Although Michael Pena has had a very busy year, appearing in Battle: Los Angeles, 30 Minutes or Less, Tower Heist, The Lincoln Lawyer, and the upcoming Gangster Squad, none of those roles I think adequately convey how great he truly is. For a better example of what he can do, one would have to look back at 2008's The Lucky Ones, in which he plays a returning soldier facing an uncertain reunion with his love. It's an amazing performance which unfortunately has gone mostly unseen. but hopefully Pena is about to get the recognition he has so long deserved.
Variety reports he'll play civil rights and labor activist Cesar E. Chavez in the directorial debut from Diego Luna(Y tu Mama Tambien). Titled simply Chavez, the film will chronicle his work in the 60s and 70s, which included organizing the largest farm worker strike in U.S. history. His birthday on March 31st is celebrated in California as a state holiday. America Ferrera(Ugly Betty) will play Chavez's wife, with Rosario Dawson as his top aide, Dolores Huerta. If you're wondering where to find Luna's frequent on-screen partner, Gael Garcia Bernal, he's listed as one of the film's producers.
The script comes from Hotel Rwanda scribe, Keir Pearson, even more reason to believe this may be Pena's first real shot at some awards love. Filming begins in Mexico next month, so it may even be ready by the end of the year.
