Cuba: Benicio to play 'Che' Guevara in "Guerilla"

It is the so perfectly ironic (and a classic example of "blowback") that in killing Che, the CIA did more to create a socialist icon than could have ever been dreamed of. Che seems to be going nowhere and more popular than ever...

His remains are still being battled over between ex CIA agents and Cuba, who just yesterday, claimed to have put to rest questions about the authenticity of the handless body shipped to Havana in 1995.

Oh yeah, speaking of Che, the blowhards over at Babalu blog have a new censorship campaign. This time against the Smithsonian, who has dared issue a collection of music and speeches collected in Cuba in the 60s, including one from Che. Mambi Watch has got the scoop - and where you can write to help preserve free speech and counteract the small but radical Miami crowd.

As for the "Guerilla" movie, I wonder if it will be about more than just Che in Bolivia? Hopefully Soderbergh and Benicio del Toro coming together again will result in something as good as Traffic. I'll probably find reasons to hate it...

The Associated Press, July 19, 2007
MADRID, Spain: Benicio del Toro will play Argentine revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara in a film directed by Steve Soderbergh, the film's production company said Thursday.

The production company did not release the title of the film, but del Toro's official Web site said it would be called "Guerrilla." The Spain-United States co-production will be filmed entirely in Spanish.

It is the second biography about the famous Argentine guerrilla in recent years following 2004's "The Motorcycle Diaries."

The film reunites del Toro with Soderbergh for the first time since "Traffic," for which del Toro won an Academy Award for best supporting actor for his portrayal of a Mexican police officer.

Julia Ormond, who starred with Brad Pitt in "Legends of the Fall," and Catalina Sandino of "Maria Full of Grace" will co-star.