Guillermo del Toro plans first Spanish-language film in 20 years

Guillermo del Toro is planning his first Spanish-language film in 20 years, marking a departure from the dark fantasy genre that defined works like ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’. In an interview with the L.A. Times, the Oscar-winning Mexican director expressed his desire to film a new dramatic project in his home country of Mexico.

The project is described as a highly personal, autobiographical drama centered on a kidnapping scenario. The narrative will be told from three perspectives: the victim, the kidnappers, and a third undisclosed viewpoint.

The story appears to be inspired by a traumatic event in the director's family history. In the late 1990s, his father, Federico del Toro, was kidnapped in Guadalajara during the filming of the movie ‘Mimic’. The kidnappers demanded a $1 million ransom, which the director could not provide at the time. The crisis was resolved with the intervention of James Cameron, who provided the necessary funds and helped facilitate professional negotiations, leading to the victim's release after 72 days.