Castro's Daughter is an upcoming biographical drama film about Alina Fernandez, the illegitimate daughter of Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro. It was directed by Miguel Bardem and written by Jose Rivera, Nilo Cruz and Robert Moresco, based on Fernandez's 1997 memoir Alina: Memorias de la hija rebelde de Fidel Castro. James Franco stars as Castro. Other cast members include Ana Villafañe as Fernandez, Mia Maestro, María Cecilia Botero, Alana de la Rosa, Charlotte de Casabianca, and Rafael Ernesto Hernandez.
| Castro's Daughter | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Miguel Bardem |
| Screenplay by | |
| Story by |
|
| Based on | Alina: Memorias de la hija rebelde de Fidel Castro by Alina Fernandez |
| Produced by | Nilo Cruz |
| Starring | James Franco |
| Music by | Carlos Jose Alvarez |
Production company | Mankind Films |
| Countries |
|
| Language | English |
Premise
editThe film tells the history of Alina Fernandez, the illegitimate daughter of Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro, and her hard years living in the shadow of her father.
Cast
edit- James Franco as Fidel Castro
- Ana Villafañe as Alina Fernandez
- Kenzie Collazo as Young Alina
- Mia Maestro as Natalia Revuelta
- Alana de la Rosa
- María Cecilia Botero
- Rafael Ernesto Hernandez as Raul Castro[2]
- Charlotte de Casabianca as Mari Paz
Production
editThe film was in development in early 2007. Actors linked to this production include Daniel Bruhl, Paz Vega, Jordi Molla and Mia Maestro.[3][4] In 2020 the project resurfaced. In 2022 James Franco came on as lead.[5]
Controversy
editThe casting of James Franco as Fidel Castro generated controversy from figures like Jessica Darrow and Ana Navarro after John Leguizamo criticized it stating in an Instagram post "I don't got a prob with Franco but he ain't Latino!".[7] In response, producer John Martinez O’Felan said Leguizamo's comments "are culturally uneducated and a blind attack with zero substance related to this project."[8]
Notes
editReferences
edit- ↑ "Castro's Daughter". Writers Guild of America West. August 23, 2023. Retrieved March 26, 2026.
- ↑ LeBlanc, Xavier (November 17, 2022). "EXCLUSIVE: 'Alina of Cuba' Adds Luna Baxter And Others to Stellar Cast - Latin Heat". Retrieved September 26, 2025.
- ↑ "Vendrá Brooke Shields a filmar en Puerto Rico la película Castro's Daughter". Primera Hora (in Spanish). March 1, 2010. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
- ↑ Evans, Chris. "Daniel Bruhl and Paz Vega join the cast of Castro's Daughter". Screen. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
- ↑ LeBlanc, Xavier (November 17, 2022). "EXCLUSIVE: 'Alina of Cuba' Adds Luna Baxter And Others to Stellar Cast - Latin Heat". Retrieved September 26, 2025.
- ↑ "James Franco interpretará a Fidel Castro en película sobre su hija Alina Fernández". El Universal (in Spanish). May 8, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
- ↑ ""No es latino": la polémica en EE.UU. por la elección de James Franco para interpretar a Fidel Castro". BBC News Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved September 26, 2025.
- ↑ Perez, Lexy; White, Abbey (August 6, 2022). "'Alina of Cuba' Producer Responds to John Leguizamo's Criticism of James Franco Casting as Fidel Castro: "His Comments Are Culturally Uneducated"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 5, 2026.