In 1998’s The Big Lebowski, which was directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, Emmy Award-winner John Turturro made the most of his limited screen time. He played Jesus Quintana, a Cuban-American bowler who celebrated a strike with a Muhammad Ali-inspired dance, referred to himself as “The Jesus,” and quickly established that he was the best player on the Dude’s rival bowling team. And according to Walter, the unstable Vietnam veteran played by John Goodman, The Jesus spent 6 months in Chino for exposing himself to an 8-year-old.
In 2014, Turturro revealed that he was seeking permission to make a spin-off film based on The Jesus, and today, he hinted that there has been some progress on that front.
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“It’s a very complicated legal situation,” he told The Hollywood Reporter. “Until things are all signed, you can’t really talk about it. But we’ll see.”
The legal issue stems from Polygram, the company that produced The Big Lebowski, is no longer in business and The Jesus character was created by Turturro before he used it in the film.
“That character was actually based on a play I had done many years before that, a Spanish play I did at the public theater,. It’s a character I invented,” he said. “If you ever tell anything to Joel or Ethan, they basically steal it from you!”
As for Coen brothers, Turturro says they would be involved with the spin-off, but they wouldn’t direct it.
While Turturro isn’t sure when the project would begin, he did say he is practicing. “I can tell you I’ve been bowling,” he shared. “I’ve been bowling a lot, and I’m getting better!”
The hilariously twisted comedy-thriller stars Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi and Julianne Moore. Join the “Dude” and his bowling buddies on their journey that blends unforgettable characters, kidnapping, a case of mistaken identity and White Russians. Enter the visually unique and entertaining world from the creative minds of the Coen brothers and remember: the Dude abides.
