Both the Savannah Morning News and WTOC are confirming today that filmmakers have identified Antonio Banderas as one of the live action stars of SpongeBob SquarePants 2, which will begin filming soon in Savannah and Tybee.
I have not yet seen that news in trade publications or on the movie’s IMDB page.
But dedicated readers of this blog knew that Banderas was one of the likely stars from my August 30th post.
Banderas, who just turned 53 and has been married to Melanie Griffith for 17 years, has had an extraordinary career, with 91 listings on his IMDB filmography.
Banderas’ first acting credits begin in 1982. Perhaps most worthy of note are the actor’s early roles in Pedro Almodovar films: Labyrinth of Passion (1982), Matador (1986), Law of Desire (1987), Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988), and Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! (1990). Wow, what a great list of films — quirky, sexy, provocative, poetic, all those things at once and much more.
Banderas is perhaps better known in popular culture for his voice in various Shrek productions and for starring in two Zorro movies, but he’s done some other really great work outside of his films with Almodovar, including roles in Philadelphia (1993), Desperado (1995), and Interview with the Vampire (1994).
Those who were nonplussed by the entire SpongeBob announcement have a little more reason to pay attention.
And Banderas fans might want to take note that he’ll be playing Pablo Picasso in a Carlos Saura film scheduled for 2014 release. Gwyneth Paltrow will play Dora Maar.