Jennifer Lopez’s new Netflix romantic comedy arrived with an unexpected callback to one of the most important films of her career.
At the Los Angeles premiere of Office Romance, Lopez reunited with Edward James Olmos, who played her onscreen father in the 1997 biopic Selena. Nearly three decades later, the two are sharing the screen again, with Olmos once again playing a father figure to Lopez’s character.
Entertainment Weekly reported that Lopez and Olmos shared an emotional red carpet moment at the premiere, with Lopez expressing affection for her former onscreen father.
The Premiere Brought Back Their Selena History
Lopez and Olmos posed together at the Office Romance premiere at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. PEOPLE reported that the moment drew attention because of their shared Selena history.
In the 1997 film, Lopez played Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, the late Tejano star whose life and music became central to Latin pop culture. Olmos played Abraham Quintanilla, Selena’s father and manager.
That connection still carries weight because Selena helped make Lopez a major movie star and remains one of the roles most closely tied to her career.
Office Romance Casts Olmos as Lopez’s Father Again
In Office Romance, Lopez stars as Jackie Cruz, a powerful executive whose workplace rules become complicated when she develops feelings for a new lawyer. Brett Goldstein stars opposite her as Daniel Blanchflower.
Netflix’s Tudum notes that Olmos plays Captain Jack Cruz, Jackie’s father, which gives his reunion with Lopez a direct onscreen connection instead of making it only a red carpet nostalgia moment.
Lopez also marked the reunion on Instagram, sharing then-and-now images of herself and Olmos and calling the experience “full circle,” according to PEOPLE.
Lopez Was Not Sure Olmos Would Accept the Role
Entertainment Weekly reported that Lopez was unsure whether Olmos would accept the part because he has not appeared onscreen as often in recent years.
His decision to join the film gave the Netflix comedy an added layer for viewers who remember their work in Selena. The main draw of Office Romance is still Lopez and Goldstein’s workplace love story, but the Olmos casting adds a second reason for longtime Lopez fans to pay attention.
Selena Still Defines a Major Chapter of Lopez’s Career
Lopez had worked in film and television before Selena, but the 1997 biopic pushed her into a much larger spotlight. The role introduced her to many moviegoers as a leading actress and remains one of the defining parts of her career story.
The film also holds lasting cultural weight because it brought Selena Quintanilla-Pérez’s life to a wide mainstream movie audience only two years after her death. For many fans, Lopez and Olmos are still connected to that emotional memory.
That history explains why the Office Romance premiere photos traveled beyond standard red carpet coverage. The reunion linked a new Netflix comedy to a movie that still means a lot to multiple generations of viewers.
The Netflix Rom-Com Arrives June 5
Office Romance also continues Lopez’s long association with romantic comedies. She has remained closely linked to the genre through films such as The Wedding Planner, Maid in Manhattan, Monster-in-Law, Marry Me, and Shotgun Wedding.
Goldstein, best known to many viewers for Ted Lasso, co-wrote Office Romance with Joe Kelly. Director Ol Parker, whose credits include Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, brings his own romantic-comedy background to the project.
Netflix says Office Romance will premiere on June 5.