After it became known last week that Hollywood star James Franco (44, "127 Hours") will play the Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro (1926-2016) in the upcoming biopic "Alina of Cuba", a heated rage is raging in the USA Debate. The Colombian-born American actor John Leguizamo (62, "John Wick") criticized Franco's cast as an example of so-called "whitewashing". The term refers to the practice, common in Hollywood history, of casting white actors for non-white characters. Corresponding social media posts Leguizamo received a lot of support online.
Fidel Castro's illegitimate daughter Alina Fernández (66) is involved as a consultant in the biopic "Alina of Cuba" about her life. She defended the decision to produce James Franco to the US trade journal Deadline. According to Fernández, his facial features "obviously resembled her famous father". In addition, she is proud that “almost exclusively people with Latin American roots” are involved in “Alina of Cuba” in front of and behind the camera.
"Alina of Cuba" by Spanish director Miguel Bardem (58) is about Alina Fernández' eventful biography. She only found out about Castro's paternity at the age of ten. Fernández later became one of his most vocal critics, breaking away from Cuba in spectacular fashion. Actress and singer Ana Villafañe (33) will play the part of the title character. Mother Natalia "Naty" Revuelta (1925-2015) embodies Mía Maestro (47).
