When a friend of Luis Fonsi’s passed him a film script, the global pop star agreed to look at it as a courtesy.
“I wasn’t looking (to act). I wasn’t auditioning. “It wasn’t something that was next on my to-do list,” said the artist, whose song “Despacito” became a global phenomenonn. “I’m thinking in my head that by page 10, I’d be like, nah, (I’ll) just stick to the music thing.”
But as he read the script on a long flight from Miami to Madrid, he realized that he could identify with the movie’s main character, he told NBC News in an interview.
Now, Fonsi is making his debut as a lead actor in the film “Say a Little Prayer,” which opens at AMC and other theaters nationwide Friday. The moviewhich features a nearly all-Latino cast, follows the romantic adventures of three best friends in San Antonio.
Searching for true love, the three friends recite an ancient prayer to St Anthonythe patron saint of lost things, only to encounter unexpected results.
Fonsi is excited about playing Rafael, an art curator. “It’s my first film. “It’s a great story, a very relatable rom-com,” he said.
He believes that people will see the movie and recall their own experiences growing up, with friends, and with finding love.
“I want people to remember the good times, the sad times, or to just get up and dance and forget about it all,” he said. “And being able to do that in a film is great.”
The predominantly Latino city of San Antonio and its rich history features prominently in the film, so much so that the movie can be seen as a valentine to the city. Residents will recognize many landmarks, from the westside bar Jaime’s Place to the Centro de Artes Gallery to the San Fernando Cathedral.
Fonsi said he loved shooting in San Antonio, which he described as “awesome,” saying that “the city just welcomed us with open arms.”
Fonsi also wrote and performed a song for the film, “Prayer in Your Eyes,” which is out now.
“Say a Little Prayer” also stars Vannessa Vasquez, Jackie Cruz and Vivian Lamolli, with appearances by the legendary Mexican actor Angélica María and former “Saturday Night Live” cast member Chris Kattan.
Vasquez, who plays Adela, said that at the film’s San Antonio screening“the audience went crazy, because there are so many places and things in the movie, like the River Walk and the horse-drawn carriages, that are iconic.”
In the film, Vasquez’s character says she left her small town (for San Antonio) because she felt “like I was meant to be part of something bigger.”
Such sentiments were one reason, Vasquez explained, they related to the role. “Growing up in Houston and becoming interested in performing, I had to learn to believe in myself — and know that I’m worthy of my dreams,” she said.
Known for the Hulu series “East Los High,” Vasquez said it felt special to be working again on a project with so many Latinos involved.
“It is like being at a carne asada (backyard barbecue) with your extended family. There’s music, and it’s very joyous and festive — like we are,” she said.
“Everyone was excited to be a part of this film,” Vasquez said, “especially since our lives, our culture doesn’t always get shown to the world; I think the last time that happened, it was in ‘Selena.’”
Unique in its depiction of Latinas
“Say a Little Prayer” producer Cristina Nava pointed out that the film is unique in its depiction of Latina professionals living lives without economic or immigration crises — and because much of the film’s funding came from Latina investors.
“It is incredibly hard not just to make a movie independently, but to make one that has predominantly Latino stars in it,” Nava said, adding there’s a kind of pressure that comes with making a Latino-themed project, as its box-office success or failure can affect other similar projects.
“There is scrutiny we face from the industry and our communities,” she said. “But I am optimistic. We want positive images of Latinos, and we need to do this for the future generations.”
To Nava, the themes in “Say a Little Prayer” are universal. “This is a story about falling in love, about family and friendship. “We hope that people enjoy it and walk away with a sense of knowing our community a little better,” she said.
The film’s executive producers include entertainment entrepreneur Jeff Valdez; Sol Trujillo, a co-founder of the Latino Donor Collaborative; and actor and activist Edward James Olmos.
In to Instagram postOlmos reminded fans that “if you want to see more movies with Latinos and Latinas as the stars, support the movies that they make.”
According to research by consulting firm McKinsey & Company, Latinos have the highest per capita annual film attendance. Yet as recently as 2023only 7.2% of film roles went to Latinos.
In a 2024 reportMcKinsey & Company found that the entertainment industry “could generate an additional $12 billion to $18 billion a year in annual revenue—about 7 to 10 percent of today’s $179 billion—if Latino representation in Hollywood improved.”
Life after ‘Despacito’
For Luis Fonsi, starring in “Say a Little Prayer” is one aspect of his multifaceted career. On Thursday, he received a Latin Grammy Award (his sixth) for best pop vocal album for “El Viaje” (“The Journey”). He is currently in the middle of his 25th anniversary tourwhich is taking him across Latin America, the US and Spain.
It’s been over seven years since Fonsi’s song “Despacito” (with Daddy Yankee) became a global success. It was the biggest song of summer 2017, topping the charts and becoming the first video to reach 5 billion views on YouTube.
“I had already been through ups and downs and had previous hits,” Fonsi reflected about that whirlwind time. “So the way I saw it, I was ready, and I appreciated everything about it. … This is a song that (was) really bringing the world together.”
“I was so proud to represent my island of Puerto Rico, and I was (able) to represent my language, my culture, my color, my rhythm,” he said.
Through his travels around the world, Fonsi is aware that many people feel as though they are living through a fraught period of history. But he is committed to an upbeat outlook on life.
“The fact is that my job is to make music and bring people together and connect with people through lyrics and melody, that’s a gift. “That’s a blessing,” Fonsi said.
“I’m actually going to be the guy (who), through music, through art, that brings joy to those people who are going through it,” he added. “Because we use music as medicine. I use music as medicine. … As an artist, it’s my job to bring joy to people’s lives.”