Jennifer Lopez will produce and co-star in a feature based on the life of salsa legend Hector Lavoe, reports Variety.
Salsa star Marc Anthony is in discussions to star as Lavoe. Script will be written by David Maldonado, former manager of both Lavoe and Anthony. He originally acquired Lavoe's life rights from the musician's widow, Nilda Roman Perez, who will be portrayed by Lopez.
Lavoe died tragically in 1993 at 43. Known as salsa's bad boy, he had a crystal-clear voice and an incomparable talent for improvisation. Lavoe's dramatic and difficult life included a childhood marked by poverty, a lifelong struggle with drug addiction and depression, his son's accidental shooting death and a passionate but fractious marriage.
Lopez's Nuyorican Prods. will produce the untitled project with her producing partner, Benny Medina, and Maldonado.
Production is slated to start later this year.