Antonio Banderas takes a step further in Soho:

With the final fanfare of the last performance of 'Gypsy' still echoing last Sunday at the Soho Caixabank Theater, its director and producer, Antonio Banderas, has reviewed the musical this Thursday and also revealed his projects for 2025. His schedule includes moving the recently closed show in Malaga to the Madrid billboards, two imminent film releases of very different genres - the sexual thriller 'Baby Girl' and the family-friendly comedy 'Paddington', a couple of film projects after deciding against a return to Broadway, and continuing to promote the Sohrlin Andalucía dramatic arts school Sohrlin, as well as "taking a further step in the Soho" by staging other types of productions. "I want to produce traditional theater that isn't as expensive as a musical, which requires a lot of effort," noted the actor, who signed a "partnership" this Thursday with the San Miguel-Mahou brewing group to sponsor both his cultural and gastronomic projects in Malaga.

With a clearer agenda without having to perform daily on stage this year, the actor is considering the film shoots he has on the table. "I will leave Malaga to make one or maybe two movies," announced Banderas, who did not reveal the titles of the projects for this year but did mention that he considered an offer to return to the stages of New York, which he ultimately declined. "There was a possibility that I rejected because it ultimately did not fit, and one must be very sure when going to Broadway," said the performer who already triumphed with the musical 'Nine' on the Great White Way. A time that, as he explained, left a mark on him, as his model of the Soho Theater as a "private nonprofit" is precisely inspired by the 46th Street Theatre and The Public Theatre in New York (in this case, public refers to the audience).

The actor has not hidden that theater is what most occupies and concerns him, so at this moment he is considering "what to tackle next." "I have some rights purchased and the most immediate is to open the Soho to traditional theater," revealed the director, producer, and performer, who wants to bet on "smaller" productions compared to the musicals that have already become a hallmark, creating a true 'Sohoway' on Córdoba street. Antonio Banderas even mentioned some projects that are already on his mind, like a version of 'Uncle Vanya' or a play by Luigi Pirandello. "There are a lot of things out there that we want to move now and take a further step with the Soho," he concluded about the new stage.

Regarding the end of 'Gypsy' at the Soho Theater last Sunday, Banderas explained that the last week closed with full houses and that Marta Ribera was almost voiceless due to a respiratory issue in the last performance. "She was so broken that she recited the last stanza, but the audience stood up and clapped tango for five minutes. It was incredible," recalled the actor and director, who hopes to repeat this audience success with the arrival at the Apollo Theater starting February 7th. "With 'Company' we went with sales very similar to the current ones and, after the word of mouth following the premiere, we were filling the theater for four months, so we hope that 'Gypsy' will be the same," he predicted.

Furthermore, the actor will be back in theaters this very Friday 17th with the premiere of his latest Hollywood movie, 'Baby Girl', a high-voltage erotic thriller by Halina Reijn that earned his co-star, Nicole Kidman, the acting award at the last Venice Festival. "I am a third character in this movie, be careful, but I am very happy to belong to this type of modern, strong, daring, and controversial movie at the same time, which offers a reflection on sex, life as a couple, and the traumas one drags through life," Banderas assured, defending that the film "will open many spaces for debate."

A very different tone and leaning towards family entertainment will have his next release, 'Paddington: Jungle Adventure', the new installment of this franchise that arrives in Spain on February 21st. "The movie has already grossed more than the previous two in England and has opened very well in Australia and New Zealand," Banderas was pleased to say, delighted with this type of productions for all audiences, in which he already has experience with the 'Spy Kids' and 'Puss in Boots' sagas, and the 'SpongeBob' adaptation. "I have done a lot of movies for children, which is giving me satisfaction because often I walk down the street and a 30-year-old guy tells me: 'Dude, I grew up with you,'" said the actor, who considers himself "specialized in children's cinema."

Antonio Banderas, accompanied by his partner Domingo Sánchez, announced his projects at an event held this Thursday at the Malaga factory of San Miguel, where the general manager of the brewing company, Alberto Rodríguez-Toquero, presented the "cultural and gastronomic alliance" with the initiatives led by the Malaga actor: Sohrlin Andalucía, Teatro del Soho CaixaBank, El Pimpi, and Grupo Tercer Acto. The five-year agreement contemplates that the beer brand will have a daily presence in the school and the productions of the Misericordia warehouses, even granting scholarships to its students. Additionally, the presence of San Miguel products in the restaurants will be strengthened.

The event was also attended by the mayor of the city, Paco de la Torre, and the Councilor for Economy, Finance, and European Funds of the Andalusian Government, Carolina España, who congratulated both parties on the agreement that also includes a collaboration agreement between the El Pimpi Foundation, the Antonio Banderas Theater Foundation, and the Mahou San Miguel Foundation to develop a positive social impact project focused on youth employment. During the visit to the brewery, Antonio Banderas also left his mark on the factory machinery with his signature and a dedication in which he played with the brand's slogan: "Like you, also proudly from Malaga."