How Penélope Cruz and Glenn Close Wound Up in ‘La Bola Negra’

“La Bola Negra,” a Spanish drama directed by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, has been making waves at film festivals around the world. The film, which premiered in competition at Cannes, has been lauded by critics and audiences alike, leading to a bidding war that ultimately resulted in Netflix securing the rights for a theatrical release.

The movie features a star-studded cast, including Spanish actors Guitarricadelafuente, Carlos González, Miguel Bernardeau, Lola Dueñas, and Antonio de la Torre, as well as international A-listers Penélope Cruz and Glenn Close.

According to Ambrossi, Cruz's involvement in the project began with a conversation at an event during the writing process. He explained that the director received a call from Cruz, who inquired about a potential role in the film. Intrigued by her enthusiasm, the team rewrote her character to better suit her talents, leading to Cruz's enthusiastic response.

Similarly, Glenn Close got involved after reading a script titled "La Mesias" and expressing her admiration for the project. Calvo revealed that the original character was written as male but was later changed to a female role when it became clear that Glenn Close would be perfect for the part. Despite her initial reservations about the language barrier and the size of the role, Close ultimately agreed to take on the challenge, declaring the script to be her favorite she had read in a long time.

The directors were ultimately pleased with their choices, as both Cruz and Close brought their unique talents to the film, adding to its already impressive roster of performers.