Netflix has unveiled our first look at Chupa, a new movie about a boy befriending a chupacabra cub. The story picks up with the teenager visiting family in Mexico when he comes across the mythical creature hiding in his grandfather's shed. Because there are others who wish to capture the chupcacabra (which he names "Chupa") for nefarious purposes, the boy and his cousins must work together to save the animal while embarking on the "adventure of a lifetime." The movie will officially premiere on Netflix on April 7, 2023.
“Our goal was to create an incredibly cute creature based on a terrifying legend,” director Jonás Cuarón said of the film's goal, via Tudum. “The mythical creature was described as a hairless dog with wings and sharp teeth. Chupa is furry and incredibly cute.”
On the inspiration for making the movie, the director added, "I was a small kid when the legend started. When the idea came of turning [the myth] on its head and using it to tell a family adventure, I was immediately excited. I’ve always been a huge fan of E.T. and believe that stories like that are so powerful because they play on the idea of kids being misunderstood by adults. Chupa might be a monster but he’s the only one that truly understands what Alex is going through. The bond between a boy and a creature is so pure, like with a pet, it transcends language.”
Christian Slater Plays a Key Role in Chupa
Cuarón directs Chupa using a screenplay by Sean Kennedy Moore, Joe Barnathan, and Marcus Rinehart; Brendan Bellomo contributed to the story. It is produced by Chris Columbus, Mark Radcliffe, and Michael Barnathan, while executive producers include Bellomo, G. Mac Brown, and Anna Barnathan Barry.
Chupa features Christian Slater in a key role, and one of the first look images, seen above, reveals him in the film. Chupa also stars Demián Bichir, Evan Whitten, Ashley Ciarra, Nickolas Verdugo, Adriana Paz, Gerardo Taracena, and Julio Cesar Cedillo. You can view the official synopsis for the film below.
Shy 13-year-old Alex (Evan Whitten) flies from Kansas City to Mexico to meet his extended family for the first time. There he meets his grandfather and former lucha libre champion Chava (Demián Bichir), energetic, wrestling-obsessed cousin Memo (Nickolas Verdugo), and fearless, hip cousin Luna (Ashley Ciarra). But just as Alex begins to get his bearings, he discovers a mythical creature living under his grandfather’s shed: a young chupacabra cub, which he recognizes from stories of the feared, full-grown chupacabra, fabled to feed on farmers’ livestock. Alex soon learns that his new friend “Chupa” has a secret history with his family, and that dogged, dangerous scientist Richard Quinn (Christian Slater) is hunting the misunderstood creature to try and harness his powers. To protect Chupa from impending danger, Alex sets off on the adventure of a lifetime, one that will push the bonds of his newfound family to the brink, and remind him that life’s burdens are lighter when you don't have to carry them alone.
Chupa will start streaming on Netflix on April 7, 2023. A trailer release is likely to be coming soon.