Manuel Garcia-Rulfo's Impressive 2024: Transitioning from 'Lincoln Lawyer' to 'Jurassic World: Dominion' Revival
Manuel García-Rulfo is riding high in his career, with 2024 being an outstanding year for the Mexican actor. This year, he managed to balance a successful English-language series, a Spanish-language movie, and a potential blockbuster lined up for the next year. The first two projects debuted on Netflix within a month of each other in October and November, both making their way onto the streaming service's most-watched lists.
García-Rulfo's appearance in season 3 of The Lincoln Lawyer on Netflix spent six weeks on the Global Top 10, even reaching the #1, #2, and #3 spots. Meanwhile, the film Pedro Páramo enjoyed a two-week stint on the Global Top 10 as well.
"I'm really happy and proud of these two completely different projects...one is a bit lighter, while the other is much more intense," García-Rulfo shares, explaining how his work kept him on his toes. "With The Lincoln Lawyer, it's already the third season, so it felt like a path I've already traveled. But I still get nervous about doing it, hoping the fans continue to enjoy it."
On the other hand, Pedro Páramo presented an intriguing challenge for García-Rulfo. The film, based on Juan Rulfo's complex novel about love, betrayal, and the supernatural set in a desolate Mexican village haunted by the ghosts of its tragic past, holds significant cultural importance.
"When I found out they were making the film, I thought, I have to be a part of this, no matter what," García-Rulfo shares, expressing the pressure of adapting such an iconic and important novel in Mexican literature. "However, I believe director Rodrigo Prieto did an excellent job."
The project was particularly significant for García-Rulfo, as Juan Rulfo was his great-uncle and close to his grandfather.
"Juan Rulfo was a big part of my childhood. Becoming a part of this project was a dream come true. At the same time, especially playing the role of Pedro Páramo, I was afraid of letting everyone down," he admits.
Over the past two decades, García-Rulfo has built a career in both English and Spanish, starring in a variety of projects, including A Man Called Otto with Tom Hanks, as well as Perfect Strangers. However, it's his role in The Lincoln Lawyer that has made him well-known worldwide.
"It's kind of funny. I was filming in Europe, and people would call out to me, 'Hey, Mickey Haller!'" he says, in disbelief. "It's cool that people recognize your work."
Now, García-Rulfo is preparing for what could be his biggest project yet: Jurassic World Rebirth, set to hit theaters in the summer of 2025. This film, the first in the popular franchise since the Jurassic World trilogy concluded in 2022, promises to be another blockbuster and further boost his profile.
In this new installment, García-Rulfo shares the screen with Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, two-time Oscar winner Mahershala Ali, and Rupert Friend. He plays the head of a family whose boating expedition is interrupted by marauding aquatic dinosaurs, leading to a high-stakes, suspenseful action story.
"It was an incredible experience," García-Rulfo says of filming the movie. "We spent about five months traveling across different locations. The cast was amazing, and it's such a massive film."
Graciously accepting the opportunities coming his way, García-Rulfo is excited to be part of Jurassic World Rebirth, which has the potential for another box-office hit.
"I feel lucky to keep working on projects I love and collaborating with people I respect. The director has a brilliant vision, and with actors like Scarlett Johansson and Mahershala Ali, I think audiences are really going to love it."
As for The Lincoln Lawyer, Netflix has not officially announced a new season. However, there's a promising sign that one may be in the works. The Writers Guild of America West website directory currently lists the showrunners, executive producers, and writing team set up for potential season 4, scheduled for some time between 2025 and 2026.
García-Rulfo's role in the upcoming blockbuster, 'Jurassic World Rebirth', alongside renowned actors such as Scarlett Johansson and Mahershala Ali, is set to hit theaters in 2025. This project follows his successful appearance in 'The Lincoln Lawyer', which made him well-known worldwide, with fans calling out to him as 'Mickey Haller' during filming in Europe.
In addition to his English-language projects, García-Rulfo also showcased his talents in the Spanish-language film 'Pedro Páramo', based on Juan Rulfo's iconic novel, which held significant cultural importance to him as it was influenced by his great-uncle.
