Pope Francis News: 'Call Me Francesco' Biopic Director Talks Casting Antonio Banderas as Roman Catholic Church's First Latino Leader
A movie about the life of Pope Francis is in the works, but who will play the Roman Catholic Church's first Latino leader?
Daniele Luchetti will direct the biopic, titled "Call Me Francesco," Variety reported in May. In an article published by La Nación this week, Luchetti talked about the possibility of casting Antontio Banderas in the lead role.
"Banderas is an actor that I admire a lot, and I like it to be him," the filmmaker said in Spanish, according to Fox News Latino. "At this moment, I am very free to choose. It might be more an actor who can impersonate Bergoglio in his infancy, in his youth and as an adult. There are a lot of actors I like, including some Argentinian actors."
According to Fox News Latino, rumors have suggested that the 53-year-old actor, born in Málaga, Andalucia, Spain, would embody Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires Argentina. In May, Variety reported that the Pope would be played by "two well-known Spanish-speaking actors, one in his 30s and one in his 60s"
"I will try to find a person who understands Bergoglio's personality," Luchetti continued. "For me it's not as important to find someone that looks like him, but finding someone who understands deeply who he is."
The director is not a Catholic.
"I felt a strong emotion upon hearing the words of the new Pope and want to understand where it comes from," Lucetti said about taking the directing job. "... I understand why so many people can connect to him, including me. That's what is more surprising. I am not Catholic, and yet I am so interested in his words. I am doing this film to understand why I am so interested in the Pope."
The movie's script is based on the book "Francisco. El Papa de la gente" ("Francisco, the Pope of the People") by Evangelina Himitian, an Argentinian journalist. According to Luchetti, casting for the film begins in July 2014 in Buenos Aires, Spain and will move on to other countries. Filming for the movie will begin in October 2014 and take place in Argentina, Germany and Italy. The movie will be in Spanish. It is expected to hit theaters in February 2015.
---
Follow Scharon Harding on Twitter: @ScharHar.