Oscar-nominated actor Antonio Banderas is set to star in Cortés, an upcoming historical epic that will incorporate artificial intelligence technology into its production. The film, developed by Utopai Studios and Ex Machina Studios, will explore the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire, bringing one of history’s most controversial figures to the big screen.
According to Variety, Banderas will portray Hernán Cortés in the historical drama directed by Paul Mignot and written by Oscar-nominated screenwriter Nicholas Kazan. Set in 1519, the film follows the Spanish conquistador as he leads an expedition to Mexico and encounters Marina, an enslaved Indigenous woman whose linguistic abilities become essential to his conquest.
The project is a collaboration between Utopai Studios and Ex Machina Studios, which will use AI-assisted filmmaking tools to create large-scale historical environments while maintaining human creative control. Production is underway in Paris, with additional filming planned in Spain.
The film is scheduled for a 2027 theatrical release and represents a decades-long effort to bring the ambitious historical story to the screen. The production also highlights Hollywood’s growing exploration of artificial intelligence as filmmakers consider new ways to develop visually complex projects.
