‘Barbie’s America Ferrera to make Feature Directorial Debut

Linda Yvette Chávez is scripting the film, based on Erika Sánchez’s New York Times bestselling novel about a teen who dreams of becoming a writer.

America Ferrera as Gloria in Warner Bros. Pictures’ 'Barbie,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Preview:

America Ferrera will direct her first film.
The ‘Barbie’ actor is to direct ‘I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter’.
The movie is based on a novel by Erika Sánchez.

America Ferrera is certainly having a moment. An Oscar nominee for her excellent performance in ‘Barbie’ (featuring one of the most repeated and meme-able speeches in recent memory), she’s also seen her plan to start directing movies take a positive step forward.

‘I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter’, to which she has been attached as director for a couple of years now (more on that below), is set up at Amazon MGM Studios’ Orion Pictures. It’ll follow her small screen experience handling episodes of TV ‘Gentefied’ and ‘Superstore’.

What’s the story of ‘I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter’?

America Ferrera attends the World Premiere of 'Barbie' at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, CA. Photo Credit: Eric Charbonneau.

The story for the movie is drawn from Erika Sánchez’s New York Times bestselling novel, which follows Julia Reyes, a teen with a sharp tongue, a fierce wit and big dreams of becoming a famous writer, somewhere far, far away from Chicago and her traditional Mexican immigrant parents who just can’t understand her love for Whitman, Dickinson and the Ramones.

They wish she was more like Olga, Julia’s sister, now eternally perfect since her tragic death. As Julia seeks to break free of her oppressive home, she tries to uncover her sister’s truth, and in the process gains a deep understanding of the wounds her family carries.

Linda Yvette Chávez, who also wrote last year’s ‘Flamin’ Hot’ (and worked with Ferrera on ‘Gentefied’), is on script duty for the movie.

What has happened to ‘I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter’ so far?

America Ferrera at the 'Barbie' special screening and Q&A at Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood. Photo Credit: Eric Charbonneau.

This is not the first time the book has been set up with Ferrera attached to direct. Back in 2021, Netflix took the rights for the film with Ferrera involved, but it ultimately got stuck in development limbo.

Here’s what Ferrera said at the time:

“Years ago, I fell in love with Erika L. Sánchez’ stunning novel, ‘I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter’. The depth, wit and searing intelligence of her writing, and her young Latina heroine, struck me to my core and left me wanting so much more. I am truly honored and humbled to direct Linda Yvette Chávez’s beautifully adapted screenplay. The opportunity to direct the work of these two incredibly talented Latina writers is a dream come true. I can’t wait to share this film with the many fans of the novel, and to introduce this funny, profound, and resonant story to the world.”

What’s next for America Ferrera?

America Ferrera at the 'Barbie' Sydney Photo Call. Photo Credit: Caroline McCredie Photography.

Though her post-‘Barbie’ time is likely to be taken up with this more than anything, Ferrera has a few other projects in the works as a producer including a TV series and several TV movies. She’ll be heard in Pixar’s 2025 sci-fi movie ‘Elio’, playing the mother of the title character, a boy who mistakenly becomes the chosen one to be Earth’s galactic ambassador.