Deadline is reporting that Gina Rodriguez’s directorial debut The House of Guerrero has added seven new names to its cast list. The movie stars Carlos Sanson Jr., George Lopez, Rosario Dawson, and Rodriguez herself, and the newcomers complete a tale of family, loss, and a fighter who is attempting to return to the ring.
A story that has grown through a series of announcements gains new force from these additions. The feature was penned by Rodriguez alongside Bernardo Cubría, who also directs it, and production is currently underway in Los Angeles and California’s Imperial Valley.
New Faces Added
Lisa Vidal joins the cast as Tia Lupe, Alex Guerrero’s aunt. Aaron Dominguez plays Perico, one of Alex’s friends in El Centro. Jesse Garcia takes on the role of Diego, Alex’s therapist. Edwin Hodge appears as Malcolm, the manager of Club Crave. Emilio Rivera shows up as Tio Turi, Alex’s uncle and the husband of Tia Lupe. Adam Rodriguez rounds out the group as Ruben Chapa, a trainer at the local El Centro boxing gym. Javon Walton plays Alex in his earlier years.
The cast draws on varied experience across television, with each performer bringing their own history to the production. Vidal is recognized for Righteous Thieves and The Baker and the Beauty. Dominguez has appeared in Gossip Girl and Sitting in Bars With Cake. Garcia carries credits including The Odyssey and Flamin’ Hot. Hodge has worked on Matlock and Tomorrow War. Rivera has appeared in Mayans M.C. and On My Block. Adam Rodriguez has appeared in Criminal Minds: Evolution and CSI: Miami. Walton is known for Euphoria and Utopia.
The film draws from television comedy, drama, and action for its cast, mixing familiar faces with fresh ones. The parts are simple: aunt, friend, therapist, manager, uncle, trainer, and young Alex. Yet the themes of grief, family, and second chances lend real weight to these otherwise plain roles.
The Story So Far
Sanson Jr. stars as Alex Guerrero, a boxer whose promising career ends abruptly before he can return to the ring for one last match against his own father, Alejandro, played by Lopez, who stands in his corner. After losing his mother, Elsa, played by Dawson, Alex finds himself grappling with grief and loss. He turns instead to his older sister, Paloma, played by Rodriguez, herself a gifted boxer, asking her to take over as his trainer and help him find the fighter he once was again.
The setup follows a boxer’s return to the ring after a setback, which is familiar territory for sports dramas. What sets this story apart is its focus on the bond between Alex and his sister Paloma, a relationship that gives the film its emotional core. The sister-trainer dynamic is unusual, and it places Rodriguez in a demanding position: she is acting opposite Sanson Jr. while also directing the whole picture.
Production Details
Molly Breeskin and Justin Baldoni and Calof from Wayfarer are producing in Los Angeles and California’s Imperial Valley. The film is produced by Scott Budnick and Ameet Shukla from 1Community, Gina Rodriguez’, through I Can And I Will Productions.
Wayfarer’s Steve Sarowitz and Jamey Heath are executive producers on the project, joined by HarbourView Media Group’s Sherrese Clarke and Niija Kuykendall, along with Clare LoCicero and Alice S. Kim. The feature draws funding from Wayfarer Studios, 1Community, HarbourView Media Group and LoCicero, with tax credits coming through Three Point Capital. UTA Independent Film Group handles worldwide sales for the film.
Agent Representation
The representatives for each new addition bear mention. Pearl Wexler represents Vidal. Dominguez’s representatives include Paradigm, Canopy Media Partners and Goodman Genow Schenkman. Mosaic, Independent Artist Group, Vox, and Sloane, Offer, Weber and Dern represent Garcia. Hodge is represented by Vault. Amsel, Eisenstadt, Frazier & Hinojosa Inc. represent Rivera. Adam Rodriguez is represented by A Management and Global Artists Agency. Walton is represented by Paradigm and Brillstein Entertainment Partners.
The caliber of talent coming into the project is confirmed by the fact that these are all reputable agencies in the business.
What This Means For Rodriguez
This marks Rodriguez’s first time directing a film. She is also taking the lead as Paloma, opposite Sanson Jr., who plays Alex. That double duty — acting in front of the camera while also making creative choices behind it — is a rare position for any performer to occupy.
Her own company, I Can And I Will Productions, handles the production of the film.
| Role | Actor |
|---|---|
| Alex Guerrero | Carlos Sanson Jr. |
| Alejandro Guerrero | George Lopez |
| Elsa Guerrero | Rosario Dawson |
| Paloma Guerrero | Gina Rodriguez |
| Tia Lupe | Lisa Vidal |
| Perico | Aaron Dominguez |
| Diego | Jesse Garcia |
| Malcolm | Edwin Hodge |
| Tio Turi | Emilio Rivera |
| Ruben Chapa | Adam Rodriguez |
| Young Alex | Javon Walton |
The Grief Throughline
The film’s central conflict comes from the loss of Alex’s mother, Elsa, played by Dawson. That loss drives everything Alex does, from his return to boxing to his decision to let his sister train him. The fact that Dawson plays the mother adds a specific emotional weight to the scene, since audiences will have seen her perform in the same story.
Beyond its boxing story, the film looks at a fighter who must rediscover himself. Alex isn’t merely returning to boxing; he’s searching for the person he was before his career ended. That task falls to his sister, Paloma, who takes on the job of helping him find that earlier version of himself. This shared mission builds a bond between the two siblings, a connection the film will likely devote considerable time to developing.
The Scope Of The Story
A full cast has now been assembled, with seven new actors joining Sanson Jr., Lopez, Dawson, and Rodriguez on the roster. The original ensemble was already a notable group for a first feature, and these seven additions broaden the story’s reach considerably.
A boxer, his family, and the struggle to keep what truly counts form the core of The House of Guerrero. Rodriguez’s direction, paired with the cast assembled around her, positions the picture for a chance to stand apart from its rivals. The production is underway.
Source material: “‘House Of Guerrero’ Film From Gina Rodriguez Adds 7 To Cast,” Deadline.
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