Emmy winner and Nuyorican Jimmy Smits is sure to bring authenticity to the role of Francisco Cruz aka “Papa Fuerte,” a South Bronx political boss in the new Netflix hip-hop series The Get Down. Here, Smits is more than just the guy who hands out free turkeys at Thanksgiving. Papa Fuerte helps provide services to the hood, such as jobs and housing that New York City has otherwise failed to supply.
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“The Puerto Rican culture of the ’70s Bronx plays such a large role in the story we are telling that the character of Papa Fuerte had to be played by an actor who could bring experience, gravitas and authenticity to the role,” Luhrmann told THR about picking Smits. “I know our entire cast is excited to have someone of Jimmy’s talent joining us on the journey we are undertaking. We are thrilled to have him on The Get Down.”
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Smits now joins Dope breakout Shameik Moore, Paper Towns‘ Justice Smith, The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete‘s Skylan Brooks, and newcomers Herizen Guardiola and Tremaine Brown Jr.
The Get Down is slated to premiere on Netflix in 2016.
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