Latino/Latina Films That Took Center Stage in 2022

Undoubtedly, 2022 was an excellent year for Latino representation in movies/films, breaking records and winning awards for their performances. Today, we want to celebrate those who represent us in this industry to continue emphasizing the distinction of Latinos in this new year. During 2022, the inclusion and diversity in Hollywood were reflected by many recognized and respected Latino actors.

Here are a few of our Latino representations in the Film Industry:

Wednesday:

The streamer’s new Addams Family series, is officially one of Netflix’s most popular shows of all time. In an interview with Netflix, Ortega stated that “Wednesday is technically a Latina character and that’s never been represented. So, for me, any time that I have an opportunity to represent my community, I want that to be seen.” The record-breaking show is sure to impact the viewers who can now relate to Jenna’s heritage.

The Wednesday Cast:

Jenna Ortega: Mexican American and Puerto Rican actress plays the titular character.

Luis Guzmán: Puerto Rican actor plays Wednesday’s dad, Gomez.

Fun facts: 

• Tim Burton’s series Wednesday, based on a new interpretation of the Addams Family, has exceeded 1 billion watch hours, putting it in the top three most-streamed shows on Netflix.
• The series has amassed 1.02 billion watch hours in its first three weeks of release, eclipsing the Harry & Meghan docuseries released this week and knocking Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story out of third place.
• Lady Gaga’s 2011 track Bloody Mary has earned a resurgence on TikTok thanks to edits pairing the song with Wednesday’s already-iconic deadpan dance scene.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever:

Fans of the original film have widely regarded the movie and the Marvel franchise as a tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman, who played the titular role. “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” is the first Marvel movie with several top-billed Latino characters representing the Latin community. 

The Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Cast:

Tenoch Huerta: José Tenoch Huerta Mejía, simply known as Tenoch Huerta, was born on January 29, 1981, in Ecatepec, Estado de Mexico. He plays the role of Namor, an indigenous king of the Mayan-inspired civilization known as Talokan.

Mabel Cadena: Cadena was born on September 23, 1990, in Naucalpan, but grew up in Minatitlán, Veracruz. She is of Nahua origin and speaks Nahuatl fluently. She plays the role of Namora, Namor’s cousin.

Lupita Nyong’o: Although her parents are from Kenya, Nyong’o was born in Mexico City, Mexico. The actress received an Academy Award in 2014 for best-supporting actress for the film 12 Years of Slave. She plays the role of Nakia in Black Panther. Nyong’o has also appeared in movies like East River, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Us, and The 355, among others. 

Maria Mercedes Coroy: The actress was born in Santa Maria de Jesus, Guatemala. She plays the role of Princess Fen, Namor’s mother.

Alex Livinalli: The actor was born in Caracas, Venezuela, but moved to Miami, Florida, with his parents when he was a child. He plays Attuma, Namor’s enemy.

Fun fact:

• The latest figures from Box Office Mojo put Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s domestic gross at $431.5 million, which is just enough to topple Captain Marvel with its $426.8 million, and shuffle Wonder Woman ($412.8 million) and Black Widow (a pandemic impacted $183.65 million).

Blonde:

The controversy of Blonde as a fictionalized biography of the life of Marilyn Monroe, based on the book of the same name by Joyce Carol Oates, took the thoughts and opinions of everyone in 2022. Portrayed by Ana de Armas, a Cuban and Spanish actress who has captivated Hollywood with her talent, intelligence, and beauty. Besides all the drama around this film, it’s necessary to highlight Ana de Armas’s performance. She was a successful non-American actress who carried the whole movie on her back.

Ana de Armas: Ana de Armas was born in Havana, Cuba.

Star Wars Universe:

The Star Wars universe is one of the most expansive and imaginative fictional worlds around, and Latinos have played a key role in bringing stories from this universe to life since the very beginning. In every new series, movie, or anything, we can see more often Latino representation and we are here for it.

A few of the Star Wars cast:

Oscar Isaac: The actor was born in Guatemala. Oscar played Poe Dameron in all three movies of the Star Wars reboot trilogy: The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, and The Rise of Skywalker.

Pedro Pascal: He is a Chilean-born actor and he plays the titular character in The Mandalorian.

Diego Luna: He’s a Mexican actor, director, and producer. He is known for his portrayal of Cassian Andor in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and the Disney+ series Andor.

John Leguizamo: He’s an American actor, comedian, and film producer born in Colombia and he plays the character Gor Koresh in The Mandolorian.

Encanto:

Even though this film came out in late 2021, Encanto got a huge impact in 2022. Encanto highlights the importance of family through the Latinx perspective and accurately portrays Latinx values such as close-knit familial connections, community contribution, and resilience in the face of trauma. The movie showcased famous actors such as Stephanie Beatriz, John Leguizamo, and Wilmer Eduardo Valderrama.

The Encanto Cast: 

Stephanie Beatriz (Mirabel) – Argentina.

Jessica Darrow (Luisa) – Cuban. 

Rhenzy Feliz (Camilo) – Dominican descent.

Diane Guerrero (Isabela) – Cuban descent.  

Adassa (Dolores) – Afro-Colombian. 

Angie Cepeda (Julieta) – Colombian.

Carolina Gatita’n (Pepa) – Colombian. 

John Leguizamo (Bruno) – Colombian.

Wilmer Valderrama (Agustin) – Colombian and Venezuela descent. 

Mauro Castillo (Felix) – Colombian.

Fun fact:

• On Feb. 7, 2022, the song “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” officially passed the record set by “A Whole New World” from Aladdin, now holding the spot as the No. 1 longest-running Disney song in Billboard Hot 100 history.

As we can see, diversity is increasingly vibrant and persistent. Little by little, the Latino community has risen and fought for an equal space with others. I am sure that more and more Latino actors will join the entertainment world to reclaim their positions, proudly filling those who opened the way for them.