Lopez to Star in Chilean Miner Drama “The 33”

Jennifer Lopez has managed to mine her latest acting role…

The 43-year-old actress/singer has signed on to star opposite Antonio Banderas in The 33, a film based on the Chilean miner saga, in a still-undisclosed role.

Jennifer Lopez

The drama, based on the true story of the 33 Chilean miners who were rescued after being trapped for 69 days in 2010, is being produced by Mike Medavoy.

The film will mark Lopez’s first big-screen role since starring opposite Jason Statham in this year’s action-thriller Parker.

Martin Sheen and Brazilian actor Rodrigo Santoro have also joined the cast of the ensemble film.

Patricia Riggen (La Misma Luna) is directing the film from a screenplay written by Mikko Alanne and Jose Rivera, with production scheduled to begin in the fall in Chile.

In 2011, Medavoy nabbed the rights to the 33 miners, whose remarkable rescue from the San Jose Mine garnered headlines worldwide. The men were trapped half a mile beneath the Earth’s surface.

Banderas is playing the role of Mario Sepulveda, the charismatic miner nicknamed “Super Mario.” Sheen will play a miner’s father, while Santoro is tackling the role of a trapped miner.

Banderas to Star in Chilean Miner Film “The 33”

Antonio Banderas has accepted a miner role…

The 52-year-old Spanish actor has signed on to portray Mario Sepulveda, aka Super Mario, in The 33, the feature version of the saga of the 33 Chilean miners who were trapped underground for 69 days in 2010.

Antonio Banderas

Half-Spanish actor Martin Sheen and Brazilian star Rodrigo Santoro are also joining the ensemble cast.

Mike Medavoy, who spent 10 years in Chile, secured the miners’ exclusive life rights last year and developed the project in collaboration with the men, their rescuers and their families.

Mexican filmmaker Patricia Riggen, who helmed La Misma Luna, will direct the film

Production is scheduled to begin in the fall.