I feel like much of my year has revolved around tracking the casting of Johnny Depp. He’s going to be the Huntsman!—no, no he’s not. He’s going to play the Wizard of Oz!—nope, nevermind. Well, now he’s not going to be playing Pancho Villa in Emir Kusturica’s lengthily-titled biopic The Seven Friends of Pancho Villa and the Woman With Seven Fingers.
According to Blic Online Gael Garcia Bernal and Benicio del Toro have taken up the charge to tackle the role of the legendary Mexican general. With production slated to start soon, the pair are set to meet with Kusturica in Cuba in the coming days; so expect a final decision in short order.
Whoever is picked to play Pancho will co-star with Salma Hayek in this drama, titled Wild Roses, Tender Roses, which Bleeding Cool reports will be based on the James Carlos Blake book The Friends of Pancho Villa, which admittedly muddles fact and fiction.
It’s a curious casting showdown as there is a considerable age difference between the Mexican-born Bernal and the Puerto Rican Del Toro, but Bernal seems confident he has the advantage. When asked about his involvement in Kusturica’s latest film last month, Bernal declared, “I will probably land the leading role because of physical resemblance with Pancho Villa.”
Sure, why not.
Who do you want to see play Pancho Villa?