"During the Hollywood of the 1920s, the transition from silent to talking films took place and many artists saw their careers cut short by the change while others rose to fame. This is the case of Clara Bow, considered one of the first 'sex symbols' and 'it-girl' in history. She sees her career reflected against her classmates who lost their stardom with the talkies,” reads the synopsis of the production Babylon.

The film is directed by Franco-American filmmaker Damien Chazelle, who won an Oscar for La La Land. Chazelle is recognized in the film industry for being the youngest filmmaker to receive an Academy Award, at the age of 32.

The movie Babylon stars Mexican actor Diego Calva Hernández, who plays Manny Torres, a Latino character in the 1920s film industry.

“It is a role that as a Mexican is important. There is talk of a time when we ourselves did not imagine ourselves in those places. Mexican representation in period cinema in the United States is tiny. I am representing a Mexican with a story that is not at all from the other world: one more story of Mexicans that leave, try and succeed after all,” he said in an interview with GQ.

The cast also includes Australian actress Margot Robie (as Clara Bow), Brad Pitt (who plays John Gilbert, a silent movie star) and Tobey Maguire (as Charlie Chaplin), and Max Minghella (who will be Irving Thalberg). Olivia Wilde, Spike Jonze and Phoebe Tonkin will also join the cast. 

Who is Diego Calva Hernandez?

Diego Calva Hernández, 30, made his film debut in the movie Te prometo anarquía (2015), directed by the American filmmaker Julio Hernandez Cordon. This debut led him to win the Best Actor Award at the Havana Film Festival.

The Mexican also acted in the television series Narcos: Mexico, Desenfrenadas and El Recluso on Netflix.

Besides Babylon, Calva has been cast in Midnight Family, the first Spanish-language series on Apple TV+, in which he will be acting alongside Yalitza Aparicio and Joaquin Cosio. 

Babylon in theaters 

The new film by the French-American director and produced by Paramount Studios, will premiere on Dec. 25, 2022 in theaters.