After releasing his controversial Bush biopic W., Oliver Stone is set to produce a documentary on another controversial world leader: Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez.  The film, which has yet to receive a name, has been in the works for the past six months, and the director hopes that it sees light next year.

Stone was once seen with Chavez in February this year, when the president helped negotiate the release of hostages held by the militant FARC group in Colombia—an effort which eventually led to the dramatic rescue of Ingrid Betancourt, among others, by Colombian troops.  However, the director clarified that the documentary will not focus on the hostage issue, but would instead take a look at opposition Chavez faces form abroad, especially from the Bush administration, which has been vocally against the Venezuelan government’s socialist system.

Stone also revealed that he is working on a second documentary, although he remains tight-lipped on any details.  He denied, however, rumors that he is set to shoot a film centering on Iran president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who reportedly authorized the director to come to Iran and document his life. These projects follow his many political documentaries, including Comandante, about former Cuba president Fidel Castro; and Persona Non Grata, a primer on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict which arose when Yasser Arafat, his original subject, died.


-Henrik Batallones, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: Variety
(Image courtesy of MSNBC)