Joe Begos and the WTFilms Team Discuss Their New Take on the Classic Hero ‘They Call Him Zorro’
WTFilms Partners with Joe Begos for a New Take on Zorro
Production and sales company WTFilms is collaborating with acclaimed director Joe Begos, renowned for his cult horror films such as Bliss and Christmas Bloody Christmas, to develop a gritty reimagining of the iconic character in They Call Him Zorro.
The film will draw inspiration from Johnston McCulley’s original writings, introducing Zorro through a horror lens. “This is not your parents’ Zorro,” said Gregory Chambet, co-head and producer at WTFilms. “In our iteration, the masked folk hero has more in common with dark and violent characters like The Punisher or The Crow.”
Chambet elaborated on the film’s premise, suggesting a transformation of Diego Vega, traditionally seen as a cowardly daydreamer who becomes a charming scoundrel by night. “What if instead of this persona, he returned for vengeance in the form of a scary, brutal vigilante?” he posed.
According to the official synopsis: “When Diego Vega is framed by a group of corrupt city officials for a crime he didn’t commit, he escapes from prison and embarks on a relentless quest for vengeance against corruption and crime in present-day Los Angeles. The media quickly dubs him Zorro, the masked vigilante riding a black El Camino and armed with chains, machetes, electric saws, and a sawed-off shotgun.”
Begos is not only writing the film but will also direct and co-produce it through Channel 83. His collaboration with WTFilms dates back to his first film, Almost Human, which premiered at the TIFF Midnight Madness in 2013.
The duo also recently worked together on Jimmy & Stiggs, released last year under Eli Roth’s new label, The Horror Section. “All of my favorite action movies, from T2 to Heat, were shot on location in Los Angeles,” Begos remarked. “It’s always been a dream to stage high-octane and explosive set pieces in this city, and this project is the perfect opportunity to showcase its beauty and culture while emphasizing practical action filmmaking.”
Unlike his previous films, which were shot on 16mm, Begos plans to shoot They Call Him Zorro on 35mm film. He intends to evoke the feel and visual texture of classic action films like To Live and Die in L.A., RoboCop, and Hard Boiled.
As WTFilms moves forward with financing and casting, Chambet highlighted the importance of representation, emphasizing the need for roles for talented Hispanic actors. “Zorro is a Mexican character, and we want to create a badass icon that the Latino community will be excited about and proud of. We will have done our job right if people start dressing up as this new version of Zorro for Halloween,” he stated.
