Anthony Hopkins to play HEMINGWAY
In an inspired bit of casting, Anthony Hopkins has been cast as Ernest Hemingway in Andy Garcia’s HEMINGWAY AND FUENTES. Actor Garcia has penned the script for the film with Hemingway’s granddaughter, Hilary Hemingway, and will also direct and co-star in the film.
HEMINGWAY AND FUENTES follows the two decades Hemingway lived in Cuba, along with his best friend, Gregorio Fuentes (the role Garcia will play). Hemingway’s time in Cuba was extremely important in both is personal and professional career, as it was during this time that he wrote “The Old Man and the Sea,” his last major work, and one of the most lauded and recognized of his career.
Garcia’s background in fishing is what inspired him to do the project, as much of the time Hemingway spent with Fuentes was while the two were offshore fishing. Garcia met various fishermen as far back as the 1970s who knew and fished with the men. He has commented, “I was specifically most interested in Hemingway’s connection to Cuba, where he spent the last 20 years of his life, and his relationship with his last captain, Gregorio.” Garcia’s script has been written since before he directed THE LOST CITY in 2005.
The casting of Hopkins as Hemingway has long been in gestation, and he is committed to filming in HEMINGWAY AND FUENTES after he finishes his work in THOR. Garcia said, “Anthony is one of the greatest actors, and I’d heard he’d been interested in playing the character in the past…I’m blessed that he responded.”
Hemingway has been portrayed on the silver screen numerous times before, including Chris O’Donnell’s portrayal of the author in his younger years in 1996’s IN LOVE AND WAR. Currently, director Philip Kaufman (QUILLS, THE RIGHT STUFF) is also developing a Hemingway film, set to star James Gandolfini as a younger Hemingway.
Annette Bening has also been cast in the film, and will play Mary Welsh Hemingway, the author’s third wife.
Source Variety
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