Puerto Rican actor John Ortiz, who appears in David O. Russell’s Silver Linings Playbook, is known for his roles in Miami Vice and Fast and Furious. He exclusively told ShowBizCafe.com that he is in the early stages of developing an Ozzie Guillen biopic baseball movie in the form of Moneyball.
Guillen, the former Chicago White Sox manager who led the team between 2004 and 2011, is considered one of the most controversial managers in recent baseball history.
When we asked Ortiz if he was interested in directing anytime soon, he revealed he was working on this baseball project. He noted that he and Ozzie Guillen are going to meet when he is in Chicago. Ortiz explained that he does not want to make a traditional sports film. Instead, he wants to focus on the profession of being a manager and the complexity of the man.
The project aims to explore themes of culture, immigration, and cities like Chicago and Miami. Ortiz is fascinated with Guillen, describing him as a charismatic figure that people either love or hate. Ortiz plays Ronnie, a stressed-out married man, in Silver Linings Playbook. It remains unclear whether he will direct, produce, or star in the biopic.
He mentioned that he will have a better sense of his specific role as the project gets closer to pre-production. Ortiz would be a natural fit for the Guillen role given their similar look and his strong acting pedigree. Ozzie Guillen was a well-known Venezuelan baseball player before becoming a larger-than-life manager. During his career, he has been at the center of various public controversies and debates.
Despite his quarrels with the press, Guillen remains an accomplished baseball mind. In 2005, he became the first Latino manager in major league history to win a World Series. Ortiz made his film debut as Al Pacino’s young cousin in Carlito’s Way. He has since appeared in over 30 films, including American Gangster and Before Night Falls.
While discussing future projects, it is worth noting that Shalim Ortiz is also active in the industry. For more on the intersection of sports and cinema, you can read about how James Rodriguez became a global star.
