casting kuno for goal!
A large question loomed on the horizon: who would play the role of the endearing and talented central character, Santiago Munez?
“We wanted to cast somebody that wasn't already a huge superstar,” says Matt Barrelle. “It was also really important for us to find a guy who looked like an athlete, was a very good actor, and had that Hispanic/Spanish/Argentinean/Mexican look for his heritage. We also wanted someone who had a charismatic presence on camera, and who looked really innocent. Santiago comes across as very cheeky and innocent in the film, which is really important.”
It was a tall order, and only a truly unique talent could fill it. But Mexico-born actor Kuno Becker fit the bill. An up and coming actor, Becker is one of Mexico's most recognized stars in the international Hispanic television market.
Having a good actor that was really credible was most important to us,” says Barrelle. “We figured we're making a movie here, not running a sports team. A lot of other sports films have gone for a professional sportsman rather than a good actor.”
The filmmakers auditioned a large cross section of actors. “We auditioned Hispanic actors, all of whom could play football,” says Jefferies. “It was tough out there! We were very, very lucky to find Kuno. He was a perfect mix for us.”
“Kuno is an amazing kid on many different levels,” comments Danny Stepper. “Personally, he is just a great guy. We wanted to surround ourselves with people that were just good to work with, and he's great. And he's a good footballer, which is important. To be credible he had to be a good football player.
“Finally,” concludes Stepper, “from what the girls tell me, he's a pretty good-looking kid. He's a great choice for us.”
Kuno earned the respect and admiration of his director as well: “Nobody works harder than Kuno. He trained hard, played hard, rehearsed over and over and brought so much of himself to the part. He's has an extraordinary talent. You haven't heard of him yet, but you won't be able to stop talking about him. Star quality. Completely,” says Danny Cannon.
For the 27-year-old Becker, the process has been a whirlwind. “It's been crazy,” he says. “I learned so much every day. We tried to make it look as real as possible. I hope its working!”
Becker's fellow actors weren't oblivious to the huge burden on his shoulders. “I felt for Kuno as soon as I met him, because I knew it was a huge undertaking to come to a different country when he doesn't know anyone, and to go straight to Newcastle and be put with all the real players to train,” says Anna Friel, who plays Santiago's love interest. “It's incredibly daunting for anybody, and I think he's handled it incredibly well. And he doesn't complain-he's one of the few actors you'll ever meet that literally will never moan about anything. It's very admirable.”
