Two great box office conquerors, Martin Scorsese and Benicio del Toro, are teaming up for "Cortes," a miniseries about the Spanish conqueror. Both stars, who have Academy Awards, are hoping to bring success to this serial drama.

It was announced last week that Scorsese, the director of "The Departed" and "The Aviator," will be teaming up with del Toro, star of "Che," "Things We Lost in the Fire" and recently "Guardians of the Galaxy." The "Cortes" miniseries is expected to debut on HBO.

There is another big name behind this project. The writer for "Mississippi Burning," Chris Gerolmo, will be writing and executive producing the miniseries. Scorsese will also executive produce and direct some of the episodes, Deadline reported. Del Toro will also be executive producer on this TV project. Reports suggest del Toro is interested in playing the conqueror of the Aztec nation.

The drama is expected to follow Hernán Cortés, who led the fall of the Aztec empire. It will also include the friends and enemies he met along the journey, Entertainment Weekly reported.

Cortés himself is a complex hero. For some, he conquered Mexico for Spain and extended the Spanish Empire. For others, he led the murder and genocide of the indigenous people of Mexico, as well as destroyed one of the greatest civilizations of that time.

Film Addiction Reviews reported that "Cortes" will also include Malinche, the Mayan girl who helped Cortés bring down the Aztec empire, and subsequently helped him put Montezuma, the Aztec leader and Cortés' friend, in chains.

For del Toro he is used to playing complex and historical figures, such as Ernesto "Che" Guevara in "Che Part 1" and "Che Part 2." And, he played Pablo Escobar in this year's "Escobar: Paradise Lost."

HBO is home for Scorsese who has produced "Boardwalk Empire" and an upcoming, untitled rock 'n' roll project.

There is still no word on how many episodes there will be or when "Cortes" will air.

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