Diego Luna, Gael Garcia Bernal, and Pablo Cruz started developing a Cesar Chavez biopic at their Canana Films nearly two years ago.  Chavez is a legendary activist and Latino icon, revered for his efforts in the American labor movement, so his portrayer must be chosen with care.  Two years later, Canana came up with an inspired choice: Michael Pena.  I’ve noticed Pena most visibly in recent years creating distinct comic characters in lighter fare like Observe and Report or 30 Minutes or Less.  But the actor made is name in heavier dramas like Crash and World Trade Center.  Pena is versatile, and you need an actor who can tap into both sides of the craft to play an iconic figure who is a true leader of men.

Luna stepped behind the camera in 2010 to direct Abel, and has decided to make the biopic Chavez his second narrative feature.  Luna cast Rosario Dawson as Dolores Huerta, Chavez’s partner in activism and co-founder of what eventually became the United Farm Workers.  America Ferrera will play Chavez’s wife Helen.  Hit the jump for more, including comments from Luna on the importance of Chavez’s message.

The first thing I thought when I heard a Cesar Chavez biopic was at least in the early stages of development was, how has it taken so long? After all, he’s a hero to millions of Hispanics and gringos alike, and his life would just make a grand tale.

It seems that screenwriter Keir Pearson and producer Larry Meli agree, and have optioned the life rights of the labor activist Chavez, and will be producing this with Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna’s Canana Films. Pearson, by the way, was nominated for an Oscar for co-writing Hotel Rwanda with director Terry George, and also has, among other projects, a biopic of Roberto Clemente in the works for HBO and Playtone.

And just in case anyone really hasn’t heard of Chavez, he dedicated his life to improving the working conditions of California farm workers, eventually co-founding the National Farm Workers Association, which would later become the United Farm Workers. Though it’s of course far too early to be talking about who could pull this role off, Garcia Bernal would certainly seem to be a perfect choice. What say you? [THR]