JENNI, the new ViX original film inspired in the life of the late superstar Jenni Rivera, will premiere on ViX and select theaters in the U.S. and Mexico on December 6, the Spanish-language streaming service announced today (Nov. 13) in a press release including the first trailer of the film.
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Starring Annie Gonzalez (Flamin’ Hot, Gentefied) as the iconic Mexican-American banda singer, the movie follows Rivera from her humble beginnings in her hometown of Long Beach, California, to her rise as one of the most famous female regional Mexican artists, and the last days before her tragic and unexpected death.
“JENNI also shows the struggles that she endured in her personal life and how she became the artist fans all know and love today, and how she persevered and found strength from within,” adds the press release. “This story of resilience and bravery shows the building blocks of what made Jenni Rivera who she was and the remarkable legacy she left behind.”
The trailer starts with Gonzalez — who also sings and is credited as executive producer — performing Rivera’s early song “La Chacalosa” at a night club. “My life ain’t no fairy tale,” she’s heard saying while the song continues in the background and a collage of scenes shows Jenni’s struggles with teenage pregnancy, domestic violence and stumbles with the law, but also her ascend to stardom and role as the proud mother of five.
Rivera paved the way for women in Música Mexicana, a genre that to this day is dominated by male artists. Her anthemic songs, including “La Gran Señora” and “Inolvidable,” offered empowering lyrics and became a source of inspiration for women everywhere.
Known as “La Diva de la Banda,” she was the single most successful woman in regional Mexican music and on the Billboard Latin charts when she tragically died in a plane crash in 2012 at the age of 43. Among other achievements, she entered more than 30 songs on Regional Mexican Airplay, including 15 top 10s and her No. 1 hit “De Contrabando.” On Hot Latin Songs chart, she placed a total of 25 songs. La Misma Gran Señora gave her her third No. 1 on Top Latin Albums in December 2012, ruling for eight weeks and becoming her longest charting title, remaining on the tally for 73 weeks.
JENNI‘s cast includes Manuel Uriza as Pedro Rivera, Jenni’s father and Regional Mexican entrepreneur; Cinthya Carmona as her oldest daughter, singer Chiquis Rivera; and Jero Medina and Miguel Angel Garcia as Trino Marín, Jenni’s first husband and father of her three oldest children, at different stages in his life. Gabriela Reynoso plays Jenni’s mother, Rosa Saavedra; J.R. Villarreal plays Juan “Cinco” Lopez, Jenni’s late second husband; and newcomer Tatiana Alicia Beltrán portrays the young Jenni Rivera.
JENNI was produced by Javier Chapa and Phillip Braun of Mucho Mas Media and Alec Meachem from De Line Pictures, under the direction of Gigi Saul Guerrero with a screenplay by Shane McKenzie and Kate Lanier.
Watch JENNI‘s official first trailer below:
