Eva Longoria and Eugenia Derbez to star in 'Marcelo in the Real World'

Produced by Zeta Studios and Elefantec Global, the film is an adaptation of Francisco X. Stork’s acclaimed novel and stars Eva Longoria, Eugenio Derbez, Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey, Matthew Borrero and Ema Giménez Zapiola.

Production on the film, whose lead character is on the autism spectrum, will take place over the coming weeks across locations in Uruguay and Boston.

Principal photography has begun on Marcelo in the Real World, the new feature film directed by acclaimed Argentine filmmaker and author Lucía Puenzo (XXY, The German Doctor, La Caída).

Produced by Zeta Studios and Elefantec Global, the film brings to the screen the celebrated novel of the same name by Mexican-American author Francisco X. Stork (Disappeared, The Last Summer of the Death Warriors), which explores the challenges faced by a young man with autism spectrum disorder as he navigates his place in today’s highly competitive society. The feature, which will shoot in Uruguay and Boston, boasts an international cast led by Eva Longoria (Desperate Housewives, War of the Worlds) and Eugenio Derbez (Radical, CODA). The cast also includes Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey (The Vault, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides), Matthew Borrero and Ema Giménez Zapiola.

An internationally acclaimed filmmaker whose work has earned honors including the Grand Prize at Cannes Critics’ Week for her feature debut XXY, Lucía Puenzo returns behind the camera with a coming-of-age story that blends sensitivity with an unflinching perspective to explore universal themes of neurodivergence, identity and family bonds.

Marcelo in the Real World approaches autism spectrum disorder (ASD) through a story centered on identity and belonging. Its protagonist finds himself moving between two very different worlds as a teenager on the autism spectrum transitioning from a special education environment into the mainstream workforce. Along the way, he faces pressure to conform to society’s expectations while fighting to remain true to who he is.

Lucía Puenzo said: “Very few films capture that transition when young people on the autism spectrum are no longer children but have not yet achieved full independence. Marcelo simply experiences the world differently, and his perspective will invite audiences to question what we understand as ‘normal.’”

Antonio Asensio, CEO of Zeta Studios, added: “We are thrilled to begin production alongside Elefantec Global and to have a filmmaker of Lucía Puenzo’s caliber at the helm. Adapting a story as important as Marcelo in the Real World is a true privilege. It is a project that transcends borders through the universality of its story and the extraordinary talent of artists such as Eva Longoria and Eugenio Derbez.”

José “Pepe” Bastón, founder of Elefantec Global, added: “We spent six years developing this story and getting it to exactly where it needed to be, because from the very beginning I knew this was the film I wanted to make. Today, with Lucía directing, a cast of this caliber and a production of this scale alongside our co-producers at ZETA, it is exactly the movie we set out to make.”

Synopsis

Marcelo is a young man with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) whose quiet life outside Boston, protected by routine and a carefully controlled environment, is suddenly upended when his father convinces him to take a summer job at his law firm. There, Marcelo meets Jazmine, a young colleague in the mailroom who challenges him to explore his potential and trust his own way of seeing the world. As he struggles to navigate social interactions in the corporate world and the office’s complex power dynamics, Marcelo uncovers a dark secret connected to his father’s work that threatens to destroy the future of the firm — and everything Marcelo has believed to be true. Ultimately, Marcelo must choose between giving in and adapting to the “real world”... or risking everything to do what he believes is right.

About Zeta Studios: A leading force in Spanish production, Zeta Studios’ experience spans feature films, television series, documentaries and entertainment programming. Its ability to develop and produce a wide range of projects has established Zeta Studios as one of Spain’s largest audiovisual companies, creating content for audiences across genres and demographics. With Marcelo in the Real World, the company further strengthens its commitment to ambitious feature films that combine artistic prestige with broad commercial appeal.

About Elefantec Global: Elefantec Global develops, produces and distributes original, high-quality and commercially viable content across multiple genres and formats, serving global Latino audiences and culturally relevant communities in more than 170 countries. Founded in 2018 by José “Pepe” Bastón, the company builds on more than three decades of experience in the Spanish-language entertainment industry.