Actor Billy Zane has amazed fans with a dramatic transformation into Marlon Brando, capturing the iconic Don Vito Corleone look from The Godfather for an upcoming biopic, Waltzing with Brando.
Directed and co-written by Bill Fishman, the film explores Brando’s life in the early 1970s, highlighting his defining roles in The Godfather and Last Tango in Paris.
Billy Zane in Waltzing with Brando
A first look at the 58-year-old Zane reveals him nearly unrecognizable, dressed in a black tuxedo with Brando’s signature red rose and slicked-back gray hair, bearing an uncanny resemblance to Brando’s famous “offer he can’t refuse” scene from The Godfather.
The film dives into a personal chapter of Brando’s life, centering on his ambitious dream to build an eco-friendly paradise on a Tahitian atoll alongside Los Angeles architect Bernie Judge, played by Jon Heder.
Marlon Brando in The Godfather
Based on Judge’s 2011 memoir Waltzing with Brando: Planning a Paradise in Tahiti, the screenplay details their vision of a sustainable island retreat.
According to the official synopsis, “Brando saw this ecological experiment as a way to inspire the world toward a sustainable future.”
The story portrays the dynamic relationship between Judge, a practical architect, and Brando, an imaginative yet unpredictable visionary, as they navigate the challenges of establishing their dream on Tetiaroa, where most of the film was shot.
Celebrated as one of the 20th century’s greatest actors, Brando rose to fame with A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) and became a cultural icon as Vito Corleone, earning an Oscar in 1973. However, he famously declined the award in protest against Hollywood’s depiction of Native Americans, adding to his legacy as a complex, socially conscious figure.
Set to premiere at Italy’s Torino Film Festival, Waltzing with Brando stars Tia Carrere, Richard Dreyfuss, Alaina Huffman, and Rob Corddry. Zane, widely known for his role in Titanic, not only stars but also produces the film, honoring Brando’s dream of a sustainable future.
