Legend of Zorro, The

By: Corona's Coming Attractions
Date: Wednesday, October 20, 2004

Genre:
Action/Adventure/Western/Sequel.

Studio:
Columbia Pictures.


Production Company:
Amblin Entertainment/Spyglass Entertainment/Columbia Pictures.

Project Phase:
Greenlighted.

Who's In It:
Antonio Banderas (Alejandro Murietta/Zorro); Catherine Zeta Jones (Elena De La Vega); Rufus Sewell (Armand).


Who's Making It:
Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio (Screenwriters); Steven Spielberg (Producer).

Premise:
Unknown.

Release Date:
2005 (tentative).

Comments:
After 1998's MASK OF ZORROR surprised many by actually being a lot of fun, and surprised even more by making quite a bit of money, the studio, writers and director were high on getting another film going. Scripts were written. Plots were hinted at... then nothing. And it's been that way for quite some time.

Scoop Feedback & News:

July 27, 2004... Rufus Sewell (DARK CITY, A KNIGHT'S TALE) has joined the cast of THE LEGEND OF ZORRO. The dark-haired actor will play Armand, a love interest for the character of Elena (Catherine Zeta-Jones' character) and thus a rival for her attention for the masked swordsman.

In related business news, Spyglass Entertainment will co-finance THE LEGEND OF ZORRO with Columbia Pictures, giving Spyglass the international rights for the movie. The company is also co-financing MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA to be directed by Rob Marshall (CHICAGO). [The Hollywood Reporter.]

October 15, 2004... THE LEGEND OF ZORRO didn't leave a Z swashbuckled in the Internet, but Columbia Pictures did carve the first official picture of stars Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones into the pages of USA TODAY.

The picture, sequel to 1998's THE MASK OF ZORRO, picks up the story a decade later with Alejandro (Banderas) and Elena (Zeta-Jones) married and with child (a 10-year-old son, played by Adrian Alonso). The boy is in the dark about his dad's heroic past, but all that's about to change when the bad guys try to squash California's attempt at statehood. Now it's on with the mask, out with the sword, and quick with the excuses as Elena would prefer her husband at home. But there's still sparks between our heroes (Zeta-Jones says that "Being married has only enhanced their feelings for each other") and swordplay on the horizon, just like the good old days.

MASK OF ZORRO director Martin Campbell is back in the chair to direct the sequel, which shoots in Mexico through December. [USA Today.]