The recent news of the hiring of James Franco to play the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro in the upcoming feature “Alina of Cuba” has generated some backlash.
Now Alina Fernandez, the daughter of Castro and the subject of the film, has discussed the casting and seems to have no issue with Franco in the role.
She explains to Deadline that: “James Franco has an obvious physical resemblance with Fidel Castro, besides his skills and charisma”. She also says: “the project is almost entirely Latino, both in front and behind the camera” with Franco being an obvious exception.
The film also stars Ana Villafane as Alina and Mia Maestro as her mother, but the Franco casting is what’s being talked about. Actor John Leguizamo criticized the casting recently, saying on Instagram: “How is this still going on?… I don’t got a [problem] with Franco but he ain’t Latino!”
Added to that are the complications surrounding allegations against Franco, and the casting news overshadowing the film as Castro is not the focal point.
Miguel Bardem helms the movie about the Cuban exile-turned-social advocate Fernandez.