El Paso has been collecting wins like they’re Oscar statues lately, and the spotlight just keeps getting brighter. Between Paul Thomas Anderson filming One Battle After Another right here in the Borderland and Ari Aster casting El Paso actor Manny Rubio in Eddington, this city isn’t just a backdrop anymore. It’s becoming a star in its own right.
From The Sun City to A24 Stardom
Manny Rubio isn’t new to the game. You may have seen him in Stranger Things, The Harder They Fall, or Half Brothers. But his latest role puts him in elite company as he shares the screen with Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal in Aster’s newest mind-bender Eddington, which was shot in nearby Truth or Consequences, New Mexico.
“I got to work opposite Joaquin Phoenix, which was a masterclass,” Rubio told KFOX. “Being directed by Ari Aster, another masterclass. I just was soaking it up.”
Rubio might describe his role as small, but he emphasizes its importance. “It’s a pivotal scene with Joaquin Phoenix,” he said. “Even if I wasn’t going to talk, I would have been the tree that Joaquin leans against, you know what I mean? Just to learn.”
Big Productions, Bigger Momentum
Rubio’s not slowing down. He’s also appearing in the upcoming action flick Trap House with Dave Bautista and Bobby Cannavale, set to release in November. And while his star rises, he’s still making time to give back to his hometown…