The announcement that James Franco would be playing former Cuban leader Fidel Castro in the upcoming film Alina of Cuba did not sit well with John Leguizamo, but the controversial casting has garnered a ringing endorsement from the actual subject of the film. Alina Fernandez, an outspoken critic of the Cuban government who happens to be Castro’s real-life daughter, has since weighed in on the situation. Speaking with Deadline, Fernandez made it clear she fully supports the casting choice.
Fernandez went on to praise the rest of the main cast members, including Ana Villafañe as herself and Mía Maestro as her mother. Ultimately, it seems Fernandez also hopes that people will focus on “the conversation about Cuba” more so than who might be playing who in the film, stressing how confident she is in the talent put together to bring this movie to life.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
Alina of Cuba’s Producer Also Defended James Franco’s Casting
20th Century
This fiasco began with John Leguizamo blasting the casting with a post on Instagram. Leguizamo felt that Franco’s casting was taking away an opportunity from a Latino actor who should have been in that role instead. You can read what Leguizamo said below.
That would later get a response from producer John Martinez O’Felan, who argued that by getting involved this way, Leguizamo was only creating division in the community. O’Felan also makes a comment about the actor’s “blood history,” seemingly pointing to Franco’s Portuguese heritage. As the producer said:
What’s been made clear is that Franco is not going anywhere, despite any criticism leveled against Alina of Cuba by Leguizamo. The film doesn’t currently have a release date but shooting is slated to begin on Aug. 15.
