Javier Bardem to Receive Donostia Award at San Sebastian Film Festival

Javier Bardem will be feted in Northern Spain…

The San Sebastian Film Festival will honor the 54-year-old Spanish Oscar-winning actor with its prestigious Donostia Award at its 71st edition, running September 22 — 30.

Javier BardemBardem will receive the career achievement prize on Friday, September 22 at the Kursaal Auditorium, 30 years after his first visit to the Festival for the competition screening of Bigas Luna’s film Golden Balls in 1993.

An image of Bardem will also serve as the official poster of this year’s festival.

Bardem is one of Spain’s most prominent cinematic names, with over 70 screen credits. He picked up an Academy Award, Golden Globe, and a BAFTA for his turn in the Coen Brothers’ neo-western No Country for Old Men.

Bardem was last at San Sebastian in 2021 with the workplace comedy-drama The Good Boss from Fernando León de Aranoa. The film was Spain’s submission for the international Oscar race.

Later this year, Bardem returns for the second film in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune series, where he plays the character Stilgar alongside Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya.

Last year, the lifetime achievement award was handed to David Cronenberg and Juliette Binoche. Other previous filmmakers to have received the Donostia Award include Francis Ford Coppola, Woody Allen, Oliver Stone, Agnès Varda, Hirokazu Koreeda, and Costa-Gavras.

Colombian filmmaker Laura Mora clinched the Golden Shell in the main competition at last year’s San Sebastian Film Festival with her latest feature The Kings of the World (Los reyes del mundo).

Javier Bardem’s “The Good Boss” Earns European Film Awards Nomination for Best Comedy Feature

Javier Bardem could prove to be a boss at this year’s European Film Awards.

The 53-year-old Spanish Oscar-winning actor’s The Good Boss, has been nominated in the comedy feature category for this year’s awards show by the European Film Academy.

Javier Bardem, Good BossDirected by Fernando León de AranoaThe Good Boss is described as a pitch-black, workplace comedy fueled by Bardem’s seductively slimy portrayal of a baron whose industrial-scale factory is decidedly out of balance.

Bardem earned a Goya Award for his performance in the film.

Other nominees in the comedy feature category include Hannes Þór Halldórsson’s Cop Secret (Iceland) and Catherine Corsini’s The Divide (France).

Meanwhile, the European Film Academy will honor Italian director March Bellocchio for his mini-series Exterior Night during the awards ceremony on December 10 in the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik. He will receive the Award for European Innovative Storytelling for the drama, exploring the case of the kidnapping and assassination of former Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro by the Red Brigades in 1978.

There are five productions are in the running for the best-animated feature award: Amandine Fredon and Benjamin Massoubre’s Little NicholasAs Happy As Can Be (France); Signe Baumane’s My Love Affair With Marriage (Latvia), Anne-Laure Daffis and Léo Marchand’s My NeighborsNeighbors (France), Alain Ughetto’s No Dogs Or Italians Allowed (France) and Mascha Halberstad’s Oink (Netherlands).

Voting by the EFA’s 4,400 members on the other categories of best European film, director, actor, actress, screenwriter and documentary is currently underway, with the final list of nominations due to be announced on November 8.

Javier Bardem Joins Voice Cast of Animated Film “Spellbound”

Javier Bardem is officially feelin’ the magic…

The 53-year-old Spanish Oscar-winning actor has joined the voice cast of the animated film Spellbound.

Javier BardemLed by West Side Story’s Rachel Zegler, the recently expanded voice cast also includes Bardem’s Being the Ricardos co-star Nicole Kidman, John LithgowNathan LaneJenifer LewisAndré De Shields and Jordan Fisher.

The upcoming musical from Apple Original Films and Skydance Animation will have Kidman voicing Ellsmere, the kind and just, yet hyper-precise Queen of Lumbria, with Bardem as Lumbria’s boastful yet big-hearted King, Solon. Together, they are the parents of Princess Ellian (Zegler), who they join on her daring quest to save her family and kingdom after a mysterious spell transforms them into monsters and threatens to cover Lumbria in darkness forever.

Lithgow and Lewis will voice Princess Ellian’s royal advisors, Minister Bolinar and Minister Nazara Prone, with Lane and De Shields as The Oracles of the Sun and Moon that Ellian seeks out to break the spell on her parents and the kingdom.

Additional characters aiding Ellian throughout her journey include the young nomad Callan, voiced by Fisher.

Academy Award winner Alan Menken is providing the film’s original score and songs, with song lyrics by Glenn Slater. Chris Montan is serving as executive music producer.

Bardem, who landed his fourth nom for his portrayal of Desi Arnaz in Being the Ricardos, recently appeared in Dune and Fernando León de Aranoa’s comedy The Good Boss.

His upcoming projects include Columbia Pictures’ adaptation of the children’s book Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile, Rob Marshall’s The Little Mermaid and Dune: Part Two.

Fernando León de Aranoa’s “The Good Boss” Earns Six Goya Awards

Fernando León de Aranoa is officially a Boss

The 53-year-old Spanish screenwriter and filmmaker’s comedy-drama The Good Boss, dominated Spain’s top film prizes this year, Premios Goya (Goya Awards), claiming six awards including Best Picture.

Fernando León de Aranoa, Javier Bardem

The film also nabbed Best Director and Best Screenplay for Aranoa, Best Actor for Javier Bardem, Best Original Score (Zeltia Montes) and Best Editing (Vanessa L. Marimbert). It had previously received a record-setting 20 nominations.

The ceremony saw Bardem continue his streak at the awards, collecting his sixth Goya in total, while filmmaker Aranoa is now up to seven in his career.

Javier Bardem, Good BossThe Good Boss stars Bardem as a factory owner who deviously schemes his way to solving all of the problems within his business and his personal life, including his infidelities. It was produced by companies including The MediaPro Studio and MK2 Films. Cohen Media Group will handle the U.S. release.

Other winners at the 2022 Goyas included Blanca Portillo picking up Best Actress for Maixabel, with the film also taking Supporting Actor for Urko Olazabal and New Actress for Maria Cerezuela.

Another Round took home Best European Picture, while New Director went to Clara Roquet for Libertad.

As previously announced, Cate Blanchett was the recipient of this year’s International Goya Award. A further honorary award went to Spanish actor José Sacristán.
.
Full list of Goya winners:

FILM
The Good Boss

DIRECTOR
Fernando León de Aranoa, The Good Boss

NEW DIRECTOR
Clara Roquet, Libertad

ACTRESS
Blanca Portillo, Maixabel

ACTOR
Javier Bardem, The Good Boss

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Nora Navas, Libertad

SUPPORTING ACTOR
Urko Olazabal, Maixabel

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Fernando León de Aranoa, The Good Boss

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Daniel Monzón y Jorge Guerricaechevarría, The Laws of the Border

CINEMATOGRAPHY
Kiko de la Rica, Mediterráneo: The Law of the Sea

ORIGINAL MUSIC
Zeltia Montes, The Good Boss

ORIGINAL SONG
Te espera el mar, (María José Llergo for Mediterráneo: The Law of the Sea)

NEW ACTOR
Chechu Salgado, The Laws of the Border

NEW ACTRESS
María Cerezuela, Maixabel

INTERNATIONAL GOYA AWARD
Cate Blanchett

ANIMATED FEATURE
Valentina (Chelo Loureiro)

IBERO-AMERICAN FILM
La cordillera de los sueños, (Patricio Guzmán, Chile)

EUROPEAN PICTURE
Another Round, (Thomas Vinterberg, Denmark)

DOCUMENTARY
Who’s Stopping Us, (Jonás Trueba)

HONORARY GOYA
José Sacristán

LIVE-ACTION SHORT FILM
Verónica Echegui (Tótem loba)

ANIMATED SHORT FILM
The Monkey, (Lorenzo Degl’Innocenti, Xosé Zapata)

DOCUMENTARY SHORT
Mamá, (Pablo de la Chica)

EDITING
Vanessa Marimbert, The Good Boss

PRODUCTION DESIGN
Albert Espel, Kostas Sfakianakis (Mediterráneo: The Law of the Sea)

COSTUME DESIGN
Vinyet Escobar (The Laws of the Border)

ART DIRECTION
Balter Gallart (The Laws of the Border)

SOUND
Daniel Fontrodona, Oriol Tarragó, Marc Bech, Marc Orts (Tres)

MAKEUP AND HAIR DESIGN
Sarai Rodríguez, Benjamín Pérez, Nacho Díaz (The Laws of the Border)

SPECIAL EFFECTS
Pau Costa, Laura Pedro (Way Down)

Abner Benaim’s “Plaza Catedral” Makes Oscars Short List in International Feature Film Category

Abner Benaim is celebrating a special first for Panama…

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has unveiled its shortlist of 15 films that will advance to the next stage of voting in the International Feature Film category at the Academy Awards, with the 50-year-old Panamanian filmmaker’s latest film making the cut.

Abner BenaimBenaim’s thriller Plaza Catedral becomes the country’s first film to make the short list.

Starring Ilse Salas, Xavier de Casta and Manuel Cardona, explores the relationship between a melancholy divorcee and a poor street child.

As a co-production between Panama, Mexico and Colombia, it’s Benaim’s second fiction feature film after his 2009 comedy Chance.

But Benaim’s Plaza Catedral isn’t the only Latin film making the short list…

Mexico’s Prayers For The Stolen, directed by Tatiana Huezo, and Spain’s The Good Boss, directed by Fernando León de Aranoa and starring Javier Bardem, have also made the cut.

Academy members from all branches were invited to participate in the preliminary round of voting and must have met a minimum viewing requirement to be eligible to vote in the category.

In the nominations round, Academy members from all branches are invited to opt in to participate and must view all 15 shortlisted films to vote.

Nominations voting begins on January 27, 2022, and concludes on February 1, 2022. They will be announced on February 8, 2022 with the ceremony held on March 27.

Here’s the shortlist in full:

Austria: Great Freedom
Belgium: Playground
Bhutan: Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom
Finland: Compartment No. 6
Denmark: Flee
Germany: I’m Your Man
Iceland: Lamb
Iran: A Hero
Italy: The Hand of God
Japan: Drive My Car
Kosovo: Hive
Mexico: Prayers For The Stolen
Norway: The Worst Person In The World
Panama: Plaza Catedral
Spain: The Good Boss

Fernando León de Aranoa’s “Good Boss” Earns Record 20 Goya Award Nominations

Fernando León de Aranoa’s livin’ the Good (Boss) life…

The nominations have been announced for the Goya Awards, Spain’s equivalent to the Oscars, with the 53-year-old Spanish screenwriter and film director’s comedy-drama The Good Boss racking up an all-time record of 20 nominations across 17 categories.

Fernando León de Aranoa, Javier Bardem

The film, starring Javier Bardem, is up for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay.

In the acting categories, it also set another record by racking up seven nominations: Bardem is up for Best Actor, Celso Bugallo, Fernando Albizu and Manolo Solo are up for Best Supporting Actor, Sonia Almarcha will contend for the Best Supporting Actress award, Oscar de la Fuente and Tarik Rmili are up for Best Emerging Actor, and Almudena Amor is up for Best Emerging Actress.

Finally, the film is also nominated in the following categories: Best Original Score (Zeltia Montes), Best Production Design (Luis Gutiérrez), Best Cinematography (Pau Esteve Birba), Best Editing (Vanessa L. Marimbert), Best Art Direction (Cesar Macarrón), Best Costume Design (Fernando García), Best Makeup and Hairstyling (Almudena Fonseca), Best Sound (Iván Marín, Pelayo Gutiérrez, Valeria Arcieri) and Best Special Effects (Raúl Romanillos and Miriam Piquer).

Javier Bardem, Good Boss

Produced by The Reposado P.C. and The Mediapro StudioThe Good Boss sees Bardem play a scheming factory boss whose plans to control his workforce begin to backfire. It is representing Spain in this year’s Oscar race.

Elsewhere at the Goyas, Pedro Almodovar’s Parallel Mothers will also compete for Best Film, alongside Clara Roquet’s Libertad, Iciar Bollain’s Maixabel and Marcel Barrena’s Mediterráneo.

León de Aranoa, Almodóvar and Bollain will compete alongside The Daughter helmer Manuel Martín Cuenca for Best Director.

Penelope Cruz, who has already struck gold with her performance in Parallel Mothers by winning Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival, is nominated for the same prize at this year’s Goyas.

The 2022 Goya Awards will be held on February 12, 2022 at Les Arts de València.

Here’s a look at the 2022 Spanish Academy Goya nominations:

BEST PICTURE
“The Good Boss,” (Fernando León de Aranoa)
“Libertad,” (Clara Roquet)
“Parallel Mothers,” (Pedro Almodóvar)
“Maixabel,” (Iciar Bollain)
“Mediterráneo,” (Marcel Barrena)

DIRECTOR
Fernando León de Aranoa, (“The Good Boss”)
Manuel Martín Cuenca, (“The Daughter”)
Pedro Almodóvar, (“Parallel Mothers”)
Iciar Bollain, (“Maixabel”)

ACTOR
Javier Bardem, (“The Good Boss”)
Javier Gutiérrez, (“The Daughter”)
Luis Tosar, (“Maixabel”)
Eduard Fernández, (“Mediterráneo”)

ACTRESS
Emma Suárez, (“Josefina”)
Petra Martínez, (“La vida era eso”)
Penélope Cruz, (“Parallel Mothers”)
Blanca Portillo, (“Maixabel”)

NEW DIRECTOR
Carol Rodríguez Colás, (“Chavalas”)
Javier Marco Rico, (“Josefina”)
David Martín de los Santos, (“La vida era eso”)
Clara Roquet, (“Libertad”)

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Fernando León de Aranoa, (“The Good Boss”)
Clara Roquet, (“Libertad”)
Iciar Bollain, Isa Campo, (“Maixabel”)
Juanjo Giménez Peña, Pere Altimira, (“Tres”)

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Júlia de Paz Solvas, Núria Dunjó López (“Ama”)
Agustí Villaronga (“El vientre del mar”)
Daniel Monzón, Jorge Guerricaechevarría (“Las leyes de la frontera”)
Benito Zambrano, Cristina Campos (“Lemon and Poppy Seed Cake”)

ORIGINAL MUSIC
Zeltia Montes, (“The Good Boss”)
Fatima Al Qadiri, (“La abuela”)
Alberto Iglesias, (“Maixabel”)
Arnau Bataller, (“Mediterráneo”)

ORIGINAL SONG
Àngel Leiro, Jean-Paul Dupeyron, Xavier Capellas, (“Álbum de posguerra”)
Antonio Orozco, Jordi Colell Pinillos, (“El cover”)
Alejandro García Rodríguez, Antonio Molinero León, Daniel Escortell Blandino, José Manuel Cabrera Escot, Miguel García Cantero, (“Las leyes de la frontera”)
Maria José Llergo, (“Mediterráneo”)

SUPPORTING ACTOR
Celso Bugallo. (“The Good Boss”)
Fernando Albizu, (“The Good Boss”)
Manolo Solo, (“The Good Boss,”)
Urko Olazabal, (“Maixabel”)

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Sonia Almarcha, (“The Good Boss”)
Nora Navas, (“Libertad”)
Aitana Sánchez Gijón (“Parallel Mothers”)
Milena Smit, (“Parallel Mothers”)

NEW ACTOR
Óscar de la Fuente, (“The Good Boss”)
Tarik Rmili, (“The Good Boss,”)
Chechu Salgado (“Las leyes de la frontera”)
Jorge Motos (“Lucas”)

NEW ACTRESS
Ángela Cervantes, (“Chavalas”)
Almudena Amor, (“The Good Boss”)
Nicolle García, (“Libertad”)
María Cerezuela, (“Maixabel”)

PRODUCTION DESIGN
Óscar Vigiola, (“Love Gets a Room”)
Luis Gutiérrez, (“The Good Boss”)
Guadalupe Balaguer Trelles, (“Maixabel”)
Albert Espel, Kostas Seakianakis, (“Mediterráneo”)

CINEMATOGRAPHY
Pau Esteve Birba, (“The Good Boss”)
Gris Jordana, (“Libertad”)
José Luis Alcaine, (“Parallel Mothers”)
Kiko de la Rica, (“Mediterráneo”)

EDITING
Antonio Frutos, (“Bajocero”)
Vanessa L. Marimbert, (“The Good Boss”)
Miguel Doblado, (“Josefina”)
Nacho Ruiz Capillas, (“Maixabel”)

ART DIRECTION
César Macarrón, (“The Good Boss”)
Balter Gallart, (“Las leyes de la frontera”)
Antxón Gómez, (“Parallel Mothers”)
Mikel Serrano, (“Maixabel”)

COSTUME DESIGN
Alberto Valcárcel, (“Love gets a room”)
Fernando García, (“The Good Boss”)
Vinyet Escobar, (“Las leyes de la frontera”)
Clara Bilbao, (“Maixabel”)

MAKEUP
Almudena Fonseca, Manolo García, (“The Good Boss”)
Sarai Rodríguez, Benjamín Pérez, Nacho Díaz, (“Las leyes de la frontera”)
Eli Adánez, Sergio Pérez Berbel, Nacho Díaz, (“Libertad”)
Karmele Soler, Sergio Pérez Berbel, (“Maixabel”)

SOUND DESIGN
Iván Marín, Pelayo Gutiérrez, Valeria Arcieri, (“The Good Boss”)
Sergio Bürmann, Laia Casanovas, Marc Orts, (“Parallel Mothers”)
Alazne Ameztoy, Juan Ferro, Candela Palencia, (“Maixabel”)
Daniel Fontrodona, Oriol Tarragó, Marc Bech, Marc Orts, (“Tres”)

SPECIAL EFFECTS
Raúl Romanillos, Míriam Piquer, (“The Good Boss”)
Raúl Romanillos, Ferran Piquer, (“La abuela”)
Àlex Villagrasa, (“Mediterráneo”)
Pau Costa, Laura Pedro, (“Way Down”)

ANIMATED FEATURE
“Gora automatikoa,” (Esaú Dharma, David Galán Galindo, Pablo Vara)
“Mironins,” (Álex Cervantes, Ángel Coronado, Anton Roebben, Eric Goossens, Iván Agenjo, Mikel Mas)
“Salvar el árbol (Zutik!)” (Carmelo Vivanco, Egoitz Rodríguez, Fernando Alonso, Jonatan Guzmán, Nelson Botter)
“Valentina,” (Brandán de Brano, Chelo Loureiro, Luís da Matta, Mariano Baratech, Noa García)

IBEROAMERICAN FEATURE
“Canción sin nombre,” (Melina León, Peru)
“La cordillera de los sueños,” (Patricio Guzmán, Chile)
“Las siamesas,” (Paula Hernández, Argentina)
“Los lobos,” (Samuel Kishi, Mexico)

EUROPEAN FEATURE
“Bye Bye Morons,” (Albert Dupontel, France)
“I’m Your Man,” (Maria Schrader, Germany)
“Another Round,” (Thomas Vinterberg, Dinamarca)
“Promising Young Woman” (Emerald Fennell, United Kingdom)

FICTION SHORT
“Farrucas,” (Ian de la Rosa)
“Mindanao,” (Borja Soler)
“Tótem loba,” (Verónica Echegui)
“Votamos,” (Santiago Requejo)
“Yalla,” (Carlo D’Ursi)

DOCUMENTARY
“The Return: Life After ISIS,” (Alba Sotorra)
“Heroes. Silence and Rock and Roll,” (Alexis Morante)
“Quién lo impide,” (Jonás Trueba)
“Tehran Blues,” (Javier Tolentino)

DOCUMENTARY SHORT
“Dajla: cine y olvido,” (Arturo Dueñas Herrero)
“Figurante,” (Nacho Fernández)
“Mamá,” (Pablo de la Chica)
“Ulisses,” (Joan Bover)

ANIMATED SHORT
“Nacer,” (Roberto Valle)
“Proceso de selección,” (Carla Pereira)
“The Monkey,” (Lorenzo Degl’Innocenti, Xosé Zapata)
“Umbrellas,” (José Prats)

Trailer Released for Javier Bardem’s Workplace Comedy “The Good Boss”

Javier Bardem is a boss 

The first international trailer has been released for the 52-year-old Spanish Oscar-winning actor’s workplace comedy The Good Boss.

Javier Bardem

Produced by Reposado P.C. and The Mediapro Studio, the offbeat and ironic film is directed by Fernando León de Aranoa. It’s one of this year’s most highly anticipated titles set to premiere at the San Sebastián Film Festival, and was selected this week as one of three finalists for Spain’s International Feature Film Oscar submission.

Buzz around the film has been building since it was announced two years ago, and with overwhelmingly positive word of mouth spreading after several Spanish press screenings, the film is sure to make an impact in competition at the Basque festival.

The Good Boss takes place in and around the Blancos Básculas factory, where all things must be in balance at all times. After all, they manufacture scales of all shapes and sizes. There, the seemingly benevolent boss, Bardem’s Blanco, is preparing his workforce for an upcoming inspection by a group visiting local businesses to select one for a prestigious prize.

Tensions begin to mount, however, when recently fired employee Jose shows up with his two children and begins making demands for the reinstatement of his employment. When Blanco’s management team refuses, the employee begins a one man crusade to discredit Blanco and prevent him from winning the much-coveted award.

In the trailer, we see the genesis of the conflict between Blanco and a disgruntled former employee who makes camp just outside the factory’s gates, importantly, on public property. We are also introduced to Miralles, a long-time friend and employee of Blanco’s whose personal problems are negatively affecting his work performance, giving an idea of how far Blanco is willing to go to support those close to him, but also the limit of his patience.

Blanco’s wandering eyes and sometimes poor decision making are similarly on display, as he is introduced to an attractive young intern who joins the factory’s marketing department. His incredible capabilities in staying calm under pressure are also demonstrated, with one or two teases of what happens when that calm finally breaks.

 

The film will have its world premiere on September 21 at the San Sebastian Film Festival before its Spanish theatrical premiere on October 15, distributed by Tripictures.

Javier Bardem to Star in Sony Pictures’ Film Adaptation of the Popular Children’s Book “Lyle, Lyle Crocodile”

Javier Bardem is getting animated…

The 52-year-old Spanish Oscar-winning actor will star in Will Speck and Josh Gordon’s Lyle, Lyle Crocodile for Sony Pictures.

Javier Bardem

Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the Oscar-winning songwriting team behind the music of La La Land and upcoming Dear Evan Hansen film, will reportedly write original songs for the film.

Speck and Gordon will direct with the script, based on the best-selling children’s book by Bernard Waber, being adapted by Will Davies.

Lyle Lyle Crocodile

First published in 1965, the venerable children’s tale centers on the title reptile, who lives in a house on East 88th Street in New York City. Lyle enjoys helping the Primm family with everyday chores, and playing with the neighborhood kids. He’s the happiest crocodile any home ever had…until one neighbor insists that Lyle belongs in a zoo. Mr. Grumps and his cat, Loretta, don’t like crocodiles, and everything Lyle does to win them over seems to go wrong. It will take all of Lyle’s charm—and courage—to reveal the hero, and friend, behind the big crocodile smile.

The film will debut on July 22, 2022.

For an actor known more for his adult roles like Biutiful and his Oscar-winning work in No Country For Old Menthe film marks his rare trek into the family-friendly genre.

But sources say Waber’s original story was very appealing to Bardem from the moment he was offered the part.

This isn’t his first dive into material meant for all ages. He’s previously played the villain in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales and will play King Triton in Disney’s live action adaptation of its acclaimed animated film The Little Mermaid.

When it comes to adult roles, Bardem’s upcoming slate includes Legendary’s DuneFernando León de Aranoa’s The Good Boss (El Buen Patron) and Aaron Sorkin’s Being The Ricardoswhere he plays Desi Arnaz, opposite Nicole Kidman’s Lucille Ball.

Jaenada Starring in Terry Gilliam’s “The Man Who Killed Don Quixote”

Oscar Jaenada is chasing windmills…

The 41-year-old Spanish actor has landed a role in Terry Gilliam’s long-delayed film The Man Who Killed Don Quixote.

Oscar Jaenada

Jaenada, who gained acclaimed for portraying Mexican comedic legend Cantinflas in a biopic of the same name, joins a cast that includes Adam Driver and Olga Kurylenko.

The film centers on an advertising executive who returns to his Spanish village, where as a student he made a film based on Don Quixote, only to get entangled in a series of catastrophes.

Gilliam co-wrote the script with Tony Grisoni and Amazon Studios will distribute the film domestically.

Jaenada’s upcoming film slate includes Fox’s Snatched with Amy Schumer and Goldie Hawn and the Fernando Leon de Aranoa-directed biopic Escobar, opposite Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem.

Bardem & Cruz to Star in Pablo Escobar/Virginia Vallejo Film “Escobar”

Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz are joining forces on screen…

The 47-year-old Spanish actor and his 42-year-old Spanish actress wife, both Oscar winners, are set to star in Escobar.

Javier Bardem & Penelope Cruz

Written and directed by Fernando Leon de Aranoa, the film is based on a true story of the unlikely relationship between notorious Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar and his polar opposite, the upscale television host Virginia Vallejo, which she detailed in her book Loving Pablo, Hating Escobar.

Dean Nichols and Bardem are producing.

Cruz and Bardem, who got their start on the big screen together more than two decades ago in the low-budget 1992 Spanish comedy/drama film Jamon, Jamon, starred in Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona, for which Cruz won a best supporting actress Oscar.

They were back on the same film set once again in Ridley Scott’s The Counselor.