Brand-new toys from Disney, Marvel and more!

Open menu

  • Video
  • Shop
  • Culture
  • Family
  • Wellness
  • Food
  • Living
  • Style
  • Travel
  • News
  • Book Club
  • GMA3: WYNTK
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • Terms of Use
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Contact Us
  • © 2023 ABC News
  • Culture

Cardi B, Jennifer Lopez and Constance Wu dish on their women-led drama 'Hustlers'

VIDEO:  ‘Hustlers’ stars Jennifer Lopez, Cardi B, Constance Wu discuss relating to their roles
6:38
‘Hustlers’ stars Jennifer Lopez, Cardi B, Constance Wu discuss relating to their roles
ABCNews.com
ByGMA Team
August 29, 2019, 11:47 am

The cast of "Hustlers" opened up about how they flipped the script with the new star-studded, women-led drama that was inspired by true events.

The film follows a group of strippers, played by Constance Wu, Cardi B, Jennifer Lopez and more, who are taking their power back from the men who run the club and their wealthy clients.

Lopez plays the ringleader of the group, Ramona, and told "Good Morning America" that she loves that the characters are shown as a family.

(MORE: Priyanka Chopra Jonas finds funny way to show husband Nick she's always there for him)

"For me, the women in the story are very strong," she said. "You know, they're very powerful."

"We got to be there for each other and we got to take care of each other and we got to have a good time," she added. "And we spent hours and hours on the set."

Wu added that their characters also upended preconceptions that many people carry about certain lines of work.

"In our society, once you hear that type of a profession, whether it's stripping or sex working or anything like that ... the judgment stops there," she said. "And they don't get to know people as humans and understand their stories."

PHOTO: Constance Wu, left, and Jennifer Lopez in a scene from "Hustlers."
Constance Wu, left, and Jennifer Lopez in a scene from "Hustlers."
Barbara Nitke/STXfilms via AP

(MORE: Lizzo: Stop saying I'm 'brave.' 'I'm just sexy')

For hip hop star Cardi B, the storyline of her debut film was familiar and very real.

"What made me say yes to this ... I know that scene very well," she said. "Like, I have danced in the New York City Manhattan strip club -- because there's different type of strip clubs, you know what I'm saying?"

She quipped that she was "having flashbacks" playing her character.

"'Cause everybody -- even my character, like, my character remind me of a girl that I used to hang out with," she said.

PHOTO: Keke Palmer, from left, Cardi B, Jennifer Lopez, Constance Wu, and Lili Reinhart arrive at a photo call for "Hustlers" at The Four Seasons, Aug. 25, 2019 in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Keke Palmer, from left, Cardi B, Jennifer Lopez, Constance Wu, and Lili Reinhart arrive at a photo call for "Hustlers" at The Four Seasons, Aug. 25, 2019 in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

For "Riverdale" darling Lili Reinhart, the movie is a new kind of role, but she describes her character Annabelle as "like the innocence in the most non-innocent sort of way."

"Cause clearly what they're doing is not innocent or without fault," she added.

Writer-director Lorene Scafaria said she was interested in exploring other perspectives with her fim.

"I was excited to explore just the humanity of it," she said. "And we've seen a scene in a strip club in every single TV show and movie ever, and so few have been told from their perspective."

"That really interested me, just from ... a human level," she said.

Editor’s Picks

Jennifer Lopez remembers being typecast because of ethnicity: 'You’ll play maids'

  • Aug 27, 2019

Lizzo: Stop saying I'm 'brave.' 'I'm just sexy'

  • Aug 28, 2019

2019 MTV VMA Awards: Amazing red carpet moments from Taylor Swift, Lizzo, Camila Cabello and more

  • Aug 27, 2019

Lopez added that no matter what you're doing, "We're all hustling, that's the point."

"That's why the movie, in a sense, is very universal," she added. "Many people can relate to it, right?"

Wu said that in "a patriarchal society, there's only, like, one position for a woman."

"But that's a commentary on scarcity not gender," she added. "And I think our relationship in this movie really proved that because it was all run by women."

PHOTO: Lili Reinhart, left, Jennifer Lopez, Keke Palmer, and Constance Wu in a scene from "Hustlers."
Lili Reinhart, left, Jennifer Lopez, Keke Palmer, and Constance Wu in a scene from "Hustlers."
Barbara Nitke/STXfilms via AP

Editor’s Picks

Jennifer Lopez remembers being typecast because of ethnicity: 'You’ll play maids'

  • Aug 27, 2019

Lizzo: Stop saying I'm 'brave.' 'I'm just sexy'

  • Aug 28, 2019

2019 MTV VMA Awards: Amazing red carpet moments from Taylor Swift, Lizzo, Camila Cabello and more

  • Aug 27, 2019
Up Next in Culture—

Toby Keith gives update on stomach cancer battle: 'It's a little bit of a roller coaster'

September 29, 2023

Rob Gronkowski, Camille Kostek compete in live ice bath challenge to raise $20K for charity

September 29, 2023

Hear Wynonna Judd and Trisha Yearwood's reimagined version of 'Cry Myself to Sleep'

September 29, 2023

*NSYNC drops new song 'Better Place' from 'Trolls Band Together': Listen here

September 29, 2023

Up Next in Culture—

Toby Keith gives update on stomach cancer battle: 'It's a little bit of a roller coaster'

September 29, 2023

Rob Gronkowski, Camille Kostek compete in live ice bath challenge to raise $20K for charity

September 29, 2023

Hear Wynonna Judd and Trisha Yearwood's reimagined version of 'Cry Myself to Sleep'

September 29, 2023

*NSYNC drops new song 'Better Place' from 'Trolls Band Together': Listen here

September 29, 2023

The latest lifestyle and entertainment news and inspiration for how to live your best life - all from Good Morning America.
  • Contests
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Children’s Online Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • About Nielsen Measurement
  • Press
  • Feedback
  • ABC News
  • ABC
  • All Videos
  • All Topics
  • Sitemap

© 2023 ABC News
  • Privacy Policy— 
  • Your US State Privacy Rights— 
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy— 
  • Interest-Based Ads— 
  • Terms of Use— 
  • Do Not Sell My Info— 
  • Contact Us— 

© 2023 ABC News