Cheech Marin Replaces George Lopez in Upcoming Disney Adaptation
Due to a scheduling conflict, George Lopez will no longer star in the upcoming remake of “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” for Disney+. Instead, Cheech Marin will play Gil, Alexander’s grandfather, in the upcoming film about a family road trip gone horribly wrong.
Lopez was originally set to star alongside Eva Longoria and Jesse Garcia, who recently collaborated on “Flamin’ Hot,” Longoria’s directorial debut. However, schedule conflicts are reportedly keeping him from appearing in the film.
Disney updates ‘Alexander’ for a Latino audience
In her original 1972 book, author Judith Viorst tells the simple and sweet story of Alexander, a young boy who’s just having the worst day ever. It’s a timeless classic because it tells a story all kids can relate to, regardless of where they’re from or when they were born.
In 2014, director Miguel Arteta (who is also Latino) loosely adapted the book as a live-action family comedy starring Steve Carell and Jennifer Garner. Arteta’s film bears little to no resemblance to Viorst’s original book. However, the latest Disney+ film is an adaptation in name only.
This latest, all-Latino iteration follows Alexander’s family as they embark on a road trip gone horribly wrong. What starts as an effort to reconnect with their Mexican roots, and each other, quickly devolves into a series of mishaps, hijinks, and chaos.
Marvin Lemus directs the film from a screenplay by Matt Lopez, who also wrote last year’s “Father of the Bride” remake, which starred an all-Latino cast. Marin’s character, Gil, is a hard-nosed motorcycle enthusiast who begrudgingly accompanies his family on a cross-country trip.
Cheech Marin seems to be everywhere these days…
The “Up in Smoke” actor is working now more than ever. He turned in a series of well-received performances in films like “Champions” and “Shotgun Wedding” in 2022. Marin even made an appearance on Lopez’s new NBC sitcom, “Lopez vs. Lopez.”
However, he also made time to curate The Cheech, a museum dedicated to Chicano art comprised of Marin’s own expansive collection. The museum is in Riverside, California, but Marin plans to take his pieces on a national tour to spread the history of Chicano art across the country.
