Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin will make his feature film debut in "Hombre al agua," a new film directed by and starring Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal.
The film industry publication Deadline revealed the movie's first images, poster and trailer, alongside the surprise announcement of Martin's casting. His involvement had been kept entirely secret during filming in Merida, in the Mexican state of Yucatan.
Martin will also serve as an executive producer on the project, a dramatic comedy with surreal touches produced by La corriente del golfo, the production company owned by Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna.
"Hombre al agua" follows Camilo, a Cuban lifeguard played by Garcia Bernal, whose life changes after he rescues a powerful businessman from the sea. Martin plays Roby, an actor hired to portray Camilo in a biographical film financed by the businessman's wife.
Garcia Bernal's first choice
Garcia Bernal said he had considered Martin for the role since the first draft of the script but thought securing his participation would be impossible. He said he decided to call Martin directly shortly before production began, and the singer accepted the offer immediately.
Martin completed his scenes in a single, intense day of filming. His enthusiasm for the project naturally led to his additional role as an executive producer.
The cast also includes Natalia Oreiro, Esmeralda Pimentel, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo and Jorge Salinas. The film will hold its world premiere in the Spotlight section of the Venice Film Festival before screening at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Return to acting
The role marks Martin's return to acting in his native Spanish language after more than two decades.
He began his acting career in the 1991 Mexican soap opera "Alcanzar una estrella II" and the American daytime drama "General Hospital" in the 1990s. He has also starred on Broadway, playing Marius in "Les Miserables" and Che in "Evita."
On television, Martin appeared in the musical series "Glee" in 2012. He received an Emmy Award nomination for his portrayal of Antonio D'Amico in the 2018 season of "American Crime Story," which chronicled the murder of fashion designer Gianni Versace. Most recently, he starred opposite Kristen Wiig and Laura Dern in the period series "Palm Royale."
