David Farnor | On 21, Jun 2021

Jonás Cuarón is heading to Netflix for new adventure film Chupa, and he’s found his leading man.

Academy Award nominee Demián Bichir (Land, Godzilla vs. Kong, The Midnight Sky, Alien: Covenant) will lead the cast, with Dominic Mariche (Are You Afraid of the Dark, See), Adriel Manzano (Belzebuth) and Isabella Patron (Guerra de Vecinos) also playing principal roles.

The film, which is based on an original script by Marcus Rinehart, Sean Kennedy Moore and Joe Barnathan, is written by Jonás (Desierto, Gravity), alongside Tim Sexton.

It follows teenage Alex (Dominic Mariche), who, while visiting his family in Mexico, gains an unlikely companion when he discovers a young chupacabra hiding in his grandpa’s shed. In order to save the mythical creature, Alex and his cousins (Adriel Manzano and Isabella Patron) must embark on the adventure of a lifetime.

The film is produced by 26th Street Pictures, which has a first-look feature film deal at Netflix. Chris Columbus will produce for 26th Street Pictures, along with Michael Barnathan and Mark Radcliffe. The executive producers include G Mac Brown and Brendan Bellomo.

Columbus says: “A story is only as good as the actors who can make it come to life. Demián is an acclaimed actor and after an extensive search, we’re thrilled with the true talent we’ve found in Adriel, Isabela and Dominic, all of whom lend heart and authenticity to their roles. We can’t wait for people around the world to meet them and see just how special they make this film.”

Cuarón adds: “Demián, Dominic, Adriel and Isabella all bring a genuineness to the characters they play. Growing up in both Mexico and the US, I’m fortunate to have my own life experiences to inspire the stories that I tell. It’s even more special to have found a cast that is able to lend an additional layer of authenticity to Chupa.”

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