Reed Morano in talks to direct Jennifer Lopez’s Columbian drug lord drama

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Jennifer Lopez has found another juicy role that could build on the critical acclaim she received for last year's HUSTLERS. The actress is set to lead STXfilms' THE GODMOTHER, which will have her portray real-life notorious Columbian drug lord Griselda Blanco, and Emmy-Award-winning filmmaker Reed Morano is in talks to direct.

THE GODMOTHER is getting a dash of pedigree from Oscar-winner William Monahan (THE DEPARTED), who is in talks to do a rewrite on the screenplay by Regina Corrado and Terence Winter. If the Morano talks play out, it would reunite her with Monahan as they are also working on another film project for Spycraft Entertainment called SABAYA, starring Zoe Saldana.

If the deal should move forward, this will be Morano's fourth feature film as a director as she previously directed 2015's MEADOWLAND, 2018's I THINK WE'RE ALONE NOW & this year's THE RHYTHM SECTION, which starred Blake Lively. Morano is best known for her TV work, having directed the first three episodes of Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale, for which she won an Emmy Award and a Director's Guild of America Award. She is the first woman to win the Emmy and Director's Guild Award for directing a drama series.

THE GODMOTHER, which will also be produced by Jennifer Lopez, chronicles the real-life rise-and-fall of Griselda "La Madrina" Blanco, who outsmarted and outhustled the men around her to rise from an impoverished childhood in Columbia to become one of the world's biggest drug lords. She was reportedly worth more than $2 billion and was a key figurehead in Miami's ruthless and murderous Cocaine Cowboy Wars. The project will mark the third endeavor between Lopez and STXfilms after 2018's successful romantic comedy, SECOND ACT & 2019's HUSTLERS.

This sounds like the project Jennifer Lopez should be doing to build up the resurgence she received in HUSTLERS, which is the best performance she has given since 1998's OUT OF SIGHT. Morano seems like a good choice for a film like this and she's an emerging female voice in directing. I really hope this comes together.

Are YOU interested in THE GODMOTHER?