The Oscar-nominated Spanish actor takes on one of history’s most controversial figures in a new film directed by Paul Mignot, with a screenplay by Oscar nominee Nicholas Kazan. Production is underway in Paris.
Antonio Banderas is stepping into one of history’s most complex and controversial roles of the journey of a man that changed the course of the existing lands.
The Spanish-born, Academy Award-nominated actor will portray Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés in Cortés, an ambitious historical epic to be produced by Utopai Studios and Ex Machina Studios. French filmmaker Paul Mignot will direct the feature from a screenplay by Oscar-nominated writer Nicholas Kazan, with producer Marco Weber overseeing the production.
Announced today in Paris, the film brings together an internationally acclaimed creative team to revisit a defining and deeply consequential chapter in the history of Mexico and the Americas.
The project has been more than 35 years in the making, with Kazan’s screenplay offering a deeply human exploration of one of history’s most consequential encounters. Now, with Banderas at its center, the long-anticipated epic is moving forward through a production model that combines traditional filmmaking with next-generation production technologies.
A Conquistador, an Indigenous Woman and a Turning Point in History
Set in 1519, Cortés follows a restless Spanish soldier whose hunger for glory drives him to seize command of an expedition to the Yucatán and sail without authorization from Cuba.
After reaching the coast of what is now Mexico, Cortés encounters Marina (patterned after the real life indigenous woman Malinche Cortes actually encountered), an enslaved Indigenous woman whose extraordinary linguistic abilities make her indispensable to his campaign. As he builds alliances and uses faith and fear to advance his conquest, Marina witnesses his transformation from an ambitious outlaw into a man who sees himself as a messianic figure.
The story places Marina at the center of a historical collision shaped by power, ambition, cultural conflict and conquest—an encounter whose consequences continue to resonate throughout Mexican and Latin American history.
For audiences, the film offers an opportunity to revisit this pivotal period through a character-driven narrative that explores not only the man who led the expedition, but also the Indigenous woman whose linguistic skills and position made her a crucial figure in his advance.
Antonio Banderas Brings a Powerful Screen Legacy to the Role
Banderas has built an international career portraying characters defined by intensity, complexity and charisma. His casting as Cortés reunites his commanding screen presence with a historical figure whose legacy remains the subject of debate.
The actor earned an Academy Award nomination and won Best Actor at the Cannes Film Festival for his acclaimed performance in Pedro Almodóvar’s Pain and Glory. His extensive filmography includes The Mask of Zorro, Desperado, Evita, Philadelphia, The Skin I Live In and the beloved Puss in Boots franchise.
He also earned Primetime Emmy Award nominations for portraying artist Pablo Picasso in Genius: Picasso and Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa in And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself.
His experience portraying historical figures, combined with his ability to bring humanity to larger-than-life characters, makes this latest role a significant addition to his career.
Banderas will perform the role under Mignot’s direction, with production already underway in Paris and additional filming scheduled in Spain.
An Ambitious Vision for a Historical Epic
“Cortés is exactly why we built Utopai Studios,” said Cecilia Shen, co-founder and CEO of Utopai Studios. She described the project as an opportunity to bring together Kazan’s screenplay, Mignot’s cinematic vision and Banderas’ ability to bring humanity to the film’s central character.
Marco Weber, producer of Cortés and CEO and co-founder of Ex Machina Studios, emphasized the importance of believable, complex characters in historical storytelling.
Weber said Banderas brings a commanding yet deeply human dimension to Cortés, while Mignot’s vision will help translate Kazan’s screenplay into a film that seeks to bring the breathtaking world-building with an intimate human story.
The partnership also reflects the studios’ commitment to combining filmmaker-led creative work with evolving production technologies.
Mignot’s directing credits include the historical feature Vaincre ou Mourir and the award-winning short All Blood Runs Red. His experience also extends to international campaigns for major brands, including BMW, Porsche, Audi, Lexus, Jeep, L’Oréal, Louis Vuitton and Emporio Armani.
Kazan brings a distinguished screenwriting résumé to the project. He received Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for his adapted screenplay for Reversal of Fortune. His other writing credits include Frances, Patty Hearst, Matilda, Fallen and Bicentennial Man.
Together, the director, screenwriter and lead actor will tackle a historical narrative that demands both cinematic scale and a nuanced examination of human ambition and its consequences.
Global Distribution Plans Announced
Utopai Studios and Ex Machina Studios will co-produce and co-finance the film, with each company taking responsibility for sales and distribution in designated international territories.
Utopai Studios will oversee sales and distribution in the United States, Canada, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Ex Machina Studios will handle most of Europe, Latin America, Australia and New Zealand.
For Latin American audiences in particular, the film’s subject matter carries significant historical and cultural weight, making its eventual release and interpretation a point of interest for the region.
Additional casting announcements and production details are expected at a later date.
As Cortés moves from a screenplay decades in the making to a major international production, one of Spain’s most recognizable actors is preparing to embody a figure whose actions helped reshape the history of Mexico—and whose legacy remains anything but simple.
Latin Heat will continue to follow developments on Cortés as production progresses.