Honestly, if you told me ten years ago that the girl from Wizards of Waverly Place would be the most talked-about dramatic force of the mid-2020s, I might’ve raised an eyebrow. But here we are. It’s 2026, and Selena Gomez is no longer just "the pop star who acts." She’s a juggernaut.
The buzz right now is deafening, and it’s all centered on one specific project: the upcoming Linda Ronstadt biopic. This isn't just another credit on her IMDB. It’s a career-defining gamble that has fans and critics alike holding their breath.
The Linda Ronstadt Transformation
People have been obsessed with the physical resemblance between Selena and Linda for years. It’s actually kind of uncanny. Selena herself admitted way back in 2015 that she started listening to Linda’s music specifically because people kept telling her they looked like sisters.
But looking the part is the easy bit.
Linda Ronstadt wasn't just a singer; she was the voice of a generation, a woman who jumped from country to rock to light opera without breaking a sweat. Capturing that vocal range is a massive mountain to climb. We know Selena can sing, but can she belt "You’re No Good" with the raw, earth-shaking power that Linda possessed? That’s the question keeping everyone up at night.
The film is currently in the works with David O. Russell set to direct. If you know anything about Russell (American Hustle, Silver Linings Playbook), you know he doesn't do "boring." He pushes actors to their absolute limits. Producing the flick are James Keach—the guy behind the legendary Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line—and Linda’s long-time manager, John Boylan.
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They’ve been spotted hanging out at Linda’s home in San Francisco, getting the details right. This isn’t some soulless studio cash grab. It feels personal.
Why Emilia Pérez Changed Everything
You can't talk about Selena Gomez’s new movie trajectory without looking at the absolute chaos and triumph of Emilia Pérez.
If you missed it, this movie was a wild, genre-bending Spanish-language musical about a cartel boss who undergoes gender-affirming surgery. Selena played Jessi, the wife left in the wake of that transition.
It was polarizing. Some critics in Mexico were pretty harsh about her Spanish accent. But you know what? It didn't matter in the grand scheme. The film absolutely dominated the 2025 awards season, pulling in 13 Oscar nominations. Selena, along with her co-stars Zoe Saldaña and Karla Sofía Gascón, shared the Best Actress prize at Cannes.
That win was a massive middle finger to anyone who still thought of her as a Disney kid. It proved she’s willing to take "un-glamorous" roles. She’s willing to get messy. She’s willing to be part of an ensemble where she isn't the only sun in the solar system.
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The Spiral of Rumors
While the Ronstadt biopic is the "big one," there’s been a lot of chatter about a project called Spiral.
It’s been described as a psychological thriller produced by Drake. Yeah, that Drake. The premise involves a former influencer whose social media obsession literally starts causing her body to fall apart.
It sounds dark. Like, Black Mirror levels of dark.
We haven't seen a firm release date for this one yet, but it signals a shift. Selena is leaning into the "Prestige TV and Film" lane. Between this and her ongoing success with Only Murders in the Building—which just snagged her another SAG nomination for the ensemble this year—she’s playing the long game.
Addressing the Skepticism
Let’s be real for a second. There are still people who don’t "get" it.
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I’ve seen the Reddit threads. People complain that her acting in Only Murders is too "flat" or "deadpan." Some felt she was underused in Emilia Pérez.
But there’s a nuance to what she’s doing. She’s playing the "straight man" to comedic legends like Steve Martin and Martin Short. That’s a specific skill. In her newer film roles, she’s choosing projects that require a certain internal stillness.
The Linda Ronstadt movie will be the ultimate test of her "acting muscles." She has to play a woman who loses her voice to Parkinson’s (now known to be progressive supranuclear palsy). That is heavy, emotional territory. It’s the kind of role that either wins an Oscar or gets torn apart by vultures.
What to Expect Next
If you’re trying to keep track of when you can actually sit in a theater and see these, here’s the reality: biopics take forever. With the research phase and the vocal training Selena is likely undergoing, don’t expect a trailer for the Ronstadt movie until late 2026 or early 2027.
In the meantime, we have the fallout of Wizards Beyond Waverly Place. Selena returned to her roots there, but mostly as an executive producer and a guest star. It’s a nice nod to the past, but her eyes are clearly on the future.
How to Stay in the Loop
- Watch the Awards: Keep an eye on the upcoming ceremonies. Even if she isn't winning for a new movie right this second, her presence there usually precedes a big announcement.
- Deep Dive the Discography: If you want to understand the Ronstadt project, go listen to Heart Like a Wheel. It'll give you a sense of the vocal "weight" Selena has to carry.
- Follow the Producers: Sometimes the best updates don't come from Selena’s Instagram, but from the production companies like Great Eastern Music.
The bottom line? Selena Gomez is taking risks that most of her peers wouldn't touch. Whether it’s a gritty musical about the cartels or a high-stakes biopic of a music legend, she’s betting on herself. And honestly, it’s getting harder and harder to bet against her.
Next Step for You: Go watch the Emilia Pérez trailer on Netflix if you haven't yet. It's the best way to see the "new" Selena before she fully transforms into Linda Ronstadt.