La Bamba Remake in the Works From Sony, Writer Announced

A remake of 1987’s La Bamba is in the works.

Directed and written by Luis Valdez, La Bamba is a 1987 film that follows the life of musician Ritchie Valens. Lou Diamond Phillips played Valens in the movie, while it also starred Esai Morales as Roberto “Bob” Morales, Rosanna DeSoto as Connie Valenzuela, Elizabeth Peña as Rosie Morales, Danielle von Zerneck as Donna Ludwig, Joe Pantoliano as Bob Keane, Rick Dees as Ted Quillin, and Stephen Lee as The Big Bopper.

Per Variety, Mucho Mas Media and Sony Pictures are now developing a remake of La Bamba.

Who is involved in Sony and Mucho Mas Media’s La Bamba remake?

Valdez will serve as an executive producer on the new version of La Bamba, while José Rivera has been tapped to write the script. Rivera previously worked on the screenplays for 2004’s The Motorcycle Diaries, 2010’s Letters to Juliet, 2012’s On the Road, 2015’s The 33, and more.

“Together with the rock and roll classics of Ritchie Valens, my 1987 biopic La Bamba has graciously withstood the test of time,” Valdez said. “And yet, the tragically short life and career of Richard Valenzuela continues to inspire new generations of fans the world over.“As new biographical details have come to light, a new cinematic look at his eternally young seventeen years on earth can only add to his undying legend.

Javier Chapa is producing the film for Mucho Mas Media. Sherrese Clarke Soares, Phillip Braun, Robert Muñoz, Simon Wise, Vincent Cordero, and Bruce Barshop serve as executive producers.

“We’re honored and humbled to be retelling Ritche’s story — the story of an incredible young Latino man who inspired so many people through his music and prodigious talent,” Chapa said. “We look to uphold and celebrate the original film in ways Luis Valdez and the filmmakers of La Bamba made it a classic.”

The 1987 version of La Bamba is currently available to rent or purchase on digital services such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and more.

Brandon Schreur

Brandon Schreur has been writing about comics, movies, television shows, and all things pop culture for roughly five years. He's a lifelong cinephile who spends way, way too much money buying Blu-rays and trade paperbacks. You can find him on twitter at @brandonschreur.