifer Lopez appearing in one of the lead roles. This never came to fruition, so in true Godmother fashion, she took heed of the age-old adage that if you want something done right, you might as well do it yourself. Now, Lopez will produce and rightfully star in The Godmother for STX Films. It seems good things definitely come to those who wait because not having her be the lead in this film would be a massive mistake. With JLo at the helm and in the starring role, it's hard to imagine The Godmother not becoming an instant classic on par with the likes of American Gangster, Black Mass, and even Goodfellas.

This is not the first time Blanco’s unbelievable story has been told. Her criminal tale has inspired many storytellers to attempt to bring the ruthless crime lord’s origins to life and showcase her reign for all the world to see. It started with the documentaries Cocaine Cowboys, which released in 2006 and Cocaine Cowboys 2 in 2008. More recently, Academy Award winner Catherine Zeta-Jones portrayed the drug kingpin in the made for TV Lifetime movie called Cocaine Godmother, which was well-received by both critics and fans alike. But the fact that it debuted on Lifetime meant that certain restrictions had to be placed in order for it to maintain the viewing standards of the channel. Meaning they were unable to push the boundaries of the genre and vividly illustrate what it means to be Queen in a male-dominated criminal enterprise where violence is an occupational hazard. This will allow Lopez’s version a chance to truly stand out amongst the pack and bring in what very well could be a heavy favorite going into the award's season it will qualify for once it inevitably releases.

Not every iteration of the cocaine godmother is a sad, bleak, blood-soaked affair. If one wants to experience the story through beer goggles, the folks at Drunk History have done a fantastic job bringing the Cocaine Cowboy wars to life. Narrated by a very much inebriated Dan Harmon, creator of Rick and Morty and Community, this intoxicating version has Maya Rudolph portraying the booger sugar kingpin in hilarious fashion. While it probably isn't the most accurate depiction, it is undoubtedly the funniest. This, the documentaries, and the Lifetime movie are great examples of how intrigued audiences already find this story, and revisiting them will definitely pique your curiosity, as well as heighten your anticipation for Lopez's version.

Lopez is no stranger to playing a real person in a movie, quite the opposite actually. Her portrayal of famed singer Selena received significant praise and solidified the actress’s legacy as an A-list quality performer. Ever since then, she has taken some chances on some roles which really haven’t panned out. I was a massive fan of The Cell, the sci-fi psychological thriller where Lopez literally enters the mind of a killer. It is a solid flick, and her performance is game-changing. So to see her take on a role that I’ve been suggesting to friends she do for some time now is honestly amazing. I’ve always wanted her to play the villain or the femme fatale. Not only am I confident that she will flawlessly execute this performance, but it’s also even more exciting knowing how excited she is to make it happen finally.

“I’ve been forever fascinated by the story of Griselda Blanco and jumped at the chance to play her on-screen. She is all things we look for in storytelling and dynamic characters – notorious, ambitious, conniving, chilling. In a genre dominated by legendary kingpins, I’m eager to shine a spotlight on this anti-hero and excited to partner with STX for the third time so we can bring this compelling, complicated story to life.”—Jennifer Lopez

This story needs more than just Lopez’s skill and passion. The way this narrative is told is going to be crucial, not only to stand out among the other Blanco featured titles, but to outdo the competition. Penning this intriguing narrative will be Deadwood: The Movie writer Regina Corrado and Terence Winter, who is known for being the scribe on The Wolf of Wall Street, Boardwalk Empire, and The Sopranos. So with those names attached, it seems like the story, dialogue, and authenticity will not be a problem. What else is great to consider is that Lopez has just had some serious practice in playing a member of the criminal underworld. Her upcoming film Hustlers features a group of exotic dancers that outwit some Wall Street players in a less than legal fashion. The film stars Lopez alongside Cardi B. and Constance Wu. So while it may be a while before we see Lopez turn the tables on the drug world, she'll first turn the tables on her greedy wall street clients.

The Godmother is still in early development, but soon we'll all get a taste of how good Jennifer Lopez looks being bad in Hustlers which releases September 13, 2019.