It’s been nearly three decades since Selena hit theaters and cemented Jennifer Lopez’s stardom. But according to Suzette Quintanilla, the film wasn’t born out of legacy or ambition. It was born out of urgency.

In a recent interview on Boyz II Men singer Shawn Stockman’s podcast On That Note, Suzette opened up about the real reason the Quintanilla family greenlit the 1997 biopic. As she put it, they had no choice.

The Selena Quintanilla Biopic Was a Defensive Move, Not a Dream Project

During the podcast, Suzette made it clear: “The only reason that movie was made, we were forced to make the movie.”

She explained that just months after Selena’s death, the family’s legal team learned Hollywood executives were already moving to develop a film without them. “If you don’t have control over your own, then it’s going to be whatever they want to put in it,” she said. “So that’s the only reason why my father had to make that decision to move forward and just say, we’re doing this movie.”

As Vibe reported, the family moved quickly to bring director Gregory Nava on board. According to Suzette, “It wasn’t something that was on our radar at all. It was way too soon, to be honest with you.”

The film, which came out in March 1997, premiered just two years after Selena Quintanilla was killed.

The Quintanilla Family Faced Harsh Criticism for the Film’s Timing

While Selena has become one of the most beloved biopics in Latin music history, the decision to release it so soon after her death sparked backlash.

“There was criticism over that. ‘Oh my God, it’s all about money,’” Suzette recalled on the podcast. “I was like, if people only knew. Is it either we do it or they’re going to say whatever and make heaven knows, because then you have no control over your own life.”

Despite the criticism, the family stood by the decision. The film’s cultural impact has only grown over time. In 2021, the Library of Congress added Selena to the National Film Registry for its historical and cultural significance.

Selena’s Legacy Meant Everything to Suzette

While reflecting on her sister’s life and career, Suzette made it clear that protecting Selena Quintanilla’s memory has become her life’s mission.

“When she died, I went through this whole thing, right? At one point, maybe 10 years in, [I thought] before I leave this Earth, nobody forgets my sister,” she told the On That Note podcast. “I want to make sure that nobody forgets who we were and what we represented as a whole, to who we are as Mexican Americans.”

Suzette also spoke about Selena’s love for artists like Paula Abdul, Janet Jackson, and Madonna, and even shared how Selena hand-decorated her own iconic Astrodome outfit.

The Quintanilla Family Is Finally Telling the Story on Their Own Terms

Earlier this year, Netflix announced a new documentary titled Selena y Los Dinos, which features never-before-seen footage from the family’s private archives. The film premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival and offers a more intimate look into the family band and Selena Quintanilla’s early rise.

The doc arrives during the 30th anniversary of Dreaming of You, which was released posthumously in July 1995. Suzette said the album and Selena’s memory continue to shape how the family moves forward.

Finally, Suzette emphasized during the interview that rushing the 1997 film wasn’t about profit. It was about protection. “It’s going to be whatever they want to put in it,” she said of Hollywood’s interest. “So, that’s the only reason why my father had to make the decision.”

Tags:

Share this Story