CASTing

Nacho

The role of Nacho was written with Michael Peña in mind. Unassumingly handsome and undeniably charming, no other Latino actor in the US is consistently manifesting as much depth and range with every role as Michael Peña has for the past decade. At ease as either comedic sidekick in Antman or as a funnyman lead in Chips to successfully carrying entire dramas like End of Watch or Ceasar Chavez, Michael Peña's talent is boundless. Peña not only holds his own when playing opposite of a major star - he is a major star.

From Mexico, a new wave of talented actors is quickly emerging. Amongst them is Tenoch Huerta. Everyman handsome, he’s already proven his acting chops time and again in both commercial and art-house films in Mexico and most recently in his lead role in Netflix’s Narcos Mexico. A powerhouse of acting smarts with a perfect look, Tenoch Huerta is a strong contender for the role of Nacho.

MARK

Only the most seasoned actor can embody a man who first earns our sympathy as victim before morphing into something different altogether. Mark’s role calls for someone who can ooze confidence and vulnerability yet become ruthless at the drop of a hat, all without compromising an ounce of credibility. Kyle Chandler and Aaron Eckhart have proven throughout their roles that they possess the kind of range needed for the role of Mark. With boyish charm and chiseled good looks, they quickly earn an audience’s trust. Their warmth and vulnerability would endear an audience to Mark as his bond with Nacho grows. And it’s precisely the trust invested in Mark that will cause the audience to suffer the same sting of betrayal that Nacho and Sabina endure. Kyle Chandler and Aaron Eckhart are top choices for Mark Armshire.

PACO

Known for his chameleonic abilities, Raul Mendez can embody virtually any role he’s entrusted with and has been doing so in Mexico for more than a decade. From chivalrous leading man to cutthroat killer, Raul has demonstrated time again the range needed to be believable as both a charismatic leader of men and a violent bully; the two facets of Paco’s character that make him at once engaging and dangerous. Raul is also the actor that starred in the first film I ever shot in Mexico over a decade ago. I couldn’t think of a better reason than Cobarde to re-join forces. José Maria Yazpik or Gustavo Sanchez Parra are other well-established Mexican actors with an impressive range who would also make an excellent Paco.

SABINA

The decisions Sabina is forced to take throughout Cobarde are crucial to the story’s outcome. As Nacho divulges his version of events, Sabina becomes conflicted between what she wants to believe and what she knows to be true and must decide whether or not to help the man that kidnapped her father. Nacho’s predicament reminds her that her liberal ideals and charitable pursuits have aways been at odds with her father’s unscrupulous corporate interests. With her father’s life on the line, Sabina's arc takes her from first believing that her father and herself are victims violent criminals to discovering that things aren’t that simple and that Nacho is at once her father’s vindictive nemesis as well as his saviour. Nacho is also the embodiment of Sabina’s political sensibilities as he reveals that his reasons for taking part in the kidnapping was to right her father’s wrongs. In order to convey so much inner conflict, the role of Sabina calls for an actor that can exude strength even as tears roll down her face. Sarah Gadon’s impressive career is filled with examples of her glacial beauty betraying emotional depth. Similarly, Emily Vancamp can maintain a tough exterior while also conveying vulnerability. Both actors can portray a strong yet compassionate woman whose self-assuredness will underscore Nacho’s nascent confidence, making the unlikely paring of Sabina and Nacho all the more compelling.

NOTE:

The above names are the director and producer's top cast choices for Cobarde. They do not represent the complete list of talent capable of triggering financing. A more exhaustive list is available upon request offering a wider range of actors that are not necessarily "A-list". Fees are factored into the current production budget.