The filmmaking process in Hollywood has evolved drastically over the past few decades, a fact underscored by Antonio Banderas as he reflected on insights from producer, Steven Spielberg, during the making of the 1998 action-adventure hit, The Mask of Zorro. Directed by Martin Campbell and starring Banderas in the lead role, The Mask of Zorro was a hit.
Spielberg, who served as the producer of the film, discussed the evolving landscape of filmmaking with the movie star, suggesting that The Mask of Zorro would likely be one of the final movies to significantly rely on practical effects.
Steven Spielberg’s Prescient Insight to Antonio Banderas
Celebrating the 25th anniversary of The Mask of Zorro, Antonio Banderas reflected on a memorable conversation he had with the film’s producer, Steven Spielberg. He shared that the filmmaker had offered him a piece of advice, that has since proved to be prophetic.
He told Yahoo Entertainment,
Steven Spielberg said to me once when we were shooting, ‘This is probably going to be one of the last Westerns shot in the way the Westerns were shot in the old days, with real scenes with real horses, where everything is real.
He noted that it would likely be the one of the last of its kind, a Western film made with practical effects before the widespread use of CGI in movies. “But things are going to change. they’re going to change and they’re gonna change fast,” Spielberg told the Spy Kids actor.
He further stated, “And so you should be proud of this movie.” The 63-year-old actor has admitted that he is indeed proud of the film, not only for its use of practical effects but for its overall impact.
“It was a very beautiful adventure movie with a lot of ingredients that made it shine,” he said while stating that he has nothing but good memories about the film, which marked a significant turn in his career, making him a leading man in movie theaters.
Antonio Banderas Reflected on Career Milestone with The Mask of Zorro
During his conversation with Yahoo Entertainment, he also reflected on his career and how his journey in the film industry has evolved over the years. Banderas acknowledged his initial collaborations with Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almódovar, noting that these films defined his career at the time.
However, it was the 1998 film The Mask of Zorro that solidified his status as a leading man on the global stage. “It was very significant because my career up to that point was [mostly] European movies,” he said.
And suddenly I got into a completely different universe, a universe of action, a universe of international movies that went all around the world. It was unbelievable… it was such a huge success.
The Mask of Zorro featured Banderas as a bandit, who joins Don Diego de la Vega as they seek revenge on Las Californias’ corrupt governor Montero. The film was a commercial and critical hit, prompting a sequel, with Banderas reprising his role.
The filmmaker also shared that there are discussions regarding a third installment in the film series. “I’ve had people approaching with different ideas,” he said as he discussed the potential plot of the film, suggesting that he would take on the role of the mentor in the possible third installment.
However, despite the uncertainty of another Zorro movie happening, Banderas expresses contentment with his previous contributions to the franchise.
The Mask of Zorro and The Legend of Zorro are available to stream on Prime Video.
