LIBERTADOR (In Production)

• LIBERTADOR

The full cast has been set for director Alberto Arvelo Mendoza’s, Simon Bolivar biopic, Libertador.

Edgar Ramirez

Top lining as the revolutionary hero will be Edgar Ramirez (The Bourne Ultimatum) in a modern epic about Bolivar’s life and his quest to unify the nations of South America.  Over his lifetime (1783-1830), Bolivar fought for Latin American independence from the Spanish Empire and waged military campaigns that covered twice the area of that conquered by Alexander the Great.  Joining Ramirez in this quest will also be Maria Valverde (Melissa P.), Danny Huston (Children of Men), Imanol Arias (El Lute) and Gary Lewis (Gangs of New York).  Hit the jump for more from the epic Libertador.

Written by Children of Men’s Timothy Sexton, Libertador is the most ambitious and biggest independent production to emerge from South America thus far. 

Regarding the project, Arvelo Mendoza was quoted as follows:

“From the start, I knew I didn’t want to make a film just about history, so I tried to move away from the paintings in the museums and cinema for historians, and really concentrate on the man behind the stories and who he really was as a person.”

That person continues to be a Latin American hero to this day, historically considered one of the most influential politicians and emancipators in American history.  Producer Winnifred Hammacher explained it as such:

“This sprawling epic spans the life and is told from Bolívar’s perspective. The universal theme, international cast and acclaimed production team will succeed in making LIBERTADOR the South American Braveheart.”

The film, shot primarily in Spanish with some English and French, recently moved its production from Venezuela to Spain for the second half of its 14 week shoot.  The L.A. Philharmonic’s own Gustavo Dudamel will also be making his first feature score with the film.

 Look for Libertador to land sometime in 2013.