The unforgettable Antonio Banderas film that led him to train with an Olympic fencing team

Catherine Zeta-Jones and Antonio Banderas were the stars of a film that faced several challenges during its production (TriStar Pictures/Sony)

After an injury that kept him from his dream of being a professional footballer, Antonio Banderas found his way between the stage, the spotlight and the cameras. After training as a theatre actor in Spain and with the support of the filmmaker Pedro AlmodóvarThe Malaga native made his way into the seventh art and established himself in Hollywood with a heroic character wearing a cape and mask.

The mask of the foxan unforgettable 1998 release, falls into that category of films that saw the light of day against all odds.

The original character, creation of the writer Johnston McClulley By 1919, he had already made the leap to the big screen on previous occasions with varying degrees of success. However, before the turn of the century, Steven Spielberg became interested in producing a new version of the story.

In association with TriStar Pictures, the filmmaker called on screenwriter Joel Gross (who had previously adapted The Three Musketeers) to work on the story. Thus, in 1993began pre-production on a feature film that would undergo several drastic changes, including script, lead actor and director.

The film “The Mask of Zorro” is based on the character created by Johnston McCulley in 1919, which had already been adapted to film on previous occasions (TriStar Pictures/Sony)

Michael Salomon was the first director to begin working on the feature film. The search for the star cast was also set in motion. In 1994, Sean Connery He entered into negotiations to be Diego de La Vega and —as revealed by the filmmaker— Tom Cruise He was very close to playing the lead role, Alejandro Murrieta.

Speaking to Slash Film, Solomon revealed that Spielberg—in his role as executive producer—was determined to hire the star of Mission Impossible as Zorro’s successor and star of the fiction.

The cinematographer was not very keen on the idea, as he preferred to work with a Spanish-speaking actor.

Tom Cruise was considered for the lead role, but Banderas was ultimately chosen to play Alejandro Murrieta, the successor to the original Zorro. (REUTERS/Mike Theiler/File Photo)REUTERS

“My friend Bille August had made The house of the spirits with a non-Latino cast, and got into a lot of trouble for it in South America. And I said to Steven, ‘That’s probably not a good idea, just for that reason,’” he recalled in the interview.

Apparently, Cruise also sensed that it was not a role for him and decided to contact the director. Both knew each other from having worked together in A distant horizon. So, through a phone call, he declined the offer and the way was cleared for another actor.

In 1995, Salomon and Sean Connery also left the project and Spielberg looked for another director. This is where the duo that had made the film came into the picture. Gunslinger. Antonio Banderas signed as the lead and Robert Rodriguez as the director.

The project, initially produced by Steven Spielberg, went through several changes of screenwriters, directors and actors before its final version. (Moviestore/Shutterstock)Moviestore/Shutterstock | Moviestore/Shutterstock

However, months later, another dispute began in pre-production. The new director failed to come to an agreement with the producers on the film’s budget and backed out. He was relieved Martin Campbell, which had refreshed the James Bond franchise with GoldenEye (1995).

Anthony Hopkins He also joined the cast as Diego de La Vega, a role he accepted “for fun,” and Catherine Zeta-Jones She was selected by Spielberg as the brave Elena Montero.

And the final script ended up being written by John Eskow, Ted Elliot and Terry Rossio, based on a story created in collaboration with Randall Jahnson.

After landing the role, the Spanish actor began to prepare physically for the demands of the story. If there is one thing that characterizes Zorro, it is his talent with the sword. To perfect his mastery of this weapon, Alejandro began training for four months with the Olympic fencing team in SpainThat season gave him a solid foundation for later training with his castmates.

To prepare for the role, Banderas trained for four months with Spain’s Olympic fencing team. The cast then honed their swordplay with master Bob Anderson. (TriStar Pictures/Sony)

Already in Mexico —where the filming set was installed—, Banderas, Hopkins and Zeta-Jones They continued their arduous instruction under the direction of Bob Andersona renowned master swordsman with a demanding reputation on Hollywood sets, who also trained the actors of Pirates of the Caribbean y The Lord of the Rings.

For another two months, he put them through 10 hours of practice to fine-tune their postures, rhythm and choreography. “We used to call him ‘Grumpy Bob’, he was such a perfectionist”Martin Campbell later recalled in an interview with the New York Times. “He was incredibly inventive, and also He refused to treat actors like stars.”.

The Malaga native impressed Anderson during that time, and earned recognition as “the best natural talent he had ever worked with.”

The Mask of Zorro The film deals with the relationship between Don Diego de la Vega—the original Zorro—and a bandit he chooses as his successor after spending 20 years in prison. During his time in prison, his wife was murdered and his daughter Elena was sent to Spain. After escaping, De la Vega recruits Alejandro Murrieta and trains him to follow in his footsteps as a masked vigilante.

The film’s plot revolves around Don Diego de la Vega, the original Zorro, who seeks revenge and trains Alejandro Murrieta as his successor. (TriStar Productions/Sony)

The film grossed $250,288,523 worldwide and was nominated for two Oscars. Critical and public acclaim more than compensated for the problematic filming that took place at Estudios Churubusco and other Mexican locations with an initial budget of $60 million. Unforeseen events, delays and other inconveniences increased the investment by an additional $10 million.

“All the big action sequences, the finale in the mine with the explosions, and the fires, and the sword fight, and the death of the villain, etc., were very time-consuming and grueling. It was physically exhausting. Somehow we got through it without too many injuries, nothing dramatic,” recalled George Parra, first assistant director, in conversation with SlashFilm.

During the first four weeks, the crew and technicians dealt with health problems ranging from respiratory infections to stomach problems. It is said that during this season, the flu began to spread among the crew and reached the director, who had to be hospitalized due to complications in his bronchi, which led to the shooting being halted for four days.

Another obstacle that really caused headaches for the team was the customsProps for the filming were held for nine days, including Zorro’s plastic sword.

Filming in Mexico faced logistical problems, including the retention of props in customs for nine days, which included Zorro’s plastic sword (TriStar Productions/Sony)

Also, a curious fact worth mentioning is the debate over the ending of the film.

[Alerta de spoiler] Varietyin an article of the time, reported on the idea that was circulating among the producers regarding the character of Anthony Hopkins. The fact that Diego de la Vega died in his daughter’s arms seemed too depressing to them. The audience at the test screening were also not satisfied.

Despite this, the ending of the veteran Zorro was not modified. What was added was the sequence in which Alexander and Elena They live happily with their son, a scene recorded three months after filming officially concluded“It was Spielberg’s idea, naturally. He loves to end his films on a high note,” said Thom Noble, the film’s editor.