Actress America Ferrera is making her transition to a career behind the camera, lining up her feature film debut.
The 36-year-old Superstore star has signed on to direct I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter adaptation for Netflix, according to Deadline.
The actress-turned-filmmaker, who has previously directed episodes of Superstore and Netflix’s Gentefied, also responded to the news on social media.
Director: Actress America Ferrera is making her transition to a career behind the camera, lining up her feature film debut
Adaptation: The 36-year-old Superstore star has signed on to direct I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter adaptation for Netflix, according to Deadline
The project is adapted from Erika L. Sanchez’s 2017 young adult novel, following Julia Reyes, the teenage daughter of first generation Mexican immigrants.
She often clashes with her traditional parents and her sister Olga, who very much fits the mold of a ‘perfect Mexican daughter.’
The family is turned upside down when Olga is killed in an accident, and it’s up to the rebellious Julia to hold the family together.
Family: The family is turned upside down when Olga is killed in an accident, and it’s up to the rebellious Julia to hold the family together
‘Years ago, I fell in love with Erika L. Sánchez’s stunning novel. The depth, wit and searing intelligence of her writing, and her young Latina heroine, struck me to my core and left me wanting so much more,’ Ferrera said in a statement.
Gentefied creator Linda Yvette Chavez is writing the screenplay adaptation, with the author Sanchez serving as a co-producer.
Doreen Wilcox Little is producing for Anonymous Content with MACRO’s Charles D. King and Poppy Hanks and Aevitas Creative Management’s David Kuhn.
Statement: ‘Years ago, I fell in love with Erika L. Sánchez’s stunning novel. The depth, wit and searing intelligence of her writing, and her young Latina heroine, struck me to my core and left me wanting so much more,’ Ferrera said in a statement
Ferrera also took to Instagram to share the news, along with another heartfelt statement about how much the project means to her.
‘The depth, wit and searing intelligence of @erikalsanchez‘s writing, and her young Latina heroine, struck me to my core and left me wanting so much more,’ Ferrera said.
‘I am truly honored and humbled to direct @lindayvettechavez‘s beautifully adapted screenplay. The opportunity to direct the work of these two incredibly talented Latina writers is a dream come true,’ she added.
Instagram: Ferrera also took to Instagram to share the news, along with another heartfelt statement about how much the project means to her
‘I can’t wait to share this film with the many fans of the novel, and to introduce this funny, profound, and resonant story to the world. Thank you @netflix @staymarco @anoncontent @aevitascreative for entrusting me with this gorgeous project. Let’s Go!!’ she concluded.
The sixth and final season of Ferrera’s hit NBC series Superstore is currently airing, and she has recently guest-starred on Gentefied, along with directing new episodes.
Ferrera is also one of the co-founders of the Time’s Up movement and she also worked on the Biden/Harris campaign and the Georgia Senate campaigns.
She has also co-founded the social justice program Harness and She Se Puede, which provides resources to the Latina community.
Co-founder: She has also co-founded the social justice program Harness and She Se Puede, which provides resources to the Latina community