Mexican-American and award-winning writer/director and voice actor Jorge Gutierrez is set to direct I, Chihuauhua for Netflix. Stand-up comedian Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias will star and produce along with Gutierrez.
I, Chihuauhua follows Chacho, a scrappy masked looking Chihuahua around the world. After learning his beloved home is in danger, Chacho dons his lucha libre mask to become Luchacho! The masked underdog enters an international fight tournament, competing against a hilarious and eclectic mix of animal fighters from all over the world. In the final epic fight he is up against a nefarious beast known as Chamuco.
“After The Book of Life and the amazing experience on Maya and the Three, I’m now thrilled to collaborate with Melissa, Gregg, Tito and all my friends at Netflix Animation on my follow up animated feature I, Chihuahua!” Gutierrez said. “And to finally tag-team a movie with my good friend and creative partner Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias is a dream come true.”
Born in Mexico City, raised in Tijuana Gutierrez is a CalArts graduate. He has completed various films, cartoons, and paintings exploring his love affair with Mexican pop and folk culture. Gutierrez was the director & co-writer of the Guillermo Del Toro produced animated feature The Book of Life for Fox which earned him a 2014 Golden Globe Award nomination.
Iglesias is one of America’s most successful stand-up comedians performing to sold-out concerts around the world and is also one of the most watched comedians on YouTube with almost a billion views and more than 25 million fans across social media.
“I cannot wait for everyone to see this wonderful film that celebrates underdogs in and out of the ring!” was Iglesias reaction to the news. “It has action, drama, laughs and twists & turns, like any great Lucha storyline movie should have.
Iglesias most recent collaborated with Netflix was his own TV series, Mr. Iglesias which ran for a year before it was cancelled.
Last year, Gutierrez and his production company Mexopolis announced an expanded partnership with Netflix. Under this deal, Gutierrez will write, direct, and produce new animated films, series and interactive projects across preschool, kids & family and adult animation.
Writers for the animated film are Jorge Gutierrez, Doug Langdale, Candie Kelty Langdale. Tim Yoon joins Iglesias as producer for I, Chihuahua. The project is currently in pre-production.