John Leguizamo thinks the casting of James Franco as Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro is no bueno.
That’s “not good” for those of you who aren’t Latino. Like Franco.
Deadline exclusively broke the news earlier this week that Franco, 44, will play Castro in indie film Alina of Cuba. That led to an Instagram outburst today from Leguizamo, who lashed out at having a non-Latino actor in the role.
“How’s that going to continue? How does Hollywood exclude us, but also steal our narratives? Stop appropriating Hollywood and streamers! Boycott! This F’d up! Plus a seriously difficult story to tell without magnification, which would be wrong!”
He added, “I have no problem with Franco, but he’s not Latino!”
His comments struck a chord, attracting 10,000 likes, including new The View co-host Ana Navarro, who said she would go along with a boycott of the film.
“I would like to believe that no Latino actor worth his salt would sign on to play and augment a murderous dictator who has terrorized the people of Cuba for six decades,” Navarro wrote. “For both of the reasons you articulated, I join you in the boycott.”
Franco, a two-time Golden Globe winner, will work with Imagen award winner Mía Maestro, who portrays Natalia “Naty” Revuelta, the Cuban-born socialite with whom he has a passionate love affair.
Mia Maestro Unit Production Publicity/Gabriel Machado
They join previously announced actress Ana Villafañe, who portrays Alina Fernandez, aka Castro’s daughter.
Written by Oscar-nominated screenwriter Jose Rivera (The Motorcycle Diaries) and Pulitzer Prize-winner Nilo Cruz, the screenplay follows the true-life story of the Cuban exile-turned-social advocate.
The film is shot entirely on location in and around Cartagena and Bogota, using Colombian colonial Spanish architecture and design for Castro-era Havana in Cuba. The cameras are rolling on August 15th.