John Leguizamo and other Latino actors criticize the casting of James Franco as Fidel Castro

Latinos say they are discriminated against by other Latinos, according to survey 0:47

(CNN) --

James Franco has been tapped to play Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro, according to multiple reports, and many Latino actors aren't happy.

In particular, the prolific John Leguizamo, who recently played Bruno in Disney's "Charm," criticized Franco's casting on Instagram.

Leguizamo argued that the role should have gone to a Latino actor.

"How does this keep happening?"

Leguizamo asked on Friday.

"How is it that Hollywood excludes us but also steals our narratives? No more appropriation of Hollywood and streaming services! Boycott! This is s***! Also, it's a very difficult story to tell." counting without aggrandizement, which would be wrong! I have no problem with Franco, but he's not Latino!"

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Franco will play Castro in the upcoming film "Alina of Cuba," with production set to begin later this year, according to reports.

The film follows the life of Alina Fernández, Castro's daughter.

Leguizamo is not the only Latin star angry about the casting.

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"Wtf is this..." wrote actress Jess Darrow, who voiced Luisa Madrigal in "Encanto," in response to Leguizamo's post.

"I'm sorry, but what the hell?" Actor Raúl Castillo wrote in an Instagram story.

"Me reading that James Franco will have to 'build' an accent for Castro, when all my life I have been mocked for not speaking English like an American and have been told countless times to work hard to get rid of it...", wrote the actress Sol Rodríguez.

"I'm auditioning for another generic Latin American drug dealer and James Franco is playing the role of Fidel Castro," actor Jeff Torres wrote on Twitter.

"Latinos are being played dirty here and everywhere. Damn lol."

Latino representation has long lagged behind in Hollywood.

Despite making up 18% of the US population, only 5% of speaking roles in the top 100 movies of 2019 went to Latino actors, according to a 2020 study by the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative of the U.S. USC.

Franco also faced accusations of inappropriate behavior and sexual exploitation in 2018 from five women, several of whom were his students.

In 2021, after settling a class action lawsuit, he admitted to sleeping with students at the acting school he co-owned.

Fidel Castro James Franco John Leguizamo