In a groundbreaking move, global icon Jennifer Lopez is set to release a movie musical, “This Is Me… Now: A Love Story,” marking a rare venture for a singer. Scheduled to hit screens just in time for Valentine’s week, the film promises a “surrealistic, escapist” exploration of a hopeless romantic’s journey through life. Serving as both a musical and an album, this production serves as a sequel to Lopez’s 2002 record, ‘This is Me… Then,’ drawing inspiration from her personal experiences, including romance, break-ups, reconnection, and marriage to Ben Affleck.
At a recent global press conference covered by ETimes, Lopez shared insights into the film, emphasizing her collaboration with director Dave Meyers, who understood and supported her artistic vision. She highlighted her husband’s role in recognizing the importance of telling a meaningful story beyond the music of the album.
‘This Is Me… Now: A Love Story’ boasts impressive elements, including captivating costumes, breathtaking choreography, and star-studded cameos. The film features appearances from A-list celebrities such as Ben Affleck, Jane Fonda, Sofia Vergara, Post Malone, Jay Shetty, Trevor Noah, Derek Hough, and Sadhguru, among others. However, Lopez candidly acknowledged the challenges faced in orchestrating these high-profile cameos, describing it as a formidable task.
Director Dave Meyers shed light on the logistical hurdles, explaining that many of the cameos were shot separately. He detailed the difficulties of editing scenes due to script rewrites and the need to guide celebrities who were often personal friends of Lopez. The challenges included assisting them in navigating the unfamiliar territory of performing in funny costumes against a green screen.
Lopez, in a humorous recount, shared the initial hesitations of her celebrity guests on set. She reassured them, saying, “Just trust me. It’s gonna be fine. I would never make you look crazy, and if it looks crazy, we’ll throw it in the garbage. Don’t worry about it.” Fortunately, the end result exceeded expectations, with many of the celebrities expressing excitement after seeing the finished film.
As anticipation mounts for the release of ‘This Is Me… Now,’ set to premiere on Amazon Prime on February 16, 2024, Lopez expressed satisfaction with the positive reception the film has garnered so far. Despite the challenges faced during production, the artist is pleased with the outcome and looks forward to the audience’s reaction to this unique cinematic experience.