James Franco as Fidel Castro: John Leguizamo, Other Latino Actors Slam 'Alina of Cuba' Casting

James Franco has been reportedly eyed to play Fidel Castro in the upcoming "Alina of Cuba," which was not taken as good news by Latino actors, including John Leguizamo.

CNN reported that Leguizamo argued that the role should be given to a Latino actor instead. He criticized Franco's casting on an Instagram post.

The actor, who voiced Bruno in Disney's "Encanto," wrote in an Instagram post, "how is Hollywood excluding us but stealing our narratives as well?"

He called on to boycott and to refuse any more appropriation. Leguizamo explained that he does not have a problem with Franco but that the actor was not a Latino.

Jess Darrow, who voiced Luisa Madrigal in "Encanto," responded to Leguizamo's post, saying, "wtf is this..."

Jeff Torres wrote in a Twitter post that he is auditioning for "another generic Latin-American drug dealer" while Franco will be playing Fidel Castro. Torres added that Hispanic actors are "gettin' done dirty af out here and everywhere."

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'Alina of Cuba' Film

James Franco is set to play as Fidel Castro in the film that is directed by Spanish director Miguel Bardem. The actor will be joined in the cast by actress Mia Maestro, who will be playing the role of socialite Natalia "Naty" Revuelta, according to a Daily Mail report.

Revuelta was known to be Castro's one-time mistress.

Franco and Maestro will also be joined by actress Ana Villafane, 33, in the cast. She will be playing the role of Alina Fernandez, the daughter of Castro and Revuelta.

The motion picture was written by Jose Rivera and Nilo Cruz. It will show the life of Fernandez as a Cuban exile and social activist.

Fernandez was 10 years old when she found out that she was Castro's daughter as her mother revealed to her the truth after the former Cuban leader visited the family home secretly for years.

Revuelta reportedly had given her and her doctor husband's wealth to fund the early stages of the communist revolution.

The "Alina of Cuba" film sets to begin shooting on August 15 in Cartagena and Bogota in Colombia.

James Franco as Fidel Castro

John Martinez O'Felan, the project's lead creative producer of Austin-based Mankind Entertainment, noted that finding and convincing James Franco to play Fidel Castro "was a fun and challenging process."

O'Felan added that it has been the collaborative work of the universe. He noted that the director's original order was to find an actor "who holds a close physical resemblance to the real Castro to build from," according to a Deadline report.

The project's creative producer also launched the fully financed companion documentary entitled "Revolution's Daughter," which is being filmed in the same location as "Alina of Cuba."

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

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