Capitán Viggo

I actually heard this rumor months ago (I think on The One Ring?), but there was confirmation of it yesterday.

From Coming Soon:

Viggo Mortensen to Star in "Alatriste"
Source: Variety Wednesday, March 10, 2004

Hidalgo and "The Lord of the Rings" star Viggo Mortensen is in talks to topline the Spanish period adventure film Alatriste, in the eponymous role of Captain Alatriste, a Spanish soldier-cum-mercenary embroiled in the country's 16th century imperial wars.

Variety says the film has been written and will be directed by Agustin Diaz Yanes (No News From God). Mexican Gael Garcia Bernal (The Motorcycle Diaries) is in talks to play Alatriste's page Iñigo. Spanish actress Elena Anaya (Van Helsing) looks likely to have a co-starring role as Angelica de Alquezar, Inigo's love-interest.

Alatriste is budgeted at north of E20 million ($24.4 million), which would make it the most expensive Spanish film ever made. Unusually for such a high-range film by local standards, the film will be shot in Spanish. Mortensen speaks perfect Spanish, having lived in Argentina for years.

Alatriste will start filming in January, shooting in the Spanish cities of Seville and Toledo, as well as in northern Spain. Alatriste is the protagonist of a five-novel series, "Las aventuras del capitan Alatriste," written by one of Spain's bestselling novelists, Arturo Perez Reverte.

Spanish-speaking Viggo and Gael in the *same* movie? That's almost cruel (and I'm SO there). As for this Elena Anaya, first she's playing one of Dracula's brides in Hugh's "Van Helsing". Now she's in this "Alatriste" opposite Gael and Viggo playing Gael's character's love interest? Lucky. bitch.

I haven't read any of the Alatriste books, but now would be as good a time as any to start I suppose. Also gives me a chance to brush up on my Spanish reading skills (which have been admittedly pretty weak of late. Repeated watchings of "Corazón salvaje" and/or listenings of my Zurdok, Lila Downs, etc. CDs aren't helping me much in that regard).

Here's a link of the official website of the guy that wrote the Alatriste books. (site is in Spanish)

This will apparently be Viggo..
( Capitán Alatriste )

I believe this guy is considered Alatriste's archnemesis...
( Malatesta )

So I'm googling for Daniel Jimenez Cacho pics...

( And I end up finding wallpaper for one of Diego's movies  )

DJC is in "Nicotina" which is why it came up I suppose. Diego's pretty helps you ignore how ugly the wp is. Those Cinepolis folks need to hire some better graphic designers.

WETA cards of unforeseen LOTR characters

( I assume this is what Glorfindel would have looked like had he appeared in the movies )

There are also scans of the Radagast, Tom Bombadil and Goldberry cards all courtesy of The One Ring."

Possible deleted scene for the DVD?

I admit I'm rather slow. I've been to the DD:HN website and I've seen all the stills, but I only realized now that I don't recognize this one from the movie. ( Almost kiss )