Michael Peña, the dark and handsome thesp most recently seen in comedies like "Observe and Report" and "30 Minutes or Less," is returning to his (more) dramatic roots.
He just landed the lead role in the upcoming Cesar Chavez biopic, the brainchild of Diego Luna, Gael Garcia Bernal and Pablo Cruz. (In other words, a lot of big players are throwing their hats in this ring).
According to Collider, Peña joins America Ferrera, who will play the revolutionary's wife, and Rosario Dawson, who will portray Dolores Huerta, Chavez's partner in activism and co-founder of what eventually became the United Farm Workers. Wonder if those two gals ever bumped heads. Just sayin'.
Luna will direct from a script penned by Keir Pearson (the scribe behind the poignant and troubling "Hotel Rwanda").
The story follows Chavez as he organizes the largest non-violent protest in U.S. history to accomplish his ultimate goal of obtaining basic human rights for more than 50,000 farm workers in California.
Luna explained, "This man inspired an entire community to see themselves as deserving of basic rights and to rise up against injustice. The film will send the message that change is in our hands — Chavez did something that everyone thought impossible with a fearless grace that magnetized an entire country."
Lensing is set to begin next month in Mexico, which means it shan't be too long before Peña makes the big move from working actor to bonafide movie star.
