The film Manolete, starring the Oscar-winners Adrien Brody and Penelope Cruz, is undergoing great distribution difficulties. The projected release dates we’ve heard about were September 2007, April 2008 and February 2009. But finally, one of the partners, Andres Vicente Gomez, is studying the possibility of launching the film in the US at the end of the summer, before Spain.

Gomez did not provide many more details about this new decision, but recognised that the director (Menno Meyjers, from Holland) and he had very different ideas about production. “The problems with the final cut are being resolved. The film is ready, and after discussions with the director, there is only one version.” There are also the financial difficulties to consider: “The film cost double its original budget – 20 million dollars - but it will be out this year.”

Filming of the movie began in 2006, and it was shot in Madrid, Alcoy and the bullring in Alicante. In addition to Brody, who bears a distinct physical likeness to the bullfighter, and Cruz, who plays Lupe Sino, the cast is composed of Juan Echanove, in the role of Pepe Camara, the bullfighter’s agent; Santiago Segura, as his chauffeur and sword boy; Josep Linuesa, as aristocrat Enrique de Ahumada, and Ann Mitchell in the role of Doña Angustias, mother of the matador.