Marc Anthony’s dark ‘In the Heights’ role even shocked Anthony Ramos: He was ‘coming for blood’
“In the Heights” over the musical’s opening weekend — yes, that was Marc Anthony in that stark, mid-movie scene.
Anthony, the global music star ex of Jennifer Lopez, is nearly unrecognizable, looking worn, unshaven and unkempt while swilling beer in the morning.
His character Gapo was created specially for the film, the alcoholic uncle to Usnavi (Anthony Ramos) and father of young Sonny (Gregory Diaz IV). In the scene, Usnavi tries to plead with Gapo for better treatment of Sonny. But Gapo is more interested in the baseball game on the TV.
It’s gritty.
Ramos says he kicked up his drama game when he saw how in-the-zone Anthony was.
“Yo, I was bugging,” says Ramos. “I was like, ‘Hey, I better bring it, because my man is coming for blood.’ “
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“That scene is going to surprise audiences. People are not going to expect Marc Anthony to do something like this, so it’s really special,” says producer Scott Sanders.Â
Anthony, born in New York City to Puerto Rican parents, was a major fan of “In The Heights” during its 2008 Broadway run, seeing it multiple times. So when the Gapo role was written, producer Lin-Manuel Miranda texted Anthony, who has appeared in films such as “Man on Fire” and “Bringing Out the Dead.”  Anthony immediately signed on.
When Anthony first visited the Washington Heights set to discuss the role, he was followed by so many fans and paparazzi that director Jon M. Chu had to take shelter and hold the meeting in Anthony’s besieged limo-van.
“People were banging on the windows, there was security, it was no joke,” says Chu, who wanted to make sure Anthony was ready for a small but gritty role. “Marc was like, ‘I’m coming, not as the Marc Anthony you know, I’m coming in.’ “
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But Chu wasn’t sure what Anthony was really going to bring, especially when the star showed up to the squalid apartment set wearing superstar sunglasses and attire.
“I was wondering if he was going to be present enough for these important scenes. It was like, this could ruin it,” says Chu. But Anthony took off the glasses and said to his worried director: “I got it this. Don’t worry. Just watch.”
To Chu’s surprise, Anthony became Gapo once he donned the attire and settled on the couch.
“The guy brought it,” says Chu. “Two seconds in and I don’t really know if he was drunk or what’s going on. He’s out of it. And after he’s just Marc Anthony again. He was like, ‘Was that okay, Jon?’  I was like, that was amazing. Do more.”