Global entertainer Jennifer Lopez is navigating a period of significant personal transformation, which she links to her preparation for the demanding role of Ingrid Luna in the film adaptation of "Kiss of the Spider Woman." This professional immersion comes as the artist finalizes a major life chapter; her divorce from Ben Affleck was finalized in February 2025, concluding a marriage that lasted two years.
The legal proceedings began when Lopez initiated separation proceedings in August 2024, citing fundamental differences. The resolution, saw the former couple amicably dividing their assets without pursuing spousal support, suggesting mutual respect remained despite the separation. Lopez has framed this personal shift as a powerful catalyst for individual development, a narrative that aligns with her upcoming artistic challenge.
Lopez stars as Ingrid Luna in Bill Condon’s musical interpretation of "Kiss of the Spider Woman," which is scheduled for a theatrical debut on October 10, 2025. The source material, Manuel Puig’s 1976 novel, explores themes of empathy, identity, and human connection within confinement, offering a rich psychological landscape for Lopez to inhabit. Her character, Ingrid Luna, is a film siren whose fantasy sequences provide an escape for the political prisoner Luis Molina (played by Tonatiuh) from the harsh realities of his cell, where he is held with Valentin Arregui (Diego Luna).
Lopez has noted that the demanding nature of portraying Luna, who embodies multiple facets including Aurora and the Spider Woman, mirrored her own internal process of refinement during that time. She filmed the project in the months leading up to her split from Affleck, who also served as an executive producer on the film. Lopez has publicly credited Affleck’s involvement, stating that without him, the movie would not have been made. In one scene, Lopez wore a golden ball gown weighing approximately 50 pounds, which she described as a significant physical challenge.
The film itself blends the gritty prison drama of 1980s Argentina with classic Hollywood musical spectacle. The story, which previously inspired a 1985 film and a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, has garnered positive initial reception, having premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2025 and received an 82% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. At the New York premiere on October 6, 2025, which marked their first public meeting since the divorce, Affleck expressed pride in her work, calling Lopez 'incredible'.