Danny Trejo as Ferdinand Magellan in the Philippines set “1521”

Hollywood actor Danny Trejo (“Machete,” “Con Air,” “Heat”) has been cast to play Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in ‘1521,’ an upcoming historical epic set to depict the pre-colonial era of the Philippines and the Battle of Mactan , diversity have learned.

Produced by Filipino-American filmmaker Francis B. Lara Ho of Inspire Studios (“Angel Warrior”, “Palawan: Last Man Out”), “1521” is a US-Filipino production that follows the journey of Magellan, who conquered the Spanish Expedition led and was one of the first Europeans to tour Asia. He reached the group of islands now known as the Philippines on March 16, 1521.

1521 was written by Mary Krell-Oishi. Principal photography is slated to begin this month in Palawan.

Joining the cast alongside Trejo is Michael Copon (“One Tree Hill”, “Power Rangers”, “Scorpion King 2”). He will play the role of Datu Lapu-Lapu, an island ruler and leader of the warriors who repelled Magellan’s attempted colonization of the Philippine archipelago. Magellan’s forces were defeated and the Portuguese explorer killed at the Battle of Mactan on April 27, 1521.

The historical encounter between Magellan and Copon is punctuated by the forbidden romance between the Mactan-born princess Diwata, played by Filipino actress Bea Alonzo (“Eerie”, “Unbreakable”), and a Spanish soldier and Magellan’s translator Enrique, played by Hector David , even more complicated Jr. (“Power Rangers”, “East Los High”). Filipino actress Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan will play Ahmani, Diwata’s sister.

Alonso was previously recognized as a Talent to Watch by Variety and the Internationals Film Festival & Awards Macao in 2019. She is also set to star in the World War II story Angel Warrior as a woman whose near-death experience transforms her into a cruel underground fighter described as a “she-devil.”