“Kiss of the Spider Woman” is gearing up for a major awards campaign following its big premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, and garnering critical word-of-mouth on the awards circuit.
Based on the stage musical by Terrence McNally, John Kander and Fred Ebb, the film is the second adaptation of Argentine author Manuel Puig’s 1976 novel. The first, directed by Héctor Babenco in 1985, earned four Academy Award nominations and won best actor for William Hurt.
This new version, written and directed by Oscar winner Bill Condon, stars Diego Luna as Valentín, a political prisoner who shares a jail cell with Molina, played by breakout star Tonatiuh. Molina, a window dresser imprisoned for public indecency, escapes the grim reality of their confinement by retelling the plot of a glamorous Hollywood musical featuring his favorite silver screen diva, Ingrid Luna (Jennifer Lopez).
In a shift from the 1985 awards strategy — when both Hurt and Raul Julia were campaigned in the lead actor category — this year’s campaign is splitting its acting pushes. Revealed to Variety exclusively, Tonatiuh will compete in lead actor, while Luna and Lopez are being positioned in the supporting categories.
Tonatiuh, who gained widespread attention for his role in Netflix’s action thriller “Carry-On” (2024) — currently the third most-watched English-language film of all time on the platform — delivers what many are calling a revelatory, awards-worthy performance. He enters a crowded best actor field that already includes Leonardo DiCaprio (“One Battle After Another”), Dwayne Johnson (“The Smashing Machine”), Wagner Moura (“The Secret Agent”) and Jesse Plemons (“Bugonia”), with expected heavyweights Daniel Day-Lewis (“Anemone”) and Timothée Chalamet (“Marty Supreme”) still to come.
If nominated, Tonatiuh would join a short list of Latino actors recognized in the lead actor category. Only five Latino men have received best actor nominations in the Academy’s nearly 100-year history: José Ferrer, Anthony Quinn, Edward James Olmos, Demián Bichir and Colman Domingo.
Luna, fresh off a successful Emmy run as an executive producer on Disney+’s “Andor,” steps into the role once played by Julia. The Mexican actor, who first gained international recognition in “Y tu mamá también” (2001), could benefit from a less competitive supporting actor field, where only Stellan Skarsgård (“Sentimental Value”) and Sean Penn (“One Battle After Another”) are currently seen as front-runners.
Following a stellar year, including guest-hosting “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” in June and earning praise for past roles in films like “Milk” (2008) and “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” (2016), a first Oscar nomination could finally be within reach for the 45-year-old actor.
Kiss of the Spider Woman
© Credit Ana Carballosa. Courtesy of AE Ops, LLC and Mohari Media US, LLC.
Jennifer Lopez is also aiming for her first Oscar nod, following a string of high-profile snubs for acclaimed performances in “Selena” (1997), “Out of Sight” (1998), “Hustlers” (2019) and last year’s “Unstoppable” (2024). With Lopez and Luna both in the supporting races, the campaign may find traction as a package deal for voters.
While “Kiss of the Spider Woman” has received strong critical praise, with awards pundits still debating its clearest path to Oscar success. Costume designer Colleen Atwood — already a four-time Oscar winner — is a likely contender, but musicals rarely land only a supporting acting nomination. One recent exception is Danielle Brooks, who was the sole Oscar nominee for “The Color Purple” (2023) in supporting actress.
A combination of nominations for Luna, Lopez and Atwood, alongside a possible lead actor showing for Tonatiuh, could bolster the film’s chances of cracking the best picture lineup.
Interestingly, Luna’s supporting placement continues a trend in movie musicals where top-billed actors are campaigned in supporting categories. Past examples include Meryl Streep (“Into the Woods”), Catherine Zeta-Jones (“Chicago”) and last year’s winner Zoe Saldaña (“Emilia Pérez”).
The 1993 Broadway production of “Kiss of the Spider Woman” received 11 Tony Award nominations, winning seven, including best musical. Acting wins included Brent Carver (Molina) for lead actor in a musical, Anthony Crivello (Valentín) for featured actor, and Chita Rivera for lead actress. The film’s current Oscar campaign categories closely mirror those Tony submissions.
“Kiss of the Spider Woman” is produced by Barry Josephson, Tom Kirdahy and Greg Yolen. It is scheduled to open in theaters Oct. 10 via Lionsgate, Roadside Attractions and LD Entertainment.
