Bill Condon’s highly anticipated 2025 movie musical adaptation of Kiss of the Spider Woman, starring Jennifer Lopez, Tonatiuh, and Diego Luna, has made significant changes from its Broadway predecessor, most notably a more optimistic and humanist ending that redefines the core love story for a modern audience.
The cinematic world is abuzz with the impending release of Bill Condon’s 2025 movie musical adaptation of Kiss of the Spider Woman, a story that has captivated audiences for decades across various forms. Premiering at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, this new iteration promises a lavish Hollywood musical treatment while navigating the intricate political and personal drama that defines its core narrative, as reported by Vanity Fair. However, it’s the film’s bold reimagining of the ending, and its implications for the central relationship, that truly sets it apart from previous adaptations.
A Legacy of Adaptations: From Novel to Broadway to Screen
The journey of Kiss of the Spider Woman began with Manuel Puig’s seminal 1976 novel, a powerful narrative exploring themes of love, fantasy, and political oppression within the confines of an Argentine prison cell. Puig’s work was lauded for its innovative use of dialogue and footnotes, delving into the fluidity of gender and orientation.
In 1985, Hector Babenco’s film adaptation brought the story to the big screen, earning William Hurt an Academy Award for his portrayal of Luis Molina. This film was groundbreaking for its portrayal of a gay character in mainstream cinema, though it somewhat downplayed the sexual content, according to historical analyses of the movie. The ending of the 1985 film sees Molina dying heroically after release, while Valentin dies in prison, escaping into a dreamlike state.
The story further evolved into a 1992 Broadway musical by John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Terrence McNally. This stage version introduced the character of Aurora (played by Chita Rivera, who won a Tony Award), Molina’s favorite movie star, who appears in fantasy sequences. The musical’s ending, as fans remember, was a tragic conclusion, with Molina confessing his love for Valentin before being shot by the warden and dying in Valentin’s arms.
Condon’s Vision: A More Romantic and Queer-Affirming Narrative
Director Bill Condon, known for his work on musical adaptations like Dreamgirls and Chicago, aimed for a distinct approach with the 2025 film. He emphasized a “heated and romantic” reimagining of the relationship between Valentin Arregui (Diego Luna) and Luis Molina (Tonatiuh), actively choosing not to downplay the story’s queerness. Condon observed that earlier adaptations had often shied away from this aspect, and he felt it was time to break new ground, much like the original novel and subsequent stage musical did in their respective eras.
A notable change in the film is Condon’s innovative “film within a film” structure. The stories Molina tells to Valentin—many featuring his favorite star Ingrid Luna (Jennifer Lopez)—are depicted as snippets of fictional movies, shot separately from the stark prison scenes. This technique allowed the filmmakers to create “a lavish Hollywood movie musical” experience for these fantasy sequences, while maintaining the gritty reality of the prison, as Condon explained to Vanity Fair.
Courtesy of Roadside Attractions
Tonatiuh and Diego Luna in ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’
The Transformative Ending: Hope Beyond the Prison Walls
The most significant departure from the Broadway musical, and indeed from previous adaptations, comes in the film’s ending. While the narrative still sees Molina, released from prison and radicalized by Valentin’s cause, gunned down by police during a dangerous errand, the film introduces a pivotal epilogue. In this new conclusion, Valentin is shown being released from prison after the fall of the dictatorship, kissing the scarf Molina gave him and dedicating the moment to his love. This change marks a profound shift towards a more optimistic and humanist conclusion, as detailed by Entertainment Weekly.
This revised ending stands in stark contrast to the Broadway musical, where Valentin’s intimacy with Molina was presented as a manipulative act to secure a phone call, and Molina’s death was a tragic sacrifice. The new film, however, emphasizes a genuine love story, a bond forged through shared vulnerability rather than transactional need.
Courtesy of Sundance Institute
Tonatiuh and Diego Luna in ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’
Why the Change? Evolving Mores and the Power of Love
Diego Luna and Tonatiuh, the actors portraying Valentin and Molina, highlight the importance of this altered conclusion. Luna articulated that the film’s message centers on love being the driving force behind all movements, including revolution. “If you want to make a revolution, if you want to change things, love has to be behind it,” Luna stated, underscoring the film’s humanist core in Entertainment Weekly.
Tonatiuh added that the changes reflect the evolution of social mores since the musical’s Broadway debut over three decades ago. What might have been a “compromise to make it commercially viable” in the 1990s is now an opportunity to present a more authentic and unvarnished love story. The film champions the idea that by stripping away facades and truly seeing one another, people can connect and fall in love, demonstrating that “vulnerability is the price we pay in order to fall in love.” This message, Tonatiuh believes, is profoundly relevant in contemporary times.
Lionsgate
Tonatiuh in “Only in the Movies” number in ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’
Jennifer Lopez’s Musical Debut and the Impact on Fans
The 2025 film also marks Jennifer Lopez’s debut in a musical theatre piece, taking on the iconic role of Ingrid Luna (the “Spider Woman” figure). This role, originally a fantasy creation for Molina, becomes a vibrant, technicolor presence in the film’s “movie within a movie” segments. Lopez’s star power is expected to draw new audiences, while existing fans will undoubtedly scrutinize her performance and the musical numbers, many of which have reportedly been cut or adapted from the stage show to avoid characters “simply breaking out into song,” as Condon explained to Vanity Fair.
For dedicated fans of Kiss of the Spider Woman, the 2025 film offers a chance to revisit a beloved story through a contemporary lens. The changes, particularly to the ending and the emphasis on the central love story, will undoubtedly spark discussion. However, the cast and crew’s commitment to portraying a deep, compassionate, and revolutionary love suggests a faithful adaptation of the spirit, if not every plot point, of Puig’s original vision.
