Michael Radford attached to direct Bobby Moresco-penned 'Castro's Daughter' (SCR, VAR)

By Nancy Tartaglione

Michael Radford has come aboard to direct "Castro's Daughter" for Mankind Entertainment. The project, first announced by Screen in late 2009, is from a script by Oscar winner Bobby Moresco and Pulitzer prize winner Nilo Cruz.

The historical drama will tell the true story of Alina Fernandez, who was the product of a love affair between Fidel Castro and Cuban socialite Naty Revuelta.

Per Screen, Fernandez was a child when Castro would visit her mother's home as he planned his first failed attempt to overthrow the government. She was ten years old when she learned that Castro was her father. After years of openly expressing her differences with him, Fernandez was branded a dissident and forbidden to leave Cuba. In 1993, she fled the country disguised as a Spanish tourist.

Mankind's John Torres Martinez and Joe Lamy are producing. Noel Tristan of Artists Relations Group is exec producing with WME handling packaging and North American rights.

"We see this as something along the lines of 'The King's Speech,' only rather than the king and his son, this covers the communist leader and his daughter," Martinez told Screen.

The producers are looking for a star-driven cast of Spanish and South American talent. Daniel Bruhl and Paz Vega have been attached for some time.

Filming is expected to take place in Puerto Rico.