Javier Bardem on board for González Iñárritu's Biutiful

With a new Oscar for No Country for Old Men and a prized art-house role in Vicky Cristina Barcelona behind him, Javier Bardem has cemented his status as a marquee star of the specialty industry. The prolific Spanish actor is set to continue his ascent in Biutiful, the new film from Babel director Alejandro González Iñárritu.

The movie, the first feature-length project González Iñárritu will direct from a screenplay he wrote on his own, will involve a man (Bardem) who has recently lost a lover. It will be his first film since he completed the trilogy that included Babel, 21 Grams and Amores perros, the interconnected epics with loose chronological fidelity that earned him international attention.

The film will also be part of the Cha Cha Cha pact, the pre-sold package of power Mexican filmmakers in Hollywood that includes González Iñárritu along with Alfonso Cuarón (Children of Men) and Guillermo del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth).

Related links:
News: Jim Jarmusch to Control Bill Murray, Javier Bardem, more
News: Javier Bardem awarded Spanish National Cinema Prize
Review: No Country For Old Men

Got news tips for Paste? E-mail news@pastemagazine.com.