James Schamus

Source: Screen File

James Schamus

Gerardo Naranjo’s tragicomedy The Son-In-Law (El Yerno) produced by James Schamus and Fabula will open in select Mexican cinemas on April 19 and debut on Netflix on May 1.

Juan de Dios Larraín, Pablo Larraín, Rocío Jadue, and Joe Pirro are the executive producers on the story of José Sánchez, who sports a memorable mustache, silver tongue, and boundless ambition.

After a rough business streak, Sánchez is transformed into feared political operative “El Serpiente”. However in order to stay on top he will need to pull off one last deal, the most dangerous of all — and this time, his gift of the gab might not be enough.

Adrián Vázquez stars alongside Jero Medina, and Verónica Bravo. Schamus co-wrote the screenplay with Gabriel Nuncio, and Alexandro Aldrete.

“The Son-in-Law explores betrayal as a central narrative thread, portraying it as a widespread practice in this country,” Naranjo said. “The film is a provocation, inviting us to examine a reality that is equally ridiculous and contradictory.”

Schamus added, “Ever since we finished Somos, I’ve dreamed of returning to Mexico, hoping I might once again experience that same energy, talent, and kindness. With The Son-in-Law, that dream came true. It’s a new adventure and an even bigger explosion of Mexican creativity. So while our characters’ “great Mexican dream” became a rather insane, absurd tragicomedy – for me, it’s been a simple, wonderful dream.”

The veteran producer, writer and executive also created the 2021 Netflix series Somos, which filmed in Mexico and marked his first foray into television. He earned Oscar nominations for co-writing Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and producing Brokeback Mountain and co-founded Good Machine, which morphed into Focus Features International. He later served as CEO of Focus Features.

Schamus works regularly with Netflix and is a consulting producer and writer on the streamer’s sci-fi series The Boroughs, from the creators of Stranger Things, the Duffer brothers. He attended Goteborg Film Festival in January and headed the Ingmar Bergman International Debut Award Jury. 

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