Justin Baldoni has a film again after the Blake Lively settlement, and it is Gina Rodriguez's directing debut
Justin Baldoni’s lined up his next film after It Ends With Us — with Gina Rodriguez leading, and not just in front of the camera.
If you're still recovering from the last round of boxing films flooding the big screen, brace yourself—another one's coming, but there might actually be something a bit different about this one. Gina Rodriguez is making her directorial debut with a fresh punch-up titled House of Guerrero, and by the looks of things she's roped in Justin Baldoni to join both behind and in front of the camera.
The Talent Piling In
Baldoni, who you might have clocked most recently as producer of 2025's Code 3, is not just producing this time—he's right there on screen too. Rodriguez is multitasking at the same dizzying speed: directing, producing, and starring. Flask in some more muscle amongst the producers: Scott Budnick and Ameet Shukla from 1Community, Molly Breeskin for Rodriguez's I Can And I Will Productions, and Andrew Calof representing Baldoni's Wayfarer Studios.
- Gina Rodriguez – Director, star, co-producer
- Justin Baldoni – Star, co-producer (first feature producing since Code 3 in 2025)
- Scott Budnick, Ameet Shukla – Producers (1Community)
- Molly Breeskin – Producer (I Can And I Will Productions)
- Andrew Calof – Producer (Wayfarer Studios)
The script's got a bit of story pedigree itself: Bernardo Cubría wrote it, building on an idea he cooked up with Rodriguez. The basic premise? A promising young boxer gets his career cut brutally short, only to stumble into one—possibly last—chance to put everything on the line and, just maybe, win back the life he assumed was lost. There's a nod to Creed in the concept, certainly, but they insist they're aiming for a reinvention or at least a modern shift.
Wayfarer Studios is calling this 'a boxing film for a new generation.'
Boxing Films Aren't Boxing Films Without The Punches
This genre lives and dies on its fight scenes—a limp punch and it's straight to bargain bin DVD hell. House of Guerrero isn't leaving that to chance. They're bringing in some intimidating ring experience: fight choreographers Clayton J. Barber (with Black Panther and Creed under his belt) and Eric Brown (he's swung punches for the John Wick and Matrix franchises). If nothing else, you can bet those bouts will look far less like an office Christmas party scuffle and a bit more like actual breathtaking sport.
Rodriguez has been particularly vocal about how personal this project is, both as a boxer herself and as a proud Californian stepping onto the director's chair for the first time, surrounded by her own handpicked team. At the official announcement, she shared just how much this all means to her:
‘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. To have the opportunity to make my directorial debut here in California, surrounded by an extraordinary cast and crew, is both incredibly emotional and deeply humbling.’
House of Guerrero is looking to sidestep the formula with a fresh perspective, a cast and crew who live for this stuff, and the kind of choreographers that can make even the savviest fight fan sit up and pay attention.
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