Antonio Banderas to Star as Gianni Versace in Upcoming Biopic

Though he may be better known for his roles in the likes of Philadelphia, Desperado, Assassins, Evita, and the Zorro, Spy Kids and Shrek series, Antonio Banderas is no stranger to the fashion world: back in May, the longtime actor unveiled his very first collection in collaboration with Scandinavian high-street label Selected after studying fashion design at Central Saint Martins in London. So, perhaps, Banderas’s next film role shouldn’t be a surprise: the 55-year-old Spaniard has been tapped to play none other than Gianni Versace in an upcoming biopic about the late designer.

Set to be directed by renowned Dane Bille August (whose Pelle the Conqueror took home the likes of the Palme d’Or, not to mention an Academy Award and Golden Globe, following its 1987 debut), the biopic will begin filming in Milan this December before moving to the likes of Reggio Calabria (Versace’s birthplace) and Miami (where Versace was killed in 1997) in the subsequent months. Though details of the script are largely unknown, Versace’s namesake fashion house is apparently less than thrilled with the prospect of the film, telling WWD that it “has neither authorized nor had any involvement whatsoever in the forthcoming movie about Versace. The movie should only be seen as a work of fiction.”

The biopic will mark the second time August and Banderas have worked together as the actor appeared alongside the likes of Jeremy Irons, Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, Winona Ryder and Vanessa Redgrave in 1994’s The House of the Spirits.