Glenn Close has joined the cast of the Spanish drama The Black Ball (La Bola Negra), the new film from the writing-directing team of Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi (Veneno, The Messiah). Produced by Movistar Plus+ and Suma Content Films, the film is a co-production with Le Pacte and the Almodóvar brothers’ shingle El Deseo.
Close will co-star with Penelope Cruz, Miguel Bernardeau (Elite), Carlos Gonzales (Veneno), Lola Duenas (The Messiah) and Spanish singer-songwriter Guitarricadelafuente, making his big-screen debut.
Based on an unfinished work by poet and playwright Federico Garcia Lorca, The Black Ball weaves together the lives of three gay men from three distinct historical periods. Their stories are intimately connected by desire, sexuality pain and inheritance.
Elastica will distribute in Spain, with Goodfellas handling international sales.
“It will be an honor to work with this legend,” the directors, known as the Javis, said of Close. “[She’s] an actress we’ve always admired. She read the script and fell in love with the project. We are in love with her.”
A statement from Movistar says the multiple Emmy, Golden Globe, Tony and Oscar-winning actress will join the shoot in the days ahead. Filming began in Spain in August.
The Javis’ series Veneno premiered on HBO Max in the U.S. and was widely praised, earning a GLAAD award. The Messiah, a Movistar Plus+ original series, premiered at the San Sebastian International Film Festival and was the first Spanish series to be programmed at Sundance.
