Roadside Attractions has just dropped the trailer for Kiss of the Spider Woman, Bill Condon’s spirited fresh adaptation of the Tony-winning musical, s
Roadside Attractions has just dropped the trailer for Kiss of the Spider Woman, Bill Condon’s spirited fresh adaptation of the Tony-winning musical, starring Jennifer Lopez, Tonatiuh, and Diego Luna. In the trailer, Lopez — playing silver-screen icon Ingrid Luna — dazzles us with a radiant display of sheer star power. It’s senior fashioned movie making. From Condon, the acclaimed director of Dreamgirls and Beauty and the Beast, Kiss of the Spider Woman revives the grand tradition of movie musicals, bursting with vibrant color and emotional sweep. Adapted from Manuel Puig’s 1976 novel and the Tony Award-winning musical by Terrence McNally, John Kander, and Fred Ebb, the story revolves around two cellmates — one a revolutionary, the other a very flamboyant romantic — who forge an unlikely friendship amid political oppression and personal longing. Produced by Barry Josephson, Tom Kirdahy, and Greg Yolen, the film also boasts an impressive lineup of executive producers including Lopez, Luna, Ben Affleck, and Matt Damon.
What Is ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’ About?
Luna (Andor) takes on the role of Valentín, a political prisoner trapped inside a decaying Latin American jail. But it’s Tonatiuh (Promised Land), as Molina, who gives the story its emotional core. Jailed for public indecency, Molina escapes his harsh reality by spinning elaborate retellings of senior Hollywood musicals — each one starring his glamorous screen idol alter ego, Ingrid Luna.
Condon wrote and directed the adaptation, staying true to the stage play while leaning into the cinematic possibilities of its “musical within a prison” setup. “We wanted to honor the stylized power of classic musicals, but also tell a very human story about resilience, connection, and the masks we wear to survive,” Condon explained in a previous statement.
Collider’s Ross Bonaime gave the film a 6/10, praising its high points but finding Condon’s direction uneven:
“Kiss of the Spider Woman truly shines when it explores the musical side of its story. The music itself isn’t particularly remarkable, and you won’t leave the theater with a tune stuck in your head, but the striking musical numbers are where this film really finds its groove.”
He added that Lopez may have found her best cinematic medium:
“Lopez absolutely proves that this should be the first of many musicals that she works on, and if Condon and Lopez collaborated on a project that primarily focused on her performance, it would likely be stunning.”
Kiss of the Spider Woman opens in theaters everywhere on October 10, 2025.
Kiss of the Spider Woman
Release Date
October 10, 2025
Runtime
128 minutes
Director
Bill Condon
Writers
Bill Condon, Manuel Puig
Producers
Barry Josephson, Ben Affleck, Benny Medina, Diego Luna, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, Jennifer Lopez, Kevin Halloran, Matt Damon, Sam Weisman, Greg Yolen, Michael Joe, Tom Kirdahy, Pamela Thur, Dani Bernfeld
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Tonatiuh Elizarraraz
Luis Molina
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