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The announcement that James Franco would play former Cuban leader Fidel Castro in the upcoming film Alina of Cuba didn’t sit well with John Leguizamo, but the controversial casting has received a ringing endorsement from the film’s original subject. Alina Fernandez, an outspoken critic of the Cuban government who happens to be Castro’s real daughter, has since spoken out on the situation. Speaking to Deadline, Fernandez made it clear that she fully supports the casting decision.
“The project is almost entirely Latino, both in front of and behind the camera. James Franco, in addition to his skill and charisma, bears an obvious physical resemblance to Fidel Castro.”
Fernandez praised the rest of the main cast, including Ana Villafañe as herself and Mía Maestro as her mother. Ultimately, Fernandez also seems hopeful that people will focus more on “the conversation about Cuba” than who might play who in the film, noting how confident she is in the talent that has been brought together to make this film to bring to life.
“I think the cast selection is amazing. Ana Villafañe is extraordinarily talented, not only as an actress, because she is also a great singer, a very complete performer. I’m sure Mía Maestro, an actress I admire, will understand and interpret Naty, my mother, in a unique way and I can’t wait to see her build her character. The rest of the cast will be a wonderful surprise for all viewers. The filmmakers have worked hard and I cannot be more grateful to them for their comprehensive selection. For me, the most important thing about this film is that the conversation about Cuba is lively. For me personally, the experience is far too unexpected, but above all humbling.”
Alina from Cuba’s producer also defended James Franco’s casting
This fiasco began when John Leguizamo blew up the casting with a post on Instagram. Leguizamo felt that Franco’s casting was robbing a Latino actor who should have played the role instead. You can read what Leguizamo said below.
“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 seriously difficult story to tell without exaggerating what would be wrong! I have no problem with Franco, but he’s not Latino!”
That would later receive a response from producer John Martinez O’Felan, who argued that by being involved in this way, Leguizamo was only creating division in the community. O’Felan also makes a comment on the actor’s “blood history,” which appears to hint at Franco’s Portuguese heritage. As the producer said:
“His comments are culturally illiterate and a blind attack without substance in relation to this project. The reality of the ignorance piece falls within his statement, which suggests his personal view of being ‘Latino’ because a landmass or habitat does not determine a person’s blood history or genetics. [Leguizamo’s] Annotation is a great talking point because they portray the same confusion and identity crisis in Hollywood right now within the Hispanic community in America, who argue that we should only identify as Latino, largely due to the untruths being spread by the actors shall represent us, but divide their own people.”
It was made clear that despite any criticism, Franco is going nowhere Alina of Cuba by Leguizamo. The film currently has no release date, but filming is scheduled to begin on August 15th.
