That ambitious Django / Zorro movie is no longer happening, and perhaps Antonio Banderas is more disappointed about that than anyone. Back in 2019, it was reported that Quentin Tarantino had written a screenplay for a Django Unchained sequel that was based on the Django / Zorro comic books. Tarantino had reportedly hired Jerrod Carmichael to work on a new screenplay for the crossover, and just recently, Carmichael confirmed that the project has been scrapped.
But the film did make it far enough into its pre-production process for Banderas to get involved. In a new interview, per USA Today, Banderas also confirmed that he'd been approached by Tarantino to reprise his Zorro role for the movie. Because it was Tarantino, Banderas said he was all for the film, noting he was also pretty excited to get to do a movie with Jamie Foxx. As Banderas said:
"He talked to me, I think on the Oscar night (in 2020) when I was nominated for Pain and Glory. We saw each other at one of those parties. He just came up to me and I was like, 'In your hands? Yeah, man!' Because Quentin just has that nature to do those type of movies and give them quality. Even if they are based on those types of B-movies of the ’60s and ’70s, he can take that material and do something really interesting. We've never worked together, but it would be great because of him, because of Jamie Foxx and because of (playing) Zorro again when he's a little bit older. It would be fantastic and funny and crazy."
With that said, Banderas isn't quite sure he otherwise wants to revisit the Zorro role, though he would have made the exception for Tarantino. This is because the actor is simply getting older and wouldn't be able to play that character in the same way.
"I don't know. If I do Zorro again, I would actually be the character played by Anthony Hopkins in the first one. (Laughs.) I'm gonna turn 62 this summer, so I don't know if I can play that character in the same way I used to."
Zorro Is Getting Rebooted
One new incarnation of Zorro that is moving forward is in the works at Disney+. This version will star That '70s Show actor Wilmer Valderrama. In a recent appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, Valderrama provided a tease of the series. Here's what he said:
"I'll tell you this: This will be a Zorro for this generation, and it'll be incredibly thoughtful with its origin story, and it'll be grounded in authenticity. It is a lot on my plate, but I'm up for the challenge. You come to a point in her life where... we talk about this Mount Everest, right? And I think Zorro is one of those.”
There isn't a release date set for the Zorro reboot series just yet.