{"id":878652,"date":"2026-06-19T16:57:27","date_gmt":"2026-06-19T16:57:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/878652\/"},"modified":"2026-06-19T16:57:27","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T16:57:27","slug":"hollywood-abandoned-latinx-talent-industry-vets-ponder-their-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/878652\/","title":{"rendered":"Hollywood abandoned Latinx talent. Industry vets ponder their future"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On Wednesday, researchers at UCLA released the second part of the 2026 Hollywood Diversity Report<\/a>, which showed that the percentage of people of color directing, writing and leading films shrank in comparison to previous years.<\/p>\n

According to the study, Latinx actors made up only 6.7% of the leading roles in streaming movies \u2014 nowhere near the 20% of the U.S. population that we account for.<\/p>\n

We fared even worse behind the camera, with Latinx directors helming only 5.1% of streaming titles last year. As was the trend with every other ethnic group, Latinx women directors made up a smaller percentage than their male counterparts, accounting for 2% of streaming directors compared to 3% for Latinx male directors.<\/p>\n

The first part of the UCLA study<\/a>, released in March, examined the diversity within 2025 theatrical film. It found that only 2.8% of lead roles and 5% of all roles in theatrical releases were played by Latinxs. The numbers were even bleaker in other categories. Only 2.5% of film directing jobs and 0.5% of writing jobs went to Latinxs.<\/p>\n

This marked regression comes despite the fact that Latinx audiences continue to be the most loyal film-going demographic in the country.<\/p>\n

A recent Pew Research Center study<\/a> found that 59% of Hispanic adults had been to a movie theater in the last year, compared with 53% of white adults and 49% of Black adults.<\/p>\n

The backsliding from Hollywood comes at a time when Latinx communities have been targeted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids and as diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives have been scaled back<\/a> in most major industries in the U.S. <\/p>\n

This lack of representation onscreen is partly why actor Melissa Barrera says she launched her own production company<\/a> this year.<\/p>\n

The \u201cScream\u201d actor hopes to create an avenue for outspoken and politically activated creatives in the film and TV space, especially for people whose very \u201cexistence is political\u201d \u2014 as has been her experience in the industry as a Latinx performer.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fact that I\u2019ve been able to lead big studio films would maybe signal that there is forward movement, that there is more inclusion, but if I\u2019m being completely honest, I just don\u2019t think that the progress is happening at the right speed,\u201d Barrera told The Times. \u201cWe are still being constantly overlooked and constantly erased, and I can see \u2014 with great concern \u2014 a new wave of erasure happening at this moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

She said she\u2019s consistently noticed that announcements for news shows and movies are notably absent of Latinx talent, remarking that it\u2019s \u201cbleak out there\u201d for the people in our community. <\/p>\n

\u201c[With] launching this production company I\u2019m trying to carve an actual path that no one can take away from us because I think what has been happening in the last few years is that it\u2019s cyclical,\u201d she said. \u201cI don\u2019t want that to happen anymore. We deserve our own path and the progress that we make should be increasing constantly. We need more people committed to this movement of making our own table, not to sit at a table, but make our own, so let\u2019s do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The vibes were more hopeful but still mixed for the future of Latinxs in Hollywood at the most recent iteration of the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival, which took place last month.<\/p>\n

\u201cI fear what\u2019s happening in America with the attitude towards Latinx people has bled into all of the industries and Hollywood is not exempt,\u201d comedian and actor Aida Rodriguez<\/a> told The Times. \u201cWe\u2019ve disappeared from television. We\u2019re not creating opportunities for new voices. We have to open it up because the internet reminds us every day that the global community wants to see us, hear us and experience us. We have excellence and talent to offer and we have all the right in the world to be able to express our spectrum with the freedom of being all that we are.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rodriguez was bullish about how non-traditional paths have allowed Latinx voices to shine through despite the industry\u2019s barriers to entry. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m optimistic about what\u2019s happening online. I like these new content creators and the people who have made a decision to tell our stories in spite of what\u2019s happening in the industry and are reaching people through other means,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m excited to see those new voices carrying the torch for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marvin Lemus, director of the 2025 Disney+ film \u201cAlexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip<\/a>\u201d and the Netflix series \u201cGentefied<\/a>,\u201d was also heartened by filmmakers who are not filing in through traditional means.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m excited about indie film, and digital creators are the future. The people I\u2019m the most jealous of are the creators that are making [stuff] every single day,\u201d Lemus said. \u201cThat\u2019s what I started in, just constantly shooting stuff and then I got to be in the industry and now I\u2019m spending a lot of time in development on Zooms, writing, working on pitches. It\u2019s a lot of waiting games to get permission to make [things].\u201d<\/p>\n

Lemus\u2019 concerns for the industry stem more from how forces outside the industry are responding to Latinx people.<\/p>\n

\u201cThings that I\u2019m worried about is the state of this country, but I think what fills me with hope is seeing that Latino creators are proudly standing in their culture and their identity, in who they are and where they come from,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

For actor and producer Wilmer Valderrama, Latinxs represent the future of Hollywood as the industry has heavily relied on Latinx viewership. <\/p>\n

\u201cTo me, Latino is mainstream. When you think about our imprint and our role in the mainstream media right now, you can look at the statistics, you can look at the percentages \u2014 how many actors, how many personalities, how much representation we really have \u2014 and it could look really daunting,\u201d Valderrama said. \u201cWhat I can tell you from being behind the camera and being a producer is that what\u2019s coming is nothing short of an investment in culture and an investment in storytelling.\u201d<\/p>\n

The \u201cNCIS\u201d actor pointed to the recent Hollywood mergers<\/a> as opportunities for Latinx people to show their influence on the industry. <\/p>\n

\u201cIn order for these companies and studios to prevail, they\u2019re going to have to include the Latino community in their mainstream approach,\u201d he said. \u201cI think you\u2019re going to see a major investment happen in the next [few] years. A lot is in development right now and you\u2019ll see a lot more things getting green lit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s hope that Valderrama is right.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll believe it when I see it.<\/p>\n

\"Two <\/p>\n

(Jackie Rivera \/ For The Times; Martina Ib\u00e1\u00f1ez-Baldor \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n

Cuban government authorize economic changes<\/p>\n

Amid an ongoing energy blockade from the U.S., Cuba has suffered crippling blackouts, water and medicine shortages and food insecurity for months.<\/a> <\/p>\n

In recent efforts to intensify the strain on Cuba, the White House placed sanctions on Cuban President Miguel D\u00edaz-Canel and various businesses on the island. The administration also charged<\/a> 95-year-old former Cuban President Ra\u00fal Castro with murder for the 1996 downing of civilian planes.<\/p>\n

Late last week, D\u00edaz-Canel announced a slate of economic reforms<\/a> aimed at opening up the country\u2019s economy to outside investment. Included in the proposed changes are: the ability for \u201cnew actors\u201d to participate in the country\u2019s tourism sector, the promotion of direct investment from foreign entities and individuals, a move toward decentralizing executive ruling to more local municipalities and a potential expansion of the private sector. <\/p>\n

Does the move signal the country\u2019s capitulation to U.S. pressure to move away from communism? According to the Communist Party of Cuba, that\u2019s not clearly the case. <\/p>\n

\u201cAs an expression of the logic of development in the historical period, the proposals for economic and social transformations arise,\u201d the party announced on social media<\/a> this week. \u201cThey in no way constitute a deviation from the socialist project. Their construction is guided by the ideas of the Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz, of the Army General Ra\u00fal Castro Ruz, and by [D\u00edaz-Canel].\u201d<\/p>\n

In a recent speech<\/a> to Communist leadership, D\u00edaz-Canel said the \u201csituation [on the island] calls for urgent and necessary changes.\u201d He also pointed to the economic examples of China and Vietnam as potential ways forward for Cuba to \u201ccreate economic wealth and distribute it equally.\u201d<\/p>\n

President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have yet to deliver the U.S.\u2019s official stance on Cuba\u2019s proposed reforms.<\/p>\n

Mexico defeats South Korea 1-0 in the World Cup Battle of Los Angeles \"Korea <\/p>\n

KOREATOWN, CA – JUNE 18, 2026: Korea and Mexico fans react during a watch party for the World Cup match Mexico vs Korea in which Mexico won 1-0 at Seoul International Park on June 18, 2026 in Koreatown, CA. (Gina Ferazzi \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n

(Gina Ferazzi\/Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n

World Cup excitement hit a fever pitch yesterday in Los Angeles, as Mexico and South Korea faced off in a critical Group A match. Fans of both countries gathered at watch parties across the city. On assignment, I headed to Seoul International Park in Koreatown where the vibes were immaculate and the love between the Mexican and Korean diasporas was on full display. I interviewed fans about what this match meant to them. You can watch their replies here. <\/a> <\/p>\n

My colleague Clara Harter also wrote <\/a>about the Mexican-Korean romance. This quote from Korea fan Ben Lee says everything: \u201cOur parents came from nothing and built something for us. I feel like Koreans and Mexicans feel that and understand that; we know our parents went through so much coming to America.\u201d<\/p>\n

You can find the Times complete 2026 World Cup coverage here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Stories we read this week that we think you should read<\/p>\n

Unless otherwise noted, stories below were published by the Los Angeles Times.<\/p>\n

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