Soderbergh Doing Two “Che” Films
Posted: Tuesday October 31st 2006 12:13am
Source: Variety
Author: Garth Franklin

After a long development process, “Traffic” & “Ocean’s 11” helmer Steven Soderbergh is set to do not one but two biopics about Latin American revolutionary Che Guevara reports Variety.

Benicio Del Toro will play Guevara, whilst Javier Bardem, Franka Potente and Benjamin Bratt are in talks to play key roles. Shot back to back using mostly Spanish dialogue, events in both films take place after those covered in the 2004 Walter Salles-directed “The Motorcycle Diaries”.

The first film entitled “The Argentine” has Fidel Castro leading Che and a band of Cuban exiles into leading the revolution that toppled the U.S.-friendly regime of dictator Fulgencio Batista.

The second film “Guerrilla” follows Che’s trip to New York, where he spoke at the United Nations in 1964 and was celebrated in society circles.

Soderbergh has already shot opening footage with Del Toro and Julia Ormond who plays TV journo Lisa Howard. Photos of that shoot (like the one above) appeared online several months ago.

Peter Buchman (“Eragon”, “The Piano Tuner”) penned both scripts, and a companion documentary has been shot whilst researching the film, including interviews with those who fought alongside Guevara in Cuba and Bolivia.

Wild Bunch (“The New World”) will finance and produce alongside Morena Films and Telecinco, no distributor is yet locked.

The budget for both films is said to be under $70 million. Shooting begins next May in Mexico and other South American locations.