{ "id": 29821, "date": "2025-06-19T18:03:57", "date_gmt": "2025-06-19T18:03:57", "guid": { "rendered": "https:\/\/meyproducciones.com\/?p=29821" }, "modified": "2025-06-27T02:26:55", "modified_gmt": "2025-06-27T02:26:55", "slug": "ballerina-john-wick-y-las-hispanas", "status": "publish", "type": "post", "link": "https:\/\/meyproducciones.com\/en\/?p=29821", "title": { "rendered": "BALLERINA, JOHN WICK AND THE HISPANICS." }, "content": { "rendered": "

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It's increasingly common to see films produced in countries where Spanish isn't the native language casting Hispanic actresses in leading roles. This is the case with BALLERINA, released in June 2025, which tells a story from the John Wick universe. Wick is an assassin who worked for the Russian mafia and, to avenge the death of his beloved puppy, embarks on a violent quest for revenge. In BALLERINA, the lead actress is the Cuban-Spanish actress Ana de Armas, and her antagonist is the Colombian actress Catalina Sandino. Both have been nominated for Academy Awards and have won other prestigious accolades. This film's case is not exceptional, because, for example, in 2024, Jenna Ortega co-starred in BEETLEJUICE, and in 2022, X\u00f3chitl G\u00f3mez, born in Mexico, acted in DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS as the character who both sets the plot in motion and concludes it. What explains this phenomenon? What does having Hispanic actresses in leading roles bring to films? Does it have any consequences for Spanish speakers, both Brazilian and otherwise, that artists born in our lands play important roles in films produced by the major film industry?<\/p>\n

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So, why are there so many Hispanic actresses starring in Hollywood movies? It's because the Hispanic population in the USA is around 65 million people, which is almost 20% of the total population. And in terms of box office revenue, they account for 24% of the tickets sold annually in the US, and globally, their influence reaches almost 15% of moviegoers. In other words, having elements that make movies relatable to Hispanic audiences is necessary for them to be attractive to a wider audience. With these numbers in mind, it's not surprising that, for example, a movie like SNOW WHITE (2025) stars Rachel Zegler, a descendant of Colombian immigrants to the United States. Consequently, it is entirely possible that BALLERINA, from the world of John Wick, the mega-popular action movie saga, will feature Ana de Armas and Catalina Sandino as protagonist and antagonist respectively.<\/p>\n

Beyond being a draw to attract a significant market segment\u2014the Hispanic population and Hispanic countries\u2014what do Ana de Armas and Catalina Sandino bring to a film like BALLERINA? They bring acting talent. Both are accomplished actresses with extensive experience in important projects. For example, de Armas, the Cuban actress, starred in BLONDE, the biopic about Marilyn Monroe, released in 2022. In it, she portrays a pop culture icon, whom she may not resemble perfectly, but whom she recreates with considerable talent, earning her an Oscar nomination for her performance. Sandino, the Colombian actress, was the breakout star of the 2004 film MARIA FULL OF THANKS, earning an Oscar nomination and other awards that launched her onto the international film scene. Now, with BALLERINA, the challenge is twofold: they must convince the audience that their characters come from Romani culture, that is, Gypsy culture, native to the Balkans, and also that they are assassins who fight displaying acrobatic physical skills. And do they succeed? Yes, very much so. Therefore, although being Hispanic seems appropriate for playing characters in the mainstream film industry, it is also essential that these actors and actresses be skilled artists, so that they are professionals first, and then their origin and culture can secure them a role.<\/p>\n

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Do Hispanics and their countries benefit from having actors and actresses who share their culture and origins play leading roles in films? Probably so. I imagine it's good to feel that familiar actors are portraying characters who experience the wonders of the world imagined in cinema. This should generate a sense of belonging to the universe of wonder, because cinema, due to the dimensions of the screen, tends toward grandeur and transforms everything projected onto it into a marvel. In the case of those who are not Hispanic, their perception of this culture or cultures must change, because, after watching the films, they might attribute the qualities and flaws of the characters to people who resemble the artists they see on screen. So, if there are more leading roles, this should imply that Hispanics occupy a strong position in the collective imagination as the protagonists of life's story. This possibility is yet another example of the power that cinema holds, with its stories, its images and its sounds: therefore, long live dark theaters, surround sound and giant screens and long live cinema.<\/p>\n