Penélope Cruz has signed on to star in “La bola negra,” a new feature film written, directed and produced by celebrated Spanish filmmakers Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, collectively known as Los Javis.
The film is co-produced by Movistar Plus+, Suma Content FilmsFrance’s Le Pacte, with French sales company Goodfellas taking sales rights outside Spain and France.
“La bola negra" was announced in Cannes on Monday and will premiere exclusively in cinemas in 2026 before arriving on Movistar Plus+ sometime later.
The film boasts a star-studded cast that includes Miguel Bernardeau (“Elite”), Carlos González (“Veneno”), and acclaimed actress Lola Dueñas, known for her award-winning performances in “The Sea Inside” and “La Mesías.”
Spanish singer-songwriter and guitarist Guitarricadelafuente will also make his screen debut in the feature.
“We wrote Penelope’s role specifically for her. Her humor and elegance make it a pleasure to work with her,” said Javier Calvo.
Inspired by Federico García Lorca’s unfinished play “La bola Negra” and “La piedra oscura” by Alberto Conejero, the film weaves together the lives of three men across three different time periods. Their stories are intimately connected through sexuality, desire, pain, and legacy.
“The creative process began with historical research, which we merged with a beautiful literary collaboration with Alberto Conejero,” Javier Ambrossi said. “It includes elements of theater adaptation, imagination, and introspection, allowing us to infuse each plotline with our identity. It’s incredibly exciting to present part of the cast here in Cannes, there are still many surprises to come.”
“Writing ‘La bola negra’ has been an emotional and complex experience,” Calvo added. “We didn’t feel like we were creating a story, but rather uncovering it, excavating characters, dialogue, and a wound that somehow always existed within us. It’s a deeply personal text that reminds us why we do this work.”
“La bola negra" is the first film from the Javis at Suma Content Films, the new cinematic division of Suma Content, the production company founded by Ambrossi and Calvo. Following the critical and award success of their series “La Mesías,” which premiered at San Sebastián, screened at Sundance, and won six Feroz Awards and three Forqué Awards, “La bola Negra” marks a major return to feature filmmaking for the duo.
The film is set to begin production in August and will shoot across various locations in Spain and Europe.
Returning behind-the-scenes collaborators from "La Mesías" are Gris Jordana (cinematography), Roger Bellés (art direction), Ana López Cobos (costume design), and Raül Refree (original score).
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