When director Chris Weitz (About A Boy, American Pie) was filming A Better Life I kept hearing word that Demian Bichir’s performance was going to hit big around award season. Well, the movie came and went, but Bichir’s acting was strong enough to overcome being in a movie that never really got a wide release and he was nominated for Best Actor at the Oscars this past year. In fact, Bichir’s performance was nominated for several awards in that category. It should come as now surprise that Bichir is now sought after for a number of roles.

Initially J.J. Abrams wanted him to play the villain in Star Trek 2, but Bichir had a commitment to appear in his brother’s stage rendition of Swimming With Sharks and was forced to turn down Abrams. Now, Variety is reporting Bichir has been cast in Machete Kills, Robert Rodriguez’s sequel to Machete, as well as William Friedkin’s next film, Trapped. Bichir’s role in Kills is not yet know, but we do know he will be playing an Israeli operative in Trapped.

Bichir will join Danny Trejo, Michelle Rodriguez, Jessica Alba and Mel Gibson in Kills, which starts shooting in June. Trapped begins filming some time early next year.

SOURCE: Variety