Jennifer Lopez joins Antonio Banderas in “The 33”

PanARMENIAN.Net - Jennifer Lopez has signed up to star in a film based on the Chilean mine collapse in 2010.

The 33 will tell the story of the 33 miners who were trapped for 69 days before they were freed during a rescue operation that received extensive media coverage.

The singer and actress joins the cast alongside Antonio Banderas, who will star as charismatic miner Mario Sepulveda, also known by the nickname 'Super Mario'.

The West Wing's Martin Sheen stars as the father of a miner and 300 star Rodrigo Santoro will play one of the trapped workers, Digital Spy reveals citing The Hollywood Reporter.

Black Swan producer Mike Medavoy bought the rights to the story in 2011.

One of the miners, Juan Andres Illanes, said at the time: "One year after the collapse of the mine, we consider this to be a great step towards the realisation of a film based on our experience in the mine.

"This is the only official and authorised film about what we lived in the San José mine. Much of our story has never been told."

Production on The 33, which will be directed by Patricia Riggen, is expected to start in Chile this autumn.