More than a decade after Jane the Virgin first brought them together on screen, Justin Baldoni and Gina Rodriguez are reuniting for a project that places them on entirely new creative ground. Rodriguez is set to make her theatrical directorial debut with House of Guerrero, a boxing film that she will also produce and star in, with Baldoni producing through his Wayfarer Studios banner.
The announcement, confirmed by Deadline and reported across major entertainment outlets, marks the first professional collaboration between Rodriguez and Baldoni since Jane the Virgin ended its five-season run. For fans of the CW series, which starred Rodriguez as Jane Villanueva and Baldoni as Rafael Solano, the news offers a different kind of reunion—one built not on romantic drama but on a shared commitment to telling Latino stories on a larger canvas.
The collaboration brings together two performers who spent five years working closely together on one of television’s most beloved romantic comedies. This time, their roles are reversed. Rodriguez moves behind the camera as director while also serving as a producer and lead actor. Baldoni, who has built a parallel career as a producer and director, joins as a producer through Wayfarer Studios alongside his partner Andrew Calof.
Rodriguez will produce through her company, I Can And I Will Productions, with Molly Breeskin. Scott Budnick and Ameet Shukla are producing through 1Community. Wayfarer Studios, 1Community, HarbourView Media Group, and Clare LoCicero are co-financing the project, with tax credit financing provided by Three Point Capital.
The reunion carries particular weight given Rodriguez’s public support for Baldoni during his legal dispute with Blake Lively. In July, after Baldoni and his wife Emily shared an emotional video discussing the toll of the past two years, Rodriguez commented on the post, writing “Love you, friends. Por vida.” That gesture of loyalty preceded this professional partnership, though the film itself was first announced in 2021 under the title Guerrero, long before the Lively litigation became public.
House of Guerrero is described by Wayfarer Studios as “a boxing film for a new generation” that “brings a fresh perspective to the genre while centering a community that has long shaped the sport.”
The film is based on an original story by Rodriguez and screenwriter Bernardo Cubría, who also wrote the screenplay. The story follows a young fighter whose promising boxing career is cut short before he gets one last shot at stepping back into the ring and fighting for the life he thought he had lost forever.
Professional boxer Ryan Garcia is attached to the project, reprising his involvement from the original 2021 announcement. Garcia was originally set to star alongside Rodriguez when the film was first announced under its previous title. The film will feature fight choreography from Clayton J. Barber, known for Black Panther and Creed III, and Eric Brown, whose credits include John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and The Matrix Resurrections.
Details about the full plot and character names remain limited. What is confirmed is the film’s thematic focus: Rodriguez has described it as a story rooted in her own lifelong connection to boxing and her commitment to showcasing Latino stories, families, and heroes.
House of Guerrero represents Rodriguez’s theatrical directorial debut—a significant distinction from any prior directing work she may have done in television or other formats. She steps into the director’s chair while simultaneously carrying producer and lead acting responsibilities.
This triple role reflects a broader career evolution for Rodriguez, who first gained widespread recognition for her Golden Globe-winning performance in Jane the Virgin. Over the past decade, she has expanded her work behind the camera through her production company, I Can And I Will Productions, gradually building toward this moment.
For an established actor to move into directing is not unusual, but the scale of House of Guerrero—a theatrical feature with co-financing and international sales representation through UTA Independent Film Group—signals a substantial creative and professional commitment.
Rodriguez has described House of Guerrero as deeply personal, rooted in a lifetime of connection to the sport and a desire to center stories that have historically been marginalized in mainstream cinema.
“Directing this film feels like the beginning of a new chapter in a story I’ve been carrying with me my entire life,” Rodriguez said in a statement. “I’ve been boxing since I could walk, and I’m on a mission to show the world what fighting can teach you about life, if you let it.”
She continued: “At a moment when Latino stories, Latino families, and Latino heroes deserve to be seen and celebrated more than ever, I feel an enormous responsibility to tell this story with honesty, heart, and pride. I’ve dreamed about this film for so long, and I truly cannot wait to step into the ring and bring it to life.”
The film’s California production location holds particular significance for Rodriguez, who noted the emotional weight of making her directorial debut in her home state.
Baldoni’s involvement is as a producer through Wayfarer Studios, the company he co-founded with Steve Sarowitz. He is not directing the film, nor has he been announced as part of the cast.
His producing partnership with Andrew Calof through Wayfarer places him in a familiar role. Baldoni has increasingly worked as a producer and director in recent years, with Wayfarer backing projects that align with its stated mission of creating stories that connect people to their shared humanity.
Baldoni spoke publicly about Rodriguez’s qualifications for the director’s chair, drawing on their years working together.
“Having spent five years working with Gina every day, I’ve had a front-row seat to her genius, both in front of and behind the camera,” Baldoni said. “She’s a rare talent with an incredible gift for telling stories that reach people on a deeply human level. Boxing is in her blood, and so is a deep passion to center Latino characters and experiences that rarely get to be at the heart of their own films.”
For readers unfamiliar with their shared history, Jane the Virgin premiered on The CW in 2014 and ran for five seasons, concluding in 2019. Based on a Venezuelan telenovela, the series starred Rodriguez as Jane Villanueva, a young woman who is accidentally artificially inseminated and becomes pregnant with the child of Rafael Solano, played by Baldoni.
The show became a critical and cultural touchstone, praised for its clever narrative structure, its embrace of telenovela tropes, and its warm portrayal of a Latino family. Rodriguez won a Golden Globe for her performance, and the series developed a devoted fanbase that has persisted long after its conclusion.
Rodriguez and Baldoni’s characters shared a complicated romantic history throughout the series, eventually evolving into a co-parenting relationship built on friendship and mutual respect. That on-screen dynamic paralleled the actors’ real-life professional relationship, which has continued since the show ended.
The contrast between the two projects is stark. Jane the Virgin was a weekly television dramedy—a romantic, family-centered story told across 100 episodes. House of Guerrero is a theatrical feature film with a boxing backdrop, directed by Rodriguez rather than starring her in a traditional lead role.
This evolution reflects the different phases of both performers’ careers. Rodriguez has moved from television breakout to film actor to producer to director. Baldoni has transitioned from on-screen leading man to producer and director through Wayfarer Studios, building a second career behind the camera.
The new film also represents a shift in genre. Where Jane the Virgin traded in romantic misunderstandings and family drama, House of Guerrero is built around the physical and emotional intensity of boxing—a sport that Rodriguez has described as fundamental to her identity.
Rodriguez’s move into directing represents a natural progression for an actor who has spent years developing her craft and her creative voice. Since Jane the Virgin, she has taken on a range of film and television roles, built a production company, and advocated for greater Latino representation in Hollywood.
Directing a feature film offers a different kind of creative control—the ability to shape visual storytelling, guide performances, and determine how a story is told from the ground up. For Rodriguez, House of Guerrero is an opportunity to bring her own perspective to a genre that has historically been dominated by stories centered on white protagonists.
The film’s production team, which includes Rodriguez’s I Can And I Will Productions, 1Community, and Wayfarer Studios, reflects a collaborative approach to financing and producing independent cinema. UTA Independent Film Group is handling worldwide sales.
Professional boxer Ryan Garcia is attached to the film, reprising his involvement from the original 2021 announcement. Garcia, one of the most recognizable young boxers in the sport, brings authenticity to a project centered on the boxing world.
His specific role has not been detailed in current reporting. Whether he will portray a character or appear in another capacity remains unclear. What is confirmed is his attachment to the project, which was announced alongside Rodriguez’s directorial and producing involvement.
The film is explicitly positioned as a story that centers Latino characters and experiences. Wayfarer’s description of the project as one that “centers a community that has long shaped the sport” reflects this intention.
Rodriguez has been direct about the responsibility she feels in telling this story. Her statement about Latino stories, families, and heroes deserving to be “seen and celebrated more than ever” positions House of Guerrero as more than entertainment—it is, in her framing, a corrective to historical underrepresentation.
This does not mean the film is a documentary or a message movie. It is, by all available descriptions, a boxing drama with a narrative arc about second chances. But the cultural context in which it is being made—and the people making it—matters.
Rodriguez’s path to House of Guerrero runs through Jane the Virgin, but it does not begin or end there. Before the CW series, she worked steadily in television and film, including roles in The Bold and the Beautiful and Filly Brown. Jane the Virgin made her a star, earning her a Golden Globe and establishing her as one of the most recognizable Latina actors of her generation.
Since the show ended, she has appeared in films including Annihilation, Someone Great, and Awake, and she has continued to work in television. Her production company, I Can And I Will Productions, has been active in developing projects that reflect her creative priorities.
Baldoni’s career has followed a similar trajectory of expansion. After Jane the Virgin, he directed the film Five Feet Apart and became increasingly involved in producing through Wayfarer Studios. The company has backed projects including Clouds and It Ends With Us.
His legal dispute with Blake Lively, his co-star in It Ends With Us, became a major entertainment news story in 2024 and 2025. Baldoni denied Lively’s allegations, countersued, and the parties ultimately reached a settlement in May. His return to producing with House of Guerrero marks a new professional chapter following that period.
Wayfarer Studios, co-founded by Baldoni and Steve Sarowitz, is one of the producing entities behind House of Guerrero. The company’s involvement provides financing and production infrastructure for the film.
Wayfarer’s stated mission—to create stories that connect people to their shared humanity—aligns with the themes Rodriguez has emphasized in discussing the film. The company has backed a range of projects across genres, from documentary to drama to comedy.
| Detail | What We Know |
|---|---|
| Title | House of Guerrero |
| Director | Gina Rodriguez |
| Lead/Star | Gina Rodriguez |
| Producer | Gina Rodriguez (I Can And I Will Productions), Justin Baldoni and Andrew Calof (Wayfarer Studios), Scott Budnick and Ameet Shukla (1Community) |
| Production Company | Wayfarer Studios, 1Community, I Can And I Will Productions |
| Co-star | Ryan Garcia |
| Genre | Boxing drama/film |
| Release Date | Not announced |
| Distribution | UTA Independent Film Group handling worldwide sales |
Several key details about House of Guerrero have not been announced. The full cast beyond Rodriguez and Garcia remains unknown. Character names have not been revealed. The complete plot, beyond the broad description of a fighter’s second chance, has not been disclosed.
Filming schedules, release dates, distribution plans, and marketing timelines are all pending. A trailer or official poster has not been released. Readers should treat any speculation about these elements as unconfirmed until official announcements are made.
For fans of Jane the Virgin, the news offers a chance to see two performers they watched together for five years collaborate again—but in an entirely different context. This is not a reboot, a sequel, or a cast reunion. It is a new film with a new story, made by people who happen to share a professional history.
The nostalgia factor is real: Rodriguez and Baldoni’s on-screen chemistry was central to Jane the Virgin‘s appeal, and their characters’ relationship was one of the show’s emotional anchors. Seeing them work together again, even in different roles, carries a sense of continuity for viewers who invested in that story.
Directing offers a different kind of creative expression than acting. A director shapes the visual language of a film, guides performances, and makes decisions about tone, pacing, and perspective. For an actor moving into directing, it is an opportunity to control the narrative in ways that acting alone does not allow.
Rodriguez has spoken about House of Guerrero as a story she has carried with her for years. Her decision to direct it herself, rather than simply act in it, suggests a desire to bring her own vision to the material.
Boxing has long been a compelling subject for cinema because it combines physical spectacle with psychological depth. The sport is inherently dramatic—two people in a ring, one winner, one loser—but the best boxing films use the sport as a framework for exploring larger themes: discipline, sacrifice, family, identity, and resilience.
House of Guerrero appears to follow in that tradition, with a story about a fighter whose career is cut short and who gets one final chance. The specific themes and character arcs will become clearer as more details are released.
Rodriguez and Baldoni have described themselves as friends, and their professional reunion reflects a relationship that has endured beyond their time on Jane the Virgin. Rodriguez’s public support for Baldoni during his legal dispute was a notable gesture, and Baldoni’s statement about her talent suggests genuine respect.
The film is a collaboration between two people who know each other well, and that history may inform the working relationship on set. But the specifics of their private friendship are not part of the public record, and readers should be cautious about drawing conclusions beyond what has been stated.
Baldoni’s involvement in House of Guerrero follows a period of intense public scrutiny related to his legal dispute with Blake Lively. That dispute, which involved allegations of sexual harassment and a countersuit, was settled in May 2026.
Rodriguez was not involved in that dispute, and there is no indication that House of Guerrero is connected to it in any way. The film was first announced in 2021, well before the Lively litigation began. Its production represents Baldoni’s continued work as a producer following a difficult chapter in his career.
| Jane the Virgin | House of Guerrero |
|---|---|
| Television series | Feature film |
| Gina Rodriguez as Jane Villanueva | Gina Rodriguez as director/producer/actor |
| Justin Baldoni as Rafael Solano | Justin Baldoni as producer |
| Romantic/family dramedy | Boxing-focused film |
| The CW network | Theatrical project |
Production on House of Guerrero is underway, with Baldoni sharing an Instagram post from set on September 14 featuring a hug with Rodriguez and the caption “Hey Director @hereisgina Day 1 🥊”.
Additional casting announcements, a release date, distribution details, and marketing materials are all expected in the coming months. No timeline for these announcements has been confirmed.
House of Guerrero, a boxing film that Rodriguez is directing, producing, and starring in.
The film follows a young fighter whose promising boxing career is cut short before he gets one last shot at returning to the ring and fighting for the life he thought he had lost.
No. Gina Rodriguez is directing. Baldoni is producing through Wayfarer Studios.
Yes. Baldoni and Andrew Calof are producing through Wayfarer Studios.
Yes. This is their first professional collaboration since Jane the Virgin ended in 2019.
Gina Rodriguez stars in the film. Professional boxer Ryan Garcia is also attached to the project.
Yes. Garcia is attached to the film, reprising his involvement from the original 2021 announcement.
A release date has not been announced.
Rodriguez played Jane Villanueva, the series’ protagonist.
Baldoni played Rafael Solano, Jane’s love interest and the biological father of her child.
Gina Rodriguez and Justin Baldoni first became closely associated through Jane the Virgin, a series that made them household names and established a professional relationship that has endured long after the show’s conclusion. Now, more than a decade after they first shared the screen, they are collaborating again on a project that places them in entirely different roles—Rodriguez as director, Baldoni as producer.