Billy Zane unrecognisable in first look at Marlon Brando biopic: 'Insane'

From Nicole Kidman as Virginia Woolf in The Hours to Bradley Cooper as Leonard Bernstein in Maestro, it’s always impressive when an actor manages to completely transform their appearance to play a celebrity in a biopic. While stars around the world have showcased their incredible Halloween costumes over the past 24 hours, Billy Zane has broken the internet with his transformation into The Godfather’s Marlon Brando for an upcoming film.

Zane, best known for his role as Cal Hockley in Titanic, is set to play the legendary actor in the highly-anticipated biographical drama Waltzing with Brando. Based on the book of the same name, the film is set between 1969 and 1974 when Brando was preparing to star in both The Godfather and Last Tango in Paris.

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The biopic also follows Brando’s ambition to create the world's first ecologically sustainable sanctuary in Tahiti and aims to shed light on the actor’s tumultuous personal life, struggles with fame, and lasting impact on cinema.

Following Variety’s announcement that the film will close Italy’s Torino Film Festival on November 30th, fans have been given their first look at Zane’s jaw-dropping transformation

Photos show the Back To The Future star looking identical to Brando playing Don Vito Corleone in The Godfather, a role which he famously won the Oscar for but declined the award. Zane dons a classic tuxedo with a red rose and intense gaze reminiscent of Brando in the 1972 epic gangster film.

Fans applaud 'insane' transformation

Fans have since taken to social media to applaud Zane’s uncanny resemblance and express their excitement over the release of the long-awaited film, which finished filming back in 2019.

“Billy Zane is such a good casting choice!” one person wrote on X, while another added, “I hope the film is good, because this is pitch-perfect casting, and I'd personally love to see a Billy Zane comeback”.

“I'm already rooting for Billy Zane to get his first Oscar nomination. The hair and makeup alone has already won the Oscar,” a third remarked.

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“Well, I am still waiting for the picture of Billy Zane. This is clearly Marlon Brando,” someone else joked, followed by a different user who said, “I’ve seen The Godfather movies at least 2-3 dozen times EACH, and I had to do a triple take”.

Others said the transformation was “uncanny”, “insane” and “spot on”, and that Zane was “born to play Brando”.

Billy Zane spills on physical transformation

Billy Zane has been tipped to portray Marlon Brando on screen over the past three decades due to his striking resemblance to the Hollywood legend.

He spoke about the physical transformation in an interview with Entertainment Weekly in 2019, saying: “I think a little tan and some good wigging will just about cover it.

“There will probably be a slight prosthetic attachment on the bridge of my nose just to get [his] bump exactly right. I’ve got one, but it’s slightly different,” he added.

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