Franco Flamed For Fidel Fiasco

Casting of James Franco as Fidel Castro Stirs Controversy

August 8th, 2022 -Actor James Franco has been cast as Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro in an upcoming independent film. The choice of the non-Latino actor has ruffled feathers in a time when authenticity in casting has become very expected.

John Leguizamo, who recently voiced Bruno in Disney’s “Encanto,” blasted Franco’s casting on Instagram. Leguizamo argued that the role should have gone to a Latino actor instead. 

“How is this still going on?” Leguizamo 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 (be) wrong! I don’t got a (problem) with Franco but he ain’t Latino!”

Leguizamo was not alone.

“Wtf is this….” wrote actress Jess Darrow, who voiced Luisa Madrigal in “Encanto,” in response to Leguizamo’s post.

“Not me reading that James Franco will have to ‘build’ an accent for Castro, when my entire life I’ve been made fun of for not speaking English like an American and been told countless times to work hard to get rid of it…” wrote actress Sol Rodriguez. 

“I’m auditioning for another generic Latin-American drug dealer and James Franco is dead a** playing Fidel Castro,” wrote actor Jeff Torres on Twitter. “Latinos gettin’ done dirty af out here and everywhere. Damn lol.”

“I’m sorry but what in the actual f**k?” wrote actor Raúl Castillo in an Instagram story.