Diego Luna Adds Wes Bentley, Mark Moses & More For 'Chavez'

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by Simon Dang
May 3, 2012 9:43 AM
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The Wes Bentley comeback train keeps on rolling! The "American Beauty" star whose life was nearly ruined by his own overnight success/drug addiction is building on the momentum of "The Hunger Games," and has joined Diego Luna's next directorial effort with Mark Moses ("Mad Men"), Michael Cudlitz ("Southland"), Jacob Vargas ("Traffic") and Yancey Arias ("Legion") also on board for the story of labor-activist Cesar E. Chavez.

"Chavez" will see Michael Peña star as Chavez in the Keir Pearson-scripted tale that will follow the man as he organizes the largest non-violent protest in U.S. history to accomplish his goal of obtaining basic human rights for over 50,000 farm workers in California. America Ferrera and Rosario Dawson co-star as Chavez's wife Helen and political aide Dolores Huerta, respectively.

Bentley, meanwhile, joins as fearless attorney Jerry Cohen, who became the backbone of the United Farm Workers' legal efforts with Moses as organizer Fred Ross who helps Chavez's efforts, Cudlitz as an unnamed sheriff, Arias as United Farm Workers Union secretary/treasurer Gilbert Padilla and Vargas as Chavez' older brother, Richard.

Luna produces the film alongside BFF Gael Garcia Bernal and Pablo Cruz's Canana Films, as well as with John Malkovich, Lianne Halfon and Russell Smith's Mr. Mudd. Lensing began earlier this week in Mexico. [Variety]