Selena Gomez is ready to climb mountains, as she is set to star in a biopic about Peruvian mountaineer and humanitarian entrepreneur Silvia Vásquez-Lavado according to the Hollywood Reporter.
The film title In the Shadow of the Mountain is based on an upcoming memoir of the same name by Vásquez-Lavado, who became the first Peruvian woman to ascend Mount Everest and the first openly gay woman to achieve the Seven Summits, a challenge to scale the tallest mountain on each continent.
In addition to Oscar-winner Donna Gigliotti (Silver Linings Playbook, Hidden Figures) and her Tempesta Films banner, Scott Budnick’s impact-focused co-finance company One Community, a sponsor for last year’s Michael B. Jordan star Just Mercy is producing.
Elgin James, a writer and director of Little Birds and co-creator of FX’s Mayan’s M.C., is set to write and direct the biopic In the shadow of the Mountain.
Vásquez-Lavado’s remarkable story falls squarely into the wheelhouse of One Community, given that she was a survivor of childhood abuse and abandonment that sought healing and power in mountaineering. Vásquez-Lavado’s work in survivor circles has been celebrated, particularly in her efforts to arrange treks to Mt. Everest’s base camp for other women who have experienced violence.
“Silvia is a force of nature,” said Gigliotti. “Scott and I are so excited to work with Elgin and Selena to tell this story of resilience, courage, adventure and humanity.”
“We are thrilled to get to work bringing Silvia’s incredible and inspiring story to life onscreen,” added Budnick.
In the Shadow of the Mountain is scheduled to be published by Holt/Macmillan in winter 2022.
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