Selena Gomez To Play Pioneering Lesbian Mountain Climber In Film
Actor and singer Selena Gomez will portray trailblazing Peruvian and out LGBT+ mountaineer Silvia Vásquez Lavado in an upcoming movie based on the her soon-to-be-published memoir, ‘In the Shadow of the Mountain’.
Vásquez Lavado, 46, is the only out woman to climb the Seven Summits – the highest mountains on each continent.
Gomez, who has refused to label her sexuality, will also serve as an executive producer for the project.
According to ‘Gay Times’, the film will be produced by Scott Budnick’s co-finance company, One Community, and Donna Gigliotti, under her Tempesta Films banner. Donna won an Oscar for Best Picture for the 1998 film Shakespeare in Love.
Elgin James, writer and director for Little Birds, has also been recruited to write and direct the film.
Donna praised Silvia’s story, with the mountaineer having been a victim of childhood sexual abuse. She also arranges treks to Mount Everest’s base camps for women who have endured abuse with her Courageous Girls organisation.
Speaking about Silvia, Donna said: “Silvia is a force of nature. Scott and I are so excited to work with Elgin and Selena to tell this story of resilience, courage, adventure and humanity.”
Budnick added: “We are thrilled to get to work bringing Silvia’s incredible and inspiring story to life onscreen.”
Silvia praised the work of those involved, writing on Instagram: “I am so humbled and grateful to share this thrilling news, which has been in the works for the last 10 months, that an all-star team has optioned my upcoming memoir In The Shadow of the Mountain for a movie adaptation.
“I am so honored and touched for the bold, talented, and brilliant @selenagomez in taking the starring role and as producer; To her incredible team @zackmorgenroth and @aleenkeshishian; Grateful to have the groundbreaking visionary #DonnaGigliotti and her Tempesta films involved; For the talented @elginnjames on the helm for screenplay and direction; And the support of @onecommunity films led by the trailblazer @scottbudnick1 and @lauren_denormandie.”
Although Silvia praised Selena’s casting, some expressed their disappointment in a gay role going to another straight actress. “But Selena isn’t gay,” wrote one. “I wish they would give unknown LGBTQ actors a chance at playing such a defining role.”
The film currently doesn’t have a release date, but Silvia’s memoirs are expected to be published in winter 2022.
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