Selena Gomez to play trailblazing gay mountaineer in new film

Selena Gomez is set to star in and produce a biopic about Peruvian mountaineer and social entrepreneur Silvia Vásquez-Lavado.

In the Shadow of the Mountain is adapted from the upcoming memoir of the same name, which documents Vásquez-Lavado’s journey to becoming the first Peruvian woman to make the summit of Mount Everest, as well as the first openly gay woman to complete the Seven Summmits challenge – the conquering of all the major mountaintops in all seven continents.

Vásquez-Lavado spoke of her excitement about the project on Instagram, saying: “I am so humbled and grateful to share this thrilling news, which has been in the works for the last 10 months, that an all-star team has optioned my upcoming memoir, In The Shadow of the Mountain.”

She added: “I am so honored and touched for the bold, talented, and brilliant @selenagomez in taking the starring role and as producer,” to which Gomez responded in a comment, “I’m beyond honoured to tell your story, you’re a complete inspiration”.

The film’s producer, Donna Gigliotti – known for Shakespeare in Love and Silver Linings Playbook – told The Hollywood Reporter: “Silvia is a force of Nature,” before adding that she was “excited” to work with Gomez “to tell this story of resilience, courage, adventure and humanity”.

Gomez has been steadily expanding her film appearances in recent years with notable performances in Harmony Korine’s Spring Breakers and Jim Jarmusch’s The Dead Don’t Die, among others. Her latest project does not yet have a release date, but the book is due to be published by Henry Holt and Co in winter 2022.