Antonio Banderas Set to Star in Lamborghini Biopic Alongside Alec Baldwin
Antonio Banderas is set to star in the Lamborghini biopic currently being developed by director Michael Radford (The Merchant of Venice, The Postman). Banderas will take on the role of Ferruccio Lamborghini, founder of the famous car and he will star alongside Alec Baldwin, who plays his rival Enzo Ferrari.
The film is based on the biography Ferruccio Lamborghini: La storia ufficiale (The official story), which was written by his son Tonino Lamborghini. Here are some story details that were shared in the press release:
The Lamborghini biopic spans the long life of the iconic entrepreneur, from the manufacturing of tractors (Lamborghini Tractors) at the start of his career, to creating military vehicles during World War II, and then on to designing and building the Lamborghini cars that ultimately defined his profound legacy.
The film aims to tell an extraordinary multi-layered story of a man who helped an entire nation (Italy) get back on its feet after the horrors of WWII, designing a car that revolutionized the global automotive industry and gave much needed luster to the country at a pivotal juncture.
The Lamborghini biopic is also a fiery love story. Ferruccio Lamborghini wasn’t known for being subtle. He was one the wealthiest men in Italy. A lover of fast luxury cars, Lamborghini had one car for each day of the week, however Lamborghini’s personal loves extended far beyond cars. His love of women, celebrity lifestyle, and the business of car making made for prodigious drama in Lamborghini’s life and these pursuits and experiences will be just as much a part of the movie as the cars themselves.
Academy Award winner Bobby Moresco (Crash, Million Dollar Baby) is writing the screenplay, so we know it's going to have a solid script. Producer Andrea Iervolino had this to say in a statement:
“The life and story of Ferruccio Lamborghini is potently epic in so many ways. The screenplay that Bobby penned is a true masterpiece that reflects this story and now Antonio, Alec and Michael will bring it to life in a way only they can — original, sexy and universally commercial.”
Producer Monika Bacardi adds:
“We can’t think of any actors better equipped to take on the roles of Ferruccio Lamborghini and Enzo Ferrari than multidimensional leading men Antonio Banderas and Alec Baldwin. This story of Lamborghini is not only about cars, corporations and remarkable careers. There is a particularly fascinating, but lesser-known private life of Lamborghini, and a beautiful love story that will be fun to see brought to life by Antonio.”
Tonino Lamborghini went on to offer the following statement:
“My book ‘Ferruccio Lamborghini. La storia ufficiale (The official story)’ is the only text perfectly respectful of the real life of my father, despite of numerous legends and anecdotes written or told by other people looking for a moment of celebrity,” says Tonino Lamborghini. “I really believe this film can translate into images and words the great humanity of Ferruccio and transmit to the viewers worldwide my father’s personality: a man full of energy, charisma and passion.”
This movie is not to be confused with director Michael Mann's Ferrari biopic with Hugh Jackman attached to star.