No stranger to biopics, Edgar Ramirez (“Carlos” and “Che”) has signed on to play Simón Bolívar, the Venezuelan military and political leader who was instrumental in Latin America’s successful struggle for independence from the Spanish Empire, in “Libertador.”
The film, written by Timothy J. Sexton (“Children Of Men”) and directed by Alberto Arvelo, will focus on the fight for independence from Bolivar’s point of view. Ramirez will be joined by Danny Huston, Gary Lewis, María Valverde and Imanol Arias, though what roles they'll be playing haven't yet be revealed. The filmmakers have also drafted LA Philharmonic music director Gustavo Dudamel for what will be his film composing debut, an appropriate choice as Dudamel is also the director of the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra in Venezuela.
Bolivar’s story sounds like it could make for a good and proper historical epic, the likes of which we haven’t seen in a few years, and the producers are billing the film as “the South American ‘Braveheart.’ ” “Libertador,” which recently wrapped shooting in Venezuela before moving to Spain for the remainder of production, will be in Spanish, English and French. Currently there are no details on a release date, though if we had to guess, it may premiere next year at one of the major European festivals. [Deadline/Hollywood Reporter]