So John Leguzamo ( maybe that’s spelled right, maybe it isn’t…) is mad they cast James Franco as Fidel Castro…

[Olioxenfree]

Why does every actor have to be the ethnicity of the characters they are portraying? Isn't that whole point of acting? If he's got the look and the acting skills they are looking for then the best candidate got the job. People need to get over themselves

When it's a biopic of a specific historic figure and the person being represented is from an ethnic background that has historically been shut out of staring roles for big budget films, it matters.

No it doesn't. How many Hispanic actors went out for the roll? How many were better than Franco? It's all about the acting. Id rather watch someone of a different ethnicity portray the roll properly and enjoy the movie then watch shitty acting by someone who got the roll just because they were the right ethnicity.

Do you know how many went out for the role? You're saying there's not a single Hispanic actor who could play the role appropriately?

[Olioxenfree]

Cubans aren’t shut out…

https://m.imdb.com/list/ls020079124/

Why does every actor have to be the ethnicity of the characters they are portraying? Isn't that whole point of acting? If he's got the look and the acting skills they are looking for then the best candidate got the job. People need to get over themselves

When it's a biopic of a specific historic figure and the person being represented is from an ethnic background that has historically been shut out of staring roles for big budget films, it matters.

Historically, they have been. And even now, how often are they getting hired for Cuban roles in large budget films?

[Deleted User 1990]

Cubans aren’t shut out…

https://m.imdb.com/list/ls020079124/

When it's a biopic of a specific historic figure and the person being represented is from an ethnic background that has historically been shut out of staring roles for big budget films, it matters.

Historically, they have been. And even now, how often are they getting hired for Cuban roles in large budget films?

Historically doesn’t mean today.

I don’t know how many roles they got in the 1950’s (other than Ricky Ricardo being the biggest name in television) but today they play all types of roles on TV, in movies in Music and on the stage.

Do you want to know how many times they are hired for specifically Cuban historical figures roles, or do you want to know how many leading roles they get?

There’s only one Castro, but Cuban actors star in movies, tv shows and music shows all the time. Andy Garcia, Rosario Dawson, Cameron Diaz, Soledad O’Brian, Pittbull, Christina Milian…

[Anonymous 3]

When it's a biopic of a specific historic figure and the person being represented is from an ethnic background that has historically been shut out of staring roles for big budget films, it matters.

No it doesn't. How many Hispanic actors went out for the roll? How many were better than Franco? It's all about the acting. Id rather watch someone of a different ethnicity portray the roll properly and enjoy the movie then watch shitty acting by someone who got the roll just because they were the right ethnicity.

Do you know how many went out for the role? You're saying there's not a single Hispanic actor who could play the role appropriately?

That’s not how casting works.
They don’t go through all the Hispanic actors first then if they don’t find someone, open it up to white people.
They put out a casting call, people show up to audition and the best one wins the role.
So yeah, it’s entirely possible that a famous and talented Actor/Director did the best job out of a group of actors.

[Deleted User 1990]

From Fidel Castro’s daughter…

Alina Fernández, has emphasized to Deadline her endorsement of James Franco playing her Cuban leader revolutionary father in the upcoming independent feature, Alina of Cuba.

She is also proud that “the project is almost entirely Latino, both in front and behind the camera.”

“James Franco has an obvious physical resemblance with Fidel Castro, besides his skills and charisma,” said Fernández about the 127 Hours Oscar nominated actor of Portuguese heritage.

Fernández will be played in Alina of Cuba by Ana Villafañe.

[Anonymous 1]

When it's a biopic of a specific historic figure and the person being represented is from an ethnic background that has historically been shut out of staring roles for big budget films, it matters.

No it doesn't. How many Hispanic actors went out for the roll? How many were better than Franco? It's all about the acting. Id rather watch someone of a different ethnicity portray the roll properly and enjoy the movie then watch shitty acting by someone who got the roll just because they were the right ethnicity.

Do you know how many went out for the role? You're saying there's not a single Hispanic actor who could play the role appropriately?

I'm not really up on celebs honestly so I have no idea. My questions were rhetorical meant to make others think. Obviously the production team thought Franco was the best and went with him. I'm not going to really criticize them.

[Momto2boys973]

And why should they settle for an appropriate performance just So no one is offended? Maybe James Franco was much better than appropriate and you should always give the part to the one that was best and can play it the best.
If casting Alexander Hamilton and Anne Boleyn with black actors when we all know they were white (and probably many white actors were “appropriate” for the part) is fine, then that goes for all ethnicities and races as well.

When it's a biopic of a specific historic figure and the person being represented is from an ethnic background that has historically been shut out of staring roles for big budget films, it matters.

No it doesn't. How many Hispanic actors went out for the roll? How many were better than Franco? It's all about the acting. Id rather watch someone of a different ethnicity portray the roll properly and enjoy the movie then watch shitty acting by someone who got the roll just because they were the right ethnicity.

Do you know how many went out for the role? You're saying there's not a single Hispanic actor who could play the role appropriately?

[Momto2boys973]

It reminds me of Evita. Madonna played her in the movie and Jonathan Pryce played Peron, neither of them Hispanics, but they look the parts, had the necessary skills to do those parts and probably were the best for them.
Should I be offended because Ben Kingsley played the part of a Jew in Schindler’s List? Or Eric Bana playing a Mossad agent in Munich?
Funny, isn’t it? How not 15 years ago Robert Downey Jr was nominated for an Oscar for playing a black man in Tropic Thunder? That would be a huge scandal today…

From Fidel Castro’s daughter…

Alina Fernández, has emphasized to Deadline her endorsement of James Franco playing her Cuban leader revolutionary father in the upcoming independent feature, Alina of Cuba.

She is also proud that “the project is almost entirely Latino, both in front and behind the camera.”

“James Franco has an obvious physical resemblance with Fidel Castro, besides his skills and charisma,” said Fernández about the 127 Hours Oscar nominated actor of Portuguese heritage.

Fernández will be played in Alina of Cuba by Ana Villafañe.

[Anonymous 4]

It reminds me of Evita. Madonna played her in the movie and Jonathan Pryce played Peron, neither of them Hispanics, but they look the parts, had the necessary skills to do those parts and probably were the best for them.
Should I be offended because Ben Kingsley played the part of a Jew in Schindler’s List? Or Eric Bana playing a Mossad agent in Munich?
Funny, isn’t it? How not 15 years ago Robert Downey Jr was nominated for an Oscar for playing a black man in Tropic Thunder? That would be a huge scandal today…

From Fidel Castro’s daughter…

Alina Fernández, has emphasized to Deadline her endorsement of James Franco playing her Cuban leader revolutionary father in the upcoming independent feature, Alina of Cuba.

She is also proud that “the project is almost entirely Latino, both in front and behind the camera.”

“James Franco has an obvious physical resemblance with Fidel Castro, besides his skills and charisma,” said Fernández about the 127 Hours Oscar nominated actor of Portuguese heritage.

Fernández will be played in Alina of Cuba by Ana Villafañe.

The character in "Tropic Thunder" (Kirk Lazarus) was not a black man.

[jas]

He can get over himself. The best actor for the job gets it. period.