Ana Villafañe: Last News

The Alina Of Cuba producerJohn Martinez O'Felan is hitting back atJohn Leguizamo's criticism of the casting of James Franco as former Cuban President Fidel Castro,calling them 'culturally uneducated.'The film is based on the true-life story of Alina Fernandez, played by Ana Villafañe, a Cuban exile turned social advocate who learns she is Castro's daughter at age 10, according to The Hollywood Reporter.Franco is set to star oppositeMía Maestro, who playsNatalia 'Naty' Revuelta, a Cuban-born socialite who becomes romantically involved with Castro. Casting controversy: The lead creative producer for Alina Of Cuba,John Martinez O'Felan, hit back at John Leguizamo's criticism of Franco being hired to play Fidel Castro, calling them'culturally uneducated'Leguizamo, a Colombian American actor, took to Instagram on Friday and fiercely condemned the choice for director Miguel Bardem's new film, calling it yet another example of cultural appropriation, considering Franco doesn't have Latin roots.'How is this still going on? How is Hollywood excluding us but stealing our narratives as well?' saidLeguizamo, who has long been an advocate for the inclusion of Latin actors and their stories to be told on screen.

EXCLUSIVE: Gloria Estefan is set to be featured in Revolution’s Daughter, a documentary that delves into the lives and experiences of people who were impacted by the Fidel Castro era in Cuba. The deceased dictator’s daughter Alina Fernandez is a central subject in the doc and also an executive producer.

EXCLUSIVE: Veteran producers William Shockley and Tom Brady have partnered with Allen Gilmer and Riki Rushing to launch Thunderbird Pictures, a new production company to have a presence in both Los Angeles and Austin, TX.

EXCLUSIVE: Fidel Castro’s daughter, Alina Fernández, has emphasized to Deadline her endorsement of James Franco playing her Cuban leader revolutionary father in the upcoming independent feature, Alina of Cuba.

After expressing his outrage over James Franco being cast as Fidel Castro in the independent feature drama Alina of Cuba, Primetime Emmy winner John Leguizamo has expounded on his stance regarding Hollywood casting non-Latinos in Latino roles. Specifically, in an Instagram post earlier today, he says “Alright, look, I got no problems with James Franco, yo, OK?” while explaining, “I grew up in a era where Latin people couldn’t play Latin people on film.”

John Leguizamo thinks the casting of James Franco as Cuban revolution leader Fidel Castro is no bueno.

James Franco has been cast as Fidel Castro in an upcoming movie and his casting is being slammed by John Leguizamo.

John Leguizamo has slammed the decision to cast American actor James Franco as the Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro in an upcoming film.It was revealed earlier this week that Franco, 44, will be playing Castro in the indie project Alina of Cuba, and Lequizamo, 62, took to his Instagram on Friday to speak out over the casting choice.'How is this still going on? How is Hollywood excluding us but stealing our narratives as well?' Leguizamo began in his rant, that received almost 10,000 likes.'No more appropriation Hollywood and streamers! Boycott! This F’d up! Plus seriously difficult story to tell without aggrandizement which would b wrong!' 'He ain't Latino!' John Leguizamo has slammed the decision to cast James Franco as Fidel Castro and demands fans to boycott the film over 'appropriation'Adding: 'I don't got a prob with Franco but he ain't Latino!'The View co-host Ana Navarro then commented under the post, telling Leguizamo that she would 'join' him in boycotting the film.Navarro wrote: 'I’d like to think no Latino actor worth their salt would sign up to play and aggrandize a murderous dictator who terrorized the people of Cuba for six decades.

James Franco has been cast as former Cuban leader Fidel Castro in upcoming film Alina Of Cuba.Directed by Miguel Bardem, Alina Of Cuba is centred around the story of Alina Fernandez (played by Ana Villafañe), the daughter of Castro and Natalia ‘Naty’ Revuelta (Mia Maestro) after they had an affair.Fernandez discovered Castro was her biological father aged 10. She went onto become one of Castro’s most outspoken critics and was arrested multiple times for trying to leave Cuba.

John Leguizamo is calling for the boycott of the upcoming film, after James Franco was reportedly cast as Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro.The star took to Instagram on Friday and blasted reports that the embattled actor landed the role even though «he ain't Latino!» The 62-year-old actor and comedian wondered how the Latinx community continues to be invisible when Hollywood has supposedly made so much progress since he first broke into the business.«How is this still going on?» he asked. «How is Hollywood excluding us but stealing our narratives as well? No more appropriation Hollywood and streamers! Boycott! This F’d up! Plus seriously difficult story to tell without aggrandizement which would b wrong! I don’t got a prob with Franco but he ain’t Latino!» tells the story of Alina Fernandez, Castro's illegitimate daughter who was critical of Castro's reign in Cuba.

Zack Sharf John Leguizamo took to Instagram to speak out against the recent casting of James Franco as Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro in the upcoming independent film, “Alina of Cuba.” Variety confirmed Franco’s casting on Aug. 4.

James Franco has booked his next movie role.

Wilson Chapman editorJames Franco has been cast as Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro in the independent film “Alina of Cuba,” Variety has confirmed.Franco joins the previously announced Ana Villafañe, who portrays the title character Alina Fernandez, Castro’s daughter. In addition, Mía Maestro has also joined the cast as Alina’s mother Natalia Revuelta, the Cuban socialite who gave birth to her after an affair with Castro. The film will follow Alina’s life as Castro’s illegitimate daughter and a critic of his reign in Cuba before leaving the country and defecting to Spain in 1993.

James Franco has been cast as late Cuban leader Fidel Castro in the upcoming film Aline of Cuba from director Miguel Bardem.The Oscar-nominated actor, 44, will be joined in the cast by actress Mía Maestro, 47, who will play the role of socialite Natalia 'Naty' Revuelta, who was Castro's one-time mistress, Deadline reported Thursday.The pair join actress Ana Villafañe, 33, in the cast, as she is playing the role of Alina Fernandez - the daughter of Castro and Revuelta - in the motion picture. The latest:James Franco, 44, has been cast as late Cuban leader Fidel Castro in the upcoming film Aline of Cuba from director Miguel Bardem.

EXCLUSIVE: Oscar nominee and 2x Golden Globe winner James Franco will play Cuban leader Fidel Castro in Miguel Bardem’s Aline of Cuba with Imagen Award winner Mía Maestro set to play Natalia “Naty” Revuelta, the Cuban-born socialite he has a passionate love affair with.

Erich Bergen will be back on Broadway this summer!

EXCLUSIVE: Cuban American actress Ana Villafañe has landed the lead role in the indie feature Alina of Cuba: La Hija Rebelde from Mankind Entertainment and Maven Pictures. She will portray Fidel Castro’s daughter and anti-communism activist, Alina Fernandez.

EXCLUSIVE: Just days after she became available following the cancellation of NBC’s Ordinary Joe, Natalie Martinez has been tapped as a series regular opposite Vince Vaughn in the Apple TV+ drama series Bad Monkey, written and executive produced by Ted Lasso co-creator Bill Lawrence. Martinez replaces Ana Villafañe who had originally been cast in the role. Recastings are unfortunate but inevitable part of the business that could be for various of reasons. In this case, I hear the character had been written older than Villafañe’s age, leading to the decision to replace her.

India de Beaufort is set as a lead opposite Melissa Rauch and John Larroquette in NBC’s comedy series Night Court, a follow-up to the classic legal sitcom, which is slated for debut next season.

EXCLUSIVE: Apple has rounded out the ensemble cast for drama Bad Monkey, written and executive produced by Ted Lasso co-creator Bill Lawrence. Ana Villafañe (Younger), Rob Delaney (Catastrophe), newcomer Ahmed Elhaj and Arturo Luis Soria (Insatiable) are set as series regulars, joining Vince Vaughn, who also serves as EP, Michelle Monaghan, Jodie Turner-Smith and Meredith Hagner.

The three-day Curtain Up! festival in Times Square later this month will culminate in a big Sunday concert featuring performers from 18 Broadway musicals and five plays, with shows represented from Ain’t Too Proud, Hadestown and Jagged Little Pill to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Pass Over and To Kill a Mockingbird.