Javier Bardem Opens Up About Playing Pablo Escobar In 'Loving Pablo'

Another side of Pablo Escobar will be explored in the movie, "Loving Pablo."

In a new interview, Javier Bardem, who portrays the drug kingpin in "Loving Pablo," explained what drew him to this movie, given that he has already turned down a lot of offers for him to play Escobar. "When I started to dig into this character almost 10 years ago, he wasn't as much in the public eye. I was attracted to this movie because it's about what's in his mind, how he could have that greed when he basically had it all," Bardem told E! News.

According to Bardem, he never felt the human side of Escobar in the other movies and TV shows focusing on the druglord. "I wanted to portray a real Pablo Escobar, because that's the scary part. He was a human being, he was not a machine, he was not an idea, he was a person. I didn't see that in those projects," he shared.

However, he felt that this movie treated Escobar differently, allowing him to connect with the character. "I really felt like I was there in Pablo's skin," Bardem said. "I felt for a second what it would be like to be him. I felt really powerful. And it was scary."

Bardem has been studying about Escobar, his physicality, movements and mannerisms for years. He watched a lot of videos in order to learn more about the character and discovered Escobar's fondness for hippopotamuses. The "Skyfall" star also saw the connection between the drug kingpin and his favorite animal.

"It makes sense because he is the hippopotamus," Bardem said of Escobar. "They seem nice, they're funny-looking, but once they decide that somebody must be killed they just attack. That's Pablo for me. That's the part of Pablo I tried to portray."

"Loving Pablo" covers Escobar's love story with journalist Virginia Vallejo. The movie is Bardem's big screen reunion with wife Penélope Cruz, who is playing Vallejo.

Cruz also recently opened up about their upcoming movie. She told Deadline that there were some scenes in "Loving Pablo" that would likely make viewers uncomfortable. "I feel like some of those scenes have to leave you with pain in your stomach. It can not be a gratuitous violence. I think that our film has accomplished that," she said.

Aside from movies, Escobar's life was also featured in Netflix's popular drama, "Narcos." But his character, played by Wagner Moura, was killed in Season 2. Some fans of the show have since been clamoring for the writers to bring Escobar back in Season 3. However, the production explained that the series is not just about Escobar, but about the drug trade as a whole.

For those who wish to see more of Escobar on the big screen, Bardem and Cruz's film "Loving Pablo" will make its worldwide premiere at the Venice Film Festival on Sept. 6. It will debut in North America at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 12.

Check out the trailer for "Loving Pablo" below!