Will Colombians push Oscar Isaac’s ‘Pablo Escobar’ film production out of town?

Guatemalan actor Oscar Isaac will play the late Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar in an as-yet-untitled movie. It’s unclear whether the film will be in Spanish or English, but we do know that Brad Furman, director of the highly acclaimed “The Lincoln Lawyer,” will take the helm.

Filming is set to begin in September in Colombia, and this poses potential challenges for the production. As someone with Colombian parents and having visited the country myself, I can attest that many Colombians wish to move past this era in their history. The country is striving to rebuild its international image, and films about Escobar do not aid this effort. There’s a sense of frustration that US entertainment companies are overly fixated on this dark chapter.

Imagine the reaction of Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos to the news that Relativity Media plans to film an Escobar movie in Colombia. The conversation might go something like this:

Relativity Media: “Mr. Santos, we would be honored to shoot a feature film in your country about Pablo Escobar. It will include action, sex, drugs, and quintessential Escobar one-liners, possibly in English, with our star Oscar Isaac giving it a Colombian twist. Sounds good, right?”

President Santos: “Wait… let me get this straight. This man terrorized my friends, my family… We’re still trying to move on from those days, and only now are we beginning to enjoy peace. And you want to dredge up all those memories during your production?”

Relativity Media: “We mean no disrespect, Señor Santos. But this project could bring significant economic benefits to your country.”

President Santos: “Well, in that case…”

According to Deadline.com, it seems Santos’s team may have already agreed to the project, ensuring Relativity Media can create an authentic-looking film. However, I have reservations about Oscar Isaac portraying Escobar. He doesn’t physically resemble Escobar, being shorter, and based on past interviews, he seems hesitant to discuss his Latino heritage. Benicio del Toro, who demonstrated his capability for such a role in Oliver Stone’s “Savages,” might have been a more fitting choice. Despite this, Isaac is shooting his own Escobar story in “Paradise Lost.”

Isaac is undoubtedly a talented actor, and I’m confident he’ll deliver a compelling performance. However, it wouldn’t surprise me if the production in Colombia stirs up some controversy. I’ll be keeping a close ear to the ground and will bring you updates as they unfold.