Gina Rodriguez and Justin Baldoni are reuniting for House of Guerrero, a new Latino boxing film. This time, they will both be behind the camera, acting as producers, with Rodriguez making her theatrical directorial debut. The news comes after her former co-star's legal drama with Blake Lively finally seemed to come to an end.
© GettyHouse of Gerreroo is an original story by Bernardo Cubría and Rodriguez. According to Deadline, it follows a young fighter whose promising boxing career is cut short before he gets one last shot at returning to the ring and fighting for the life he thought he had lost forever.
© Getty ImagesFor Rodriguez, the story is personal and has left her feeling "incredibly emotional" and "deeply humbled. She has been boxing since she was a child, and the film allows her to combine that part of her life with her passion for storytelling.
“Directing this film feels like the beginning of a new chapter in a story I’ve been carrying with me my entire life,” Rodriguez told the outlet. “I’ve been boxing since I could walk, and I’m on a mission to show the world what fighting can teach you about life, if you let it."
© Getty ImagesShe went on to talk about the importance of telling Latino stories. “At a moment when Latino stories, Latino families, and Latino heroes deserve to be seen and celebrated more than ever, I feel an enormous responsibility to tell this story with honesty, heart, and pride. I’ve dreamed about this film for so long, and I truly cannot wait to step into the ring and bring it to life.”
Producer Scott Budnick echoed those sentiments, pointing out that while the Latino community has dominated boxing for decades, they have never been portrayed in a film. "Our film aims to correct that. Where older generations have films like Rocky and Creed, the next generation will have this film," he told Deadline.
From Jane and Rafael to Gina and Justin
© Getty ImagesHearing that Baldoni and Rodriguez are working together comes with nostalgia. The duo played love interests turned best friends Jane Villanueva and Rafael Solano on Jane the Virgin.
Their characters' relationship kept viewers invested throughout the show's run, but the friendship between the actors continued after the series ended in 2019.
Baldoni made it clear how confident he is in her abilities. “Having spent five years working with Gina every day, I’ve had a front-row seat to her genius, both in front of and behind the camera,” Baldoni told Deadline.
“She’s a rare talent with an incredible gift for telling stories that reach people on a deeply human level. Boxing is in her blood, and so is a deep passion to center Latino characters and experiences that rarely get to be at the heart of their own films," he continued.
Their reunion also comes after Rodriguez publicly supported Baldoni earlier this year, following the actor's decision to speak publicly about the emotional toll of his lengthy legal dispute with Lively.
After Baldoni and his wife, Emily Baldoni, shared an emotional video discussing the previous two years, Rodriguez was among those who showed her support. She commented on his post, writing, “Love you, friends. Por vida.”
