Martin Scorsese, Benicio Del Toro Developing ‘Cortes’ Drama for HBO

Project will tell the story of the Spanish conquistador who took down the Aztecs

PARIS, FRANCE - OCTOBER 21: Benicio Del Toro attends the Paris Premiere of "Paradise Lost" at Cinema Gaumont Marignan on October 21, 2014 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
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HBO is exploring the possibility of a series about Hernando Cortes.

The premium cable channel is developing a project about the 16th century Spanish conquistador, with Martin Scorsese and Benicio Del Toro executive producing.

The project would detail the story of Cortes, who brought about the end of the Aztec empire. Malinche, the Mayan girl who helped him conquer the Aztecs, and Aztec leader Montezuma, who Cortes eventually put into chains, will also figure prominently in the story.

Scorsese is also on board to direct the project. Chris Gerolmo (“Mississippi Burning”) is writing and executive producing.

Laura Bickford (“Traffic”), Rick Yorn and Emma  Tillinger Koskoff (“The Departed”) are also executive producing.

Deadline first reported HBO’s “Cortes” project.

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