Castro’s daughter breaks her silence on James Franco being cast to star in new biopic
James Franco has someone big in his corner.
The actor, who was controversially cast as Fidel Castro in an upcoming movie, is getting support from the former Cuban dictator’s own daughter.
Alina Fernández told Deadline that she is OK with Franco playing her infamous father, despite the “127 Hours” star not being Latino. One major reason: Franco looks a lot like the reviled revolutionary, who died in 2016.
“James Franco has an obvious physical resemblance to Fidel Castro, besides his skills and charisma,” said the 66-year-old, whose socialite mother Natalia “Naty” Revuelta got pregnant with her after an affair with Castro.
It will be interesting to hear from Colombian actor John Leguizamo, who took to social media to complain after Franco’s new gig was announced last week.
“How is this still going on? How is Hollywood excluding us but stealing our narratives as well?” the comedian railed on Instagram. “No more appropriation, Hollywood and streamers! Boycott! This F’d up!”
The Bogota native said he had no issues with the California-born Franco personally, just that the whole thing felt “wrong.”
The upcoming independent film “Alina of Cuba” follows the story of Fernández, Castro’s illegitimate daughter who defected to Spain after criticizing his reign.
Fernández, who is played by Miamian Ana Villafañe (Gloria Estefan in Broadway’s “On Your Feet!”), also told Deadline that she gave the A-OK to Argentine actress Mía Maestro (“The Strain”) being cast as her mother.
“I can’t wait to see her build her character,” she said.
“Alina of Cuba” is slated to begin shooting in Colombia on Monday, with Fernandez acting as on-set consultant.
This story was originally published August 11, 2022 at 11:54 AM.
