Selena Gomez signs up to star as Peruvian mountaineer in a new biopic

NEW YORK: Selena Gomez has signed up to star as a Peruvian mountaineer in a new biopic “In the Shadow of the Mountain”.

The singer will play the role of Silvia Vasquez-Lavado in the film based on an upcoming memoir by the mountaineer. Vásquez-Lavado became the first Peruvian woman to hit the summit of Mount Everest, as well as the first openly gay woman to complete the Seven Summits, a challenge to climb the summits of the tallest mountains on each continent.

Elgin James (Mayans MC) will write and direct the movie, with Scott Budnick (Just Mercy) and Oscar-winner Donna Gigliotti (Shakespeare in Love) producing.

Vásquez-Lavado’s story has also been heralded as the mountaineer found healing in climbing after being the victim of childhood sexual abuse. Her work has been praised in survivor circles.

“Silvia is a force of nature,” Gigliotti said by adding, “Scott and I are so excited to work with Elgin and Selena to tell this story of resilience, courage, adventure and humanity.” She also recently starred in Jim Jarmusch zom-com The Dead Don’t Die alongside Bill Murray and Adam Driver.