John Leguizamo and other Latino actors call out James Franco’s casting as Fidel Castro
Latino actors including John Leguizamo are speaking out against the casting of James Franco as the late Cuban dictator Fidel Castro. Franco is reportedly set to play Castro in the upcoming film “Alina of Cuba," which follows the life of Alina Fernandez, Castro's daughter.
Leguizamo took to instagram Friday, saying the role should have gone to a latino actor instead. He wrote in part quote, “How is Hollywood excluding us but stealing our narratives as well?"
Leguizamo said he has no issue with Franco, but objects to the casting of a non-Latino for the role. Leguizamo isn’t the only Latino star angered by the casting.
“Wtf is this….” wrote actress Jess Darrow, who voiced Luisa Madrigal in “Encanto,” in response to Leguizamo’s post.
“I’m sorry but what in the actual f**k?” wrote actor Raúl Castillo in an Instagram story.
Production for “Alina of Cuba" is reportedly scheduled to begin later this year.
Latino representation has long lagged in Hollywood. Despite making up 18% of the US population, only 5% of the speaking roles in 2019’s top 100 movies went to Latino actors, according to a 2020 study by the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative.
Franco also faced allegations of inappropriate and sexually exploitive behavior in 2018 from five women, several of whom were his students. In 2021, in the wake of settling a class-action lawsuit, he admitted to sleeping with students from the acting school he co-owned.
