Over two and a half decades have passed since iconic Mexican-American singer Selena Quintanilla was fatally shot by a once-trusted accomplice.
Since her death, there have been efforts to keep her legacy alive not only through her music but also through the production of a biographical show and film about her.
Netflix is also planning to release a series based on the life of the “Queen of Tejano music” in 2020. The first installment of the upcoming show Selena: The Series will be released sometime around 2020, but no specific date has been set. On November 12, 2019, the streaming service tweeted.
Madison Taylor Baez, a child actress-singer, will play a younger version of the titular character. Meanwhile, Christian Serratos, who plays an adult Selena, remains the focal point.
Some viewers responded positively to the Selena: The Series trailer, but others remain skeptical that Serratos is the best choice to play the Latina singer.
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The cast of ‘Selena: The Series
Contents
- 1 The cast of ‘Selena: The Series
- 2 Christian Serratos is Not of The Same Ethnicity as Selena
- 3 Why is Christian Serratos Not The Best Choice to Play Selena?
- 4 Christian Serratos and Selena Quintanilla’s Distinctive Characteristics
- 5 Some Say She Looks More Like Jennifer Lopez Than Selena Gomez
- 6 What Happens Next: Will Serratos Live Up To His Role?
- 7 The Most Noticeable Difference in Appearances
- 8 Serratos is a Three-Year-Old Mother
The series’ cast was announced back in 2019. Ricardo Chavira plays Selena’s father, Abraham Quintanillam Jr., and Seidy Lopez plays her mother, Marcella Samora, in the upcoming biographical drama web series. Similarly, Jesse Posey will portray Selena’s husband Chris Perez, Noemi Gonzalez will play her sister Suzette Quintanilla, and Gabriel Chavarria will play her brother A.B. Quintanilla III.
Christian Serratos is Not of The Same Ethnicity as Selena
Selena Quintanilla-Perez, the Amor Prohibido singer, was a mixed-race entertainer of Mexican and Native American ancestry. Selena’s father, Abraham Quintanilla Jr., is of Mexican descent, whereas her mother, Marcella Samora, is of Cherokee descent.
Christian Serratos, on the other hand, is half-Mexican but does not have Native American ancestry.
Serratos’ role may not be judged solely based on his ethnicity. Still, it adds to the debate over whether an actor of a different ethnicity should play an ethnically specific role.
Why is Christian Serratos Not The Best Choice to Play Selena?
Biopic roles are difficult to come by in the acting industry. They are typically given based on a person’s resemblance to historical figures. If not, only someone with a proven track record will be considered for the position.
A biopic role also comes with a lot of baggage. Fans expect the performing actor to not only honor the historical significance of the role but also to take ownership of the entire production team and casts if something goes wrong with the project.
On the plus side, Serratos is a talented actress who has appeared in films such as The Twilight Saga, Cow Belles, Flight 7500, and The Walking Dead. She certainly has a track record as a TV actress.
She has, however, never appeared in a biographical film or television show.
Furthermore, some differences between the actress and her biopic role Selena Quintanilla may play a role in the narrative of those fans who disliked Serrato’s inclusion in the Selena The Series cast.
Christian Serratos and Selena Quintanilla’s Distinctive Characteristics
Given that Selena was only 23 years and 11 months old when she died on March 31, 1995, Christian Serratos, who will be 30 on September 21, 2020, may not be able to relate to the late singer’s nostalgic stage — either as a late teenager or as an early 20-something.
Previously, Jennifer Lopez and Maya Zapata portrayed the iconic musical figure in the 1997 film Selena and the Spanish-language show El Secreto de Selena (2018), respectively. Lopez was around 28 when the film came out, whereas Maya was 37 when the show debuted.
It may be considered biased to single out Serratos based on her age in the future, but I am not claiming that Jennifer Lopez or Maya Zapata were better choices either.
My point is that Selena should have been played by someone who embodied her in real life. After all, the influential Latin artist of the 1990s was known for her fiery attitude, blazing sassy personality, and controversial endeavors.
Some Say She Looks More Like Jennifer Lopez Than Selena Gomez
Serratos has been accused of looking more like Jennifer Lopez from the Selena film than the real-life singer herself. One fan commented on the official trailer for Selena: The Series, saying, “This looks like an actress playing Jennifer Lopez playing Selena.”
Another fan expressed a similar sentiment, saying, “She looks like Jennifer Lopez, not Selena, I understand Jennifer played Selena in the movie, but you guys are making a movie about Selena, not Jennifer.”
Many others have made similar statements on social media and in forums.
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What Happens Next: Will Serratos Live Up To His Role?
To summarize, Serratos’ life lacks the drama that we saw surrounding Quintanilla before and after her rise to fame.
Still, we must give Serratos the benefit of the doubt that she will work hard to bring the role to life. Even Jennifer Lopez was chastised when she was cast as Selena in the 1997 biographical musical drama film Selena. However, Lopez was later praised for her portrayal of Selena.
At the moment, it is unknown whether Serratos will perform in Selena: The Series. But if that’s the case, the Walking Dead actress at least can sing.
The Most Noticeable Difference in Appearances
Although Christain Serratos (1.7 m) and Selena Quintanilla (1.65 m) have similar heights, their body orientation appears to be slightly different.
Fans argue that Serratos appears leaner and slimmer than Quintanilla, who was known for wearing tight clothing that highlighted her curves and lower body.
According to bodymeasurement.com, Serratos has a banana body type, whereas Quintanilla has a pear-shaped body.
Serratos is a Three-Year-Old Mother
The Walking Dead actress is married to David Boyd, a Danish singer. Wolfgang Serratos Boyd, the couple’s daughter, was born in 2017.
Quintanilla was married to her Mexican-American guitarist husband Chris Perez, but they had no children, possibly due to Tejanp’s singer’s busy career in singing and fashion. Because the singer’s father disliked Perez, the couple eloped and married in their early twenties.