Wilmer Valderrama to Star In Zorro TV Reboot From Disney
Disney has finally announced a live-action TV series on Zorro and That ’70s Show actor Wilmer Valderrama is reportedly attached to the star as the hero, Don Diego de la Vega.
Apart from taking on a mask and black cape, Valderrama will also be serving as the executive producer on the show. The series will be a reboot of the 1950s ABC-Disney series of the same name, starring Guy Williams, George J. Lewis, Gene Sheldon, and Henry Calvin.
A New Zorro Series Is Underway Starring Wilmer Valderrama
In a recent interview, Valderrama revealed his love for the hero saying, “Growing up, Zorro was the one character that made me, as a Latino, feel like I could be a hero. As an adult and a storyteller, I have a responsibility in the stories that I help bring to life. To partner with Gary and Disney to bring Zorro back into the family after 60 years and be a part of the legacy for other children to know they too can be the heroes of their own stories is a dream come true.”
Originally created in 1919, Zorro first appeared in the pulp magazine, All-Story Week and was created by Johnston McCulley. In almost all his stories, Zorro is shown as a vigilante who defends the normal people against corrupted politicians and government. Aside from his mask, cape, and cordovan hat, Zorro is quite popular for his signature, which he leaves often carved on objects and sometimes, even on his opponents with his rapier. Zorro has been adapted into many films across the last century, with the most recent being The Legend of Zorro and The Mask of Zorro, both starring Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones.
Series Will Be Co-Produced By Disney
President of Disney Branded Television Ayo Davis stated, “We’re reimagining this Disney classic as a compelling period piece, set in Pueblo de Los Angeles, but told in a very modern telenovela style — with richly drawn contemporary characters and relationships set against the action, drama, suspense and humor of the original, iconic Zorro.” She continued, “Wilmer shares our commitment to reflect the interesting and rich diversity of the human experience and we look forward to delivering a culturally relevant and entertaining story with definitional characters that will connect with our viewers for generations to come.”
Apart from Valderrama, Zorro Productions Inc.’s John Gertz, alongside the outgoing president and chief creative officer of Disney Branded Television, Gary Marsh will also be serving as the executive producer as part of his production banner at the Disney General Entertainment. However, we do not have a release date for the show yet.
