FILM: Who will play Pablo Escobar?

Joe Carnahan (Smokin Aces) originally sought after Oscar winner Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men) to play Pablo Escobar in his upcoming biopic Killing Pablo. Bardem claimed to drop out because of scheduling issues and it was believed that Carnahan was left in the lurch. But he's recently reported that the part has already been recast and the Pablo-to-be is already packing on the pounds to play the illustrious drug-running kingpin.

So who got the part? Edgar Ramirez (below). You might remember him as the unstoppable bad ass Choco in Richard Kelly's Domino, or the formidable enemy Paz in The Bourne Ultimatum, or a member of the political action thriller Vantage Point's ensemble cast. If not, you will be formally introduced to him when he stars alongside Benicio del Toro in the two-part Che Guevara biopic Guerrilla and The Argentine. But what will really make him unforgettable is...wait for it...when he plays Pablo Escobar in TWO different films!!!!

Not only has Carnahan tapped Ramirez for the role, but Antoine Fuqua (Shooter and King Arthur) has also cast him in his biopic titled Escobar, and both films are slated for a 2009 release. I think this would be the first time an actor was asked to play the same guy for two different novel adaptations.


If Ramirez had to choose between the two, I'd suggest sticking with Carnahan's film. While Escobar is adapted from a book written by Pablo's brother and is being executive produced by Oliver Stone, Killing Pablo also stars Christian Bale and Chris Pine (Just My Luck star, who is in desperate need of a big break).

Which film would you rather see?
Do you think one of the directors should cast another actor?

Update: According to Entertainment Weekly, Carnahan stole Ramirez from Fuqua and he'll only be doing one of the films, but of course Fuqua is denying it.