Gael Garcia Bernal Will Put On The Mask For Post-Apocalyptic 'Zorro Reborn'

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by Kevin Jagernauth
February 16, 2012 8:16 PM
6 Comments

Gael Garcia Bernal never really struck us as a "tentpole guy." Having built his cred working with dudes like Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu ("Amores Perros"), Jim Jarmusch ("The Limits Of Control"), Alfonso Cuaron ("Y Tu Mama Tambien"), Walter Salles ("The Motorcycle Diaries"), Michel Gondry ("The Science Of Sleep"), Fernando Meirelles ("Blindness") and Pedro Almodovar ("Bad Education") he's earned a strong reputation as an actor of taste and talent. Even more, as a producer he's backed movies like "Voy a explotar" and "Sin Nombre." Sure, he's flirted with the mainstream in mind-boggling decisions to star in stuff like "Letters To Juliet" and the forthcoming "A Little Bit Of Heaven," and his his next move is no less baffling.

Fox has tapped Bernal to take the lead in "Zorro Reborn" their futuristic reboot of the sword-wielding hero. If this sounds vaguely famililar, that's because last spring the project first surfaced and it sounded pretty awful. Penned by Glenn Gers, Lee Shipman and Brian McGreevy (the guys behind the Dracula reimagining "Harker" that has Jaume Collet-Serra attached to direct) the movie will reinvent the masked nobleman by transplanting him into a post-apocalyptic future for a revenge tale that apparently nods to Sergio Leone and "No Country for Old Men." Jesus.

Oddly, Fox has landed a star first while a director still needs to be found. If there is any silver lining here it's that this is really unlike anything we've seen Bernal do before, and we're kind of curious to see what he brings to it, no matter how half baked this material sounds. And Fox will want to be moving on this fast as Sony has their own Zorro movie in development based on the 2005 book by Steve Asbell. So yeah, Gael Barcia Bernal... coming to a toy line near you.

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6 Comments

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Renee | February 17, 2012 10:08 AMReply

@Lenij
Giving him the benefit of the doubt, I think he does use the money finance the production company he runs with Diego Luna. I know that the deal they had with focus features ended a few years ago, plus they have Ambulante a documentary festival. They both seem passionate about both so maybe some of the money goes there.

That said I hope this film never sees the light of day.
Tom | February 17, 2012 3:59 AMReply

Bleh. I'd much rather watch the old Disney show Zorro. That was the shit.
geha714 | February 16, 2012 10:39 PMReply

Post-apocalyptic Zorro? Really? This makes Transformers 4 actually appealing.

A message to Gael: Esto en en serio? Que te pasa? Te falta plata o que? Me decepcionas.
Travis Hopson | February 16, 2012 10:20 PMReply

What happened to Rpin Suwannath? He was supposed to be directing it. I guess he's out!
lenij | February 16, 2012 10:07 PMReply

Maybe Gael needs money to finance a passion project and Fox came to the rescue but Jesus Christ what were you thinking. Zorro? Seriously?! I cannot wrap my head around this.
Byzzu | February 16, 2012 8:45 PMReply

Another talent with debilitating coke addiction.