Unrecognizable Billy Zane brings Marlon Brando to life in new biopic

Actor Billy Zane has stunned fans with a striking transformation into Marlon Brando, embodying the legendary actor’s iconic Don Vito Corleone look from 'The Godfather' in an upcoming biopic titled Waltzing with Brando.

The film, directed and co-written by Bill Fishman, delves into Brando’s life during the early 1970s, a time marked by his pivotal roles in The Godfather and Last Tango in Paris.

The first look at Zane, 58, shows him almost unrecognizable as he dons a black tuxedo with Brando’s signature red rose and slicked-back gray hair, exuding a near-perfect likeness to Brando in The Godfather’s memorable “offer he can’t refuse” scene.

Waltzing with Brando explores an intimate chapter in Brando’s life, focusing on his quest to create an ecologically sustainable paradise on a Tahitian atoll with Los Angeles architect Bernie Judge, played by Jon Heder.

The screenplay is based on Judge’s 2011 memoir, Waltzing with Brando: Planning a Paradise in Tahiti, which recounts the duo’s dream to develop a sustainable island retreat.

As the official synopsis notes, “Brando believed that this great ecological experiment would inspire the world to create a better and more sustainable future.”

The story showcases the tension and camaraderie between Judge, the pragmatic architect, and Brando, a visionary but unpredictable dreamer, as they tackle challenges on the remote island of Tetiaroa, where most of the movie was filmed.

Brando, celebrated as one of the 20th century’s greatest actors, rocketed to fame as Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) and became a cultural icon through his role as Vito Corleone, for which he won an Oscar in 1973.

However, Brando famously declined the award in a protest against Hollywood's portrayal of Native Americans, further cementing his status as a complex and socially conscious figure.

Waltzing with Brando, set to premiere at Italy's Torino Film Festival, includes a cast featuring Tia Carrere, Richard Dreyfuss, Alaina Huffman, and Rob Corddry. Zane, best known for his role in Titanic, serves as both the film’s star and producer, ensuring Brando’s vision for a sustainable future remains at the story’s heart.