A new Zorro reboot, simply titled “Z”, has found its leading man in Gael Garcia Bernal.
Directed by Jonas Cuaron – who co-wrote “Gravity” with his father Alfonso – “Z” will send the masked hero into the near future. No specific details about the plot have been revealed yet, but Independent UK reports that the film will “take audiences to a new and visually exciting world.”
“I have always loved Gael for this role. Zorro is a hero who is charming, witty and clever. Gael possesses all those characteristic and he’s able to deliver them with a modern spin to introduce the Zorro character to a new audience,” said the CEO of production company Sobini Films, Mark Amin, about the casting.
Initially titled “Zorro Reborn”, “Z” will supposedly only relate to the previous films in tone. As Andy Kubai points out, taking on a classic hero like Zorro could be favourable in appealing to a new generation of audience. Robert Downey Jr. was able to bring a fresh and unique take to the “Sherlock Holmes” series without losing the appeal of the iconic character. Of course, this could also backfire.
Created by writer Johnston McCulley back in 1919, Zorro (which means fox in Spanish) was Don Diego de la Vega, a Spanish nobleman, by day, and a masked outlaw by night who defended commoners and the native people against villains and the corrupt local authorities.
The caped crusader hasn’t been seen on the big screen since Antonio Banderas played the iconic role in 2005’s “The Legend of Zorro”.
“Z” is slated to begin shooting in the Dominican Republic later on this year.
Sources: Screen Rant, Independent UK, Movie Web.
