2011's Miss Bala was a compelling blend of action, noir and cautionary tale. And as a Mexican thriller, that meant someone somewhere was going to try and remake it. The new version, which stars Gina Rodriguez, is on the way and has a first trailer online.
Rodriguez stars as Gloria, who travels from Los Angeles to Tijuana with a friend after the death of her parents. But while out at a club, the pair witnesses a murder and to keep them quiet, the crime boss kidnap's Gloria's pal. Pressed into working with the cartel, Gloria also runs afoul of the Drug Enforcement Agency and soon she's having to turn mole against the criminals, putting her life in even more danger.
It'll be interesting to see what new spin the movie can put on the concept, with Rodriguez explaining the difference to Entertainment Weekly. "It’s a reconceptualizing of the original film, and it’s more modern," she says. "Gloria is someone that’s actively trying to save herself and her family. I think that’s really amazing because a lot of the women in my life, they actively work toward keeping their families safe, and they actively try to fix situations. There’s no woman I know in my life that just sits back. Women aren’t necessarily always portrayed as proactively trying to save ourselves in action films. It’s very empowering to see those stories because I know that’s what the women in my life do."
Miss Bala, which also stars Anthony Mackie, Matt Lauria and Aislinn Derbez, and has Catherine Hardwicke directing, hits UK cinemas on 8 February next year.
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