In December 2009, we reported that Johnny Depp was in talks to star in Emir Kusturica’s biopic Seven Friends of Pancho Villa and the Woman with Six Fingers. Depp (who previously worked with Kusturica on 1992′s Arizona Dream) was to play Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa with Salma Hayek attached to co-star. However, Blic Online [via Bleeding Cool] is reporting that Depp has dropped out of the project due to scheduling conflicts, and now Gael Garcia Bernal and Benicio Del Toro are circling the role of Villa. Oddly, both men have played the revolutionary Che Guevara before (Bernal in The Motorcycle Diaries and Del Toro in Che) and may costar in Martin Scorsese’s Silence. Blic reports that Kusturica will meet with both actors in Cuba and then make his decision.
Hit the jump for a brief refresher on Bernal and Del Toro’s other potential projects.
In addition to possibly co-starring in Silence, Bernal is also set to costar in Will Ferrell’s Untitled Spanish Comedy with Diego Luna. He also has starring roles in the documentary drama Who Is Dayani Cristal? and is set to play boxer Roberto Duran in Hands of Stone.
As for Del Toro, he’s set to co-star in the hitman drama The Iceman with James Frranco and Michael Shannon, and he may take a lead role in The Farrelly Brothers’ adaptation of The Three Stooges.
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As much as I’d pay to see Johnny Depp in anything (especially my pants….HEYYOOOO!) Benicio Del Toro is a better fit for this role. I can’t honestly see Bernal being believable in it though. He’s always struck me as a Hispanic Jesse Eisenberg-type. You know, talented, but not very threatening.
“Hispanic Jesse Eisenberg-type”? wtf?
its a toss up for me with these two actors going for the role, both are favs of mine but i think i would be much more interested in seeing Gael’s performance in this…. even more for that Will Ferrell comedy, Gael and Diego are amazing together like Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson but actually funny!!!!
Maybe an even less manly Jake Gyllenhaal would be a better point of comparison? I just can’t buy him as the kind of guy who could don bandoliers and become a deadly revolutionary.
Bernal’s way more versatile than you’re giving him credit for. Just cos he’s man tiny doesn’t mean he can’t do threatening or macho. He’s done a good job playing villains and tough guys in Babel, Blindness and The King.
Del Torro certainly looks the part, is fluent in Spanish and is a fine actor so if he where to be cast I won’t complain, but I think it would be fitting if they cast an actual Mexican actor in this role. Also Bernal clearly really wants the role and given his art house past would work well with Kusturica.
Benicio Del Toro is way better for this role.
Will Emir Kusturica still direct “Tweaker’s Delight” with Johnny Depp?