News > Carmen Maura Replaces Javier Bardem in Coppola's "Tetro"

In a very surprising casting change, Francis Ford Coppola has replaced male Spanish Oscar-winner Javier Bardem with female Spanish four-time Goya-winner Carmen Maura. Coppola said that the change came about during rehearsals. As he told The Hollywood Reporter:

One of the important roles in the script is a mentor and teacher to Tetro (Vincent Gallo), and I originally wrote it for a man. As I read and reread (the script), I felt that the interaction between the two characters would be far more intriguing if they were of the opposite sex.

The other side of the story is the rumor that Bardem suddenly "became unavailable" and began focusing on his starring role in Rob Marshall's "Nine."  Maura, an established actress known for her prominent parts in the films of Pedro Almodovar, "will play a literary critic and mentor to Tetro, whose younger brother (Alden Ehrenreich) searches for him in Argentinia's capital city." Maribel Verdu ("Y tu mama tambien") co-stars.

It's a shame Coppola won't be able to use Bardem's newfound popularity and clout to his advantage, but I suppose that's just the business for you.

-David Morgan