Nearly two decades after her death, iconic Spanish singer Rocío Dúrcal will be revived through a biopic that will recount her life and legacy as “the queen of rancheras,” announced last week via Sony Music México. Together with Sony Music Vision and Altit Media Group, the story of the singer of hits such as “La Gata Bajo la Lluvia” and “Como Tu Mujer” will be brought to the big screen.
“It is a true honor for us to be part of this well-deserved tribute to Rocío Dúrcal’s trajectory and celebration of her legacy, which reinforces the cultural impact she continues to have in the industry and society,” said Roberto López, president of Sony Music México, in a statement. “Additionally, it’s the perfect introduction for the new division of Sony Music Vision in Mexico.”
The production will be handled by Altit Media Group, known for The Misfits and The Good Neighbor. It will also feature the participation of Dúrcal’s daughters, Shaila and Carmen, who will play a fundamental role in chronicling this story of female empowerment within music.
“It is an indescribable honor to see how the story of our mother, a woman who left an indelible mark on the world of music and film, will come to life on the big screen,” said Shaila and Carmen in the statement.
Born on Oct. 4, 1944, Rocío Dúrcal (real name María de los Ángeles de las Heras) began her career in her native Spain as a teenager, appearing in musical films like Canción de Juventud, Más Bonita Que Ninguna, and Amor en el Aire, which catapulted her to fame during the 1960s. By the late ’70s, she surprised many by singing rancheras under the guidance of Juan Gabriel as composer and producer. The duo marked a new era in Latin music, turning her into a mariachi queen following stars like Lola Beltrán, with the uniqueness of being a Spaniard singing Mexican music.
From Rocío Dúrcal Canta a Juan Gabriel, Vol. 1 (1977) to Rocío Dúrcal Canta a Juan Gabriel, Vol. 6 (1984), the partnership of Dúrcal and Juan Gabriel produced timeless songs like “Me Gustas Mucho,” “Fue Un Placer Conocerte,” “Tarde,” “La Gata Bajo la Lluvia” and “Amor Eterno.” After personal differences led to a professional breakup, a new stage in the singer’s career followed with other music geniuses like Marco Antonio Solís, who wrote and produced her albums Como Tu Mujer (1988) and Si Te Pudiera Mentir (1990), as well as Joan Sebastian, who co-wrote and produced Desaires (1993).
Dúrcal, who died on March 25, 2006, of uterine cancer at age 61, left an indelible mark on music and the arts, with more than a dozen film productions, over 20 albums, 11 billion streams on Spotify to date, and 13 billion hits on TikTok. Among other recognitions, in 1998 she won the Billboard Latin Music Award for regional Mexican album of the year with Juan Gabriel for Juntos Otra Vez; in 1999 she received the Billboard Hall of Fame Award; and in 2007, she posthumously received the Billboard Latin Music Award for Latin album of the year of greatest hits for Amor Eterno: Los Éxitos.
No title or release date for the biopic has been announced yet, or who will play the role of Rocío Dúrcal. Sony Music México will provide additional details at a later date.
