Netflix has released the trailer for Jacques Audiard’s musical drama “Emilia Perez,” starring Zoe Saldaña and Selena Gomez, which has already garnered Oscar buzz. The film received the jury prize at Cannes and the best actress award for Saldaña, Gomez, Karla Sofía Gascón, and Adriana Paz. Gomez, who plays the on-screen wife of a Mexican cartel leader seeking gender-affirming surgery, was moved to tears after the movie received a nine-minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival. This was the longest standing ovation for any movie premiere at the festival in 2024.
“Emilia Perez” tells the story of a Mexican cartel leader seeking gender-affirming surgery, with Gomez portraying the character’s wife. In the film, Gomez sports a blonde bob, and she stars alongside Karla Sofía Gascón and Edgar Ramirez in the musical crime comedy. The streamer’s official description states that the movie follows the journey of four remarkable women in Mexico, with the fearsome cartel leader, Emilia, enlisting the help of Rita, played by Saldaña, to fake her death so she can live authentically as her true self.
Gomez expressed her excitement for the film after reading the script and was captivated by its captivating and moving storyline. She also enjoyed singing in the film and found the songs to be beautiful. While Gomez has focused on acting over the past few years, starring in projects like “Only Murders in the Building” and the upcoming Linda Ronstadt biopic, she found herself drawn to storytelling through music, despite initially intending to pursue acting full time rather than a music career.
“Emilia Perez” is set to open in select theaters on Nov. 1 before streaming on Netflix starting Nov. 13. Gomez’s busy schedule also includes the premiere of Season 4 of “Only Murders in the Building” on Hulu. Additionally, she is set to make a cameo in the “Wizards Beyond Waverly Place” spinoff series, which she is producing. Gomez reflected on her career trajectory, noting that her hobby of singing turned into something more, but ultimately she is focused on telling stories through both acting and music.
