KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN PRODUCTION
K iss of the Spider Woman began as a strange little novel by Manuel Puig, published in 1976 and told almost entirely through the daily conversations of two cellmates in an Argentine prison. Since then it’s lived many lives: Puig adapted it for the stage a few years later, and in 1985 it made its way to Hollywood, where director Héctor Babenco’s version earned William Hurt an Oscar and brought this queer prison love story to a global audience. The early nineties saw Terrence McNally’s musical adaptation hit Broadway, complete with a score by John Kander and Fred Ebb, the powerhouse duo behind Cabaret and Chicago . In 2025, the story returns once again, this time with J.Lo – in what might be the ultimate showcase for her triple-threat talents – and some jaw-droppingly beautiful visuals. Directed by musical veteran Bill Condon ( Dreamgirls , The Greatest Showman, Chicago ), this latest Kiss of the Spider Woman revisits Puig’s dual realities: one a grim Buenos Aires prison during the ‘Dirty War’, and the other a Technicolor fantasy world that unfolds within Molina’s imagination as he tells fellow prisoner (and eventual lover) Valentín about the Hollywood starlet he idolises. These worlds were brought to life by cinematographer Tobias Schliessler, ASC, a long-time collaborator of Condon’s, who couldn’t wait to jump on board once he’d read the script. “I instantly loved it and was so excited by its visual challenges. Bill and I have tackled films across many genres, but musicals are where we have the most fun,” he shares. “He’s such a passionate, talented director, and it’s an honour every time he brings me back. It’s something I’ll never take for granted.” One thing Schliessler enjoys most about their dynamic is the laser-focused vision that Condon brings to every project, along with his commitment to preparation. “We spend many hours in pre-production on each set, carefully crafting shot lists and deciding on the shooting order for each scene,” he says. “That kind of planning gives us the freedom to be creative on the day, because when you have a strong plan, it’s so much easier to adapt when things change.”
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