Zorro Star Suggests Marvel Actor as His Replacement, Gets Slaughtered For It
We know from Warner Bros. Discovery Chief Executive David Zaslav's speech that studios are more than interested to cash in on beloved franchises.
This makes it even more surprising why Sony, which doesn't have too many franchises to revive, still hasn't made a Zorro reboot. Though the reboot has been in a rumor mill for some time now, it has never been officially announced.
Nevertheless, viewers still wonder whether Antonio Banderas would wear the sombrero cordobés and mask one more time to pass the torch to a successor and who the next Sony's Zorro could be.
In an interview with ComicBook, the 62-year-old actor both delighted and enraged all Zorro fans. Banderas said that he would gladly do what Anthony Hopkins did for him and play Don Alejandro De La Vega one more time to welcome a new star to the franchise. As for who that star could be, Banderas suggested a name readers were taken aback to hear.
"Tom Holland. I did Uncharted with him and he's so energetic and fun and he's got this spark, too. Why not?"
Well, outraged viewers made sure to let Banderas and Sony know, "why not."
"I like Holland but NOT for Zorro. A Spaniard or Mexican actor should play Zorro who's a Spaniard in Pueblo de Los Ángeles. McCulley's stories are during Spanish California 1769–1821. While some later media adaptations are during Mexican California 1821–1848," one of the commenters wrote on Twitter.
This is exactly right. Tom Holland is a weird choice to portray a charming and charismatic Hispanic masked vigilante who defends the common folk against corrupt and tyrannical officials in 1800s California. Commenters noted that in the past, Zorro was played by British actors, but the times have changed and whitewashing has to stop.
"Wouldn't be the first time a white British dude played Zorro…but still no thanks," one of the commenters wrote, voicing the general sentiment.
Commenters also pointed out that there were lots of young Latino and Spanish actors who can portray Zorro aka Don Diego de la Vega.
"In a world of Pedro Pascal, Diego Luna, Oscar Isaac, Tenoch Huerta, Gael Garcia Bernal and so many more... Antonio Banderas chose a British white boy..." one of the comments read.