JENNI, the new ViX original film inspired by the life of late superstar Jenni Rivera, will premiere on ViX and in select theaters across the U.S. and Mexico on December 6. The Spanish-language streaming service announced the news on November 13 in a press release, which also included the film’s first trailer.
About the Film
Starring Annie Gonzalez (Flamin’ Hot, Gentefied) as the iconic Mexican-American banda singer, the movie follows Rivera’s journey from her humble beginnings in Long Beach, California, to her rise as one of the most famous female regional Mexican artists, and the days leading up to her tragic and unexpected death.
“JENNI also shows the struggles she endured in her personal life and how she became the artist fans know and love today,” notes the press release. “This story of resilience and bravery highlights the building blocks that made Jenni Rivera who she was and the remarkable legacy she left behind.”
Trailer Highlights
The trailer features Gonzalez — who also sings in the film and is credited as an executive producer — performing Rivera’s early song “La Chacalosa” at a nightclub. “My life ain’t no fairy tale,” Gonzalez says in character as Jenni, while a montage shows scenes of her struggles with teenage pregnancy, domestic violence, and legal troubles, alongside her rise to fame and pride as the mother of five children.
Legacy of Jenni Rivera
Known as “La Diva de la Banda,” Rivera broke barriers for women in Música Mexicana, a genre still dominated by male artists. Her empowering anthems like “La Gran Señora” and “Inolvidable” became a source of inspiration for women everywhere.
Rivera, the most successful woman in regional Mexican music and on the Billboard Latin charts at the time of her passing, tragically died in a plane crash in 2012 at the age of 43. Among her many achievements:
- 30+ songs charted on Regional Mexican Airplay, including 15 top 10s and the No. 1 hit “De Contrabando.”
- 25 songs charted on the Hot Latin Songs list.
- La Misma Gran Señora became her third No. 1 album on Top Latin Albums in December 2012, ruling for eight weeks and remaining on the tally for 73 weeks, making it her longest-charting album.
Cast and Crew
The cast includes:
- Manuel Uriza as Pedro Rivera, Jenni’s father and Regional Mexican entrepreneur
- Cinthya Carmona as Chiquis Rivera, Jenni’s oldest daughter and a singer
- Jero Medina and Miguel Angel Garcia as Trino Marín, Jenni’s first husband and father of her three oldest children
- Gabriela Reynoso as Rosa Saavedra, Jenni’s mother
- J.R. Villarreal as Juan “Cinco” Lopez, Jenni’s late second husband
- Tatiana Alicia Beltrán as the young Jenni Rivera
The film was produced by Javier Chapa and Phillip Braun of Mucho Mas Media, and Alec Meachem of De Line Pictures. It was directed by Gigi Saul Guerrero, with a screenplay by Shane McKenzie and Kate Lanier.
