Marilyn Monroe’s Mexican Roots Reveled in New Biopic

Miami-based Loz Dos Studios and BTF Media, a Latino production studio, are in production on film on Marilyn Monroe, the biopic is still untitled, but promises an unprecedented look at the iconic movie star’s Latina heritage and one of her final trips to Mexico.

 

 

Much of the information of the script were drawn from released FBI documents, obtained through the Freedom of Information Act.

The upcoming project will be another addition to the many of films and TV projects that have been produced through the years since Monroe’s untimely death in 1962.

 

The founders of  BTF Media, Francisco Cordero and Ricardo Coeto are partnering with Dennis Polar from Loz Dos Studios to co-produce the film inspired by the life of Monroe. The screenplay is penned by Alexa Polar, founder of Female Filmmakers Fuse, a non-profit organization that supports diversity, equity, and inclusion in film.

 

 

Monroe was a star during the time in Hollywood where many actors and actresses changed their real names to further enhance their mainstream (read Anglo-American) appeal. Margarita Carmen Cansino became Rita Hayworth and Raquel Tejada was known as Raquel Welch.

 

The fact that Monroe’s mother was born in Mexico was quietly suppressed. Hence, Norma Jeane Mortenson became known as Marilyn Monroe. According to reports, historians have confirmed that Marilyn’s mother was actually born in Mexico, which means Marilyn did have some connection to Mexico.

Due to the time in history when Marilyn Monroe was a star, she hid her Mexican roots from the public in order to maintain the spotlight, but behind closed doors, it seems like Marilyn truly embraced her mother’s birthplace.

 

Like many other famous figures of her time, during prohibition, she would often visit Mexico in order to attend gatherings and businesses where alcohol was allowed. She often found herself in Ciudad Juárez, where she’d hang out with other actors and musicians like Frank Sinatra, she loved going to Mexico.

Said Cordero: “For such a well-known figure, it must have been incredibly difficult for Marilyn to keep such a secret. It’s an honor to shine a light on her as a Latina becoming comfortable with her roots.”

“The Latinx community has so many vibrant stories to share and this film will bring an underrepresented point of view to Marilyn’s iconic story,” said Polar of Loz Dos Studios.

Production is targeted to start this Fall with most scenes expected to be filmed in Mexico. Casting is currently underway. Dialogue will mainly be in English with some Spanish in the mix.

Many celebrities have come forward and confessed that they changed their names while trying to “make it.” Legendary sex symbol and Hollywood actress Marilyn Monroe was no different. While more and more celebrities are celebrating their heritage and original roots, back when Marilyn was making moves in Hollywood, diversity was not celebrated.

Although Marilyn did not have a good relationship with her mother, she seemed to have strong connection with Mexico, the country where her mother was born. It was reported that in the stars home in Brentwood, Calif., she displayed Mexican art and accessories, which she bought from the country during several trips she made during the last years of her life. She also divorced her last husband, Arthur Miller in Mexico. Casting for the film is now underway with a production date said to be sometime this fall in Mexico.

 

Another Monroe biopic, Blonde, which is scheduled to be released by Netflix this year, stars Cuban actress Ana de Armas (Deep Water) as the iconic star. This year, directed by Andrew Dominik (Killing Them Softly), Blonde has become one of the most talked-about titles because of its NC-17 rating.