“Bullfighter on the Green” will feature both Rodriguez and “Malcolm in the Middle” star Frankie Muniz

A legendary golfer who brought some welcome playfulness to the sport will star in a documentary shot in Sarasota that will also feature a familiar face from a hit TV show.

A film about eight-time PGA Tour-winning golfer Chi Chi Rodriguez, which will feature him as well as “Malcolm in the Middle” star Frankie Muniz, will use Sarasota County as a backdrop.

“Bullfighter on the Green” will follow the life of Rodriguez, a charismatic figure who had a celebratory toreador dance on the green and was the first Puerto Rican inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Sarasota County Film and Entertainment Office Director Jeanne Corcoran described the film as a “bio-docudrama” that will incorporate both documentary and reenactment elements.

“He really changed the face of golf and became a champion, and he’s a really colorful, interesting guy,” Corcoran said.

The production had been in talks to shoot in Sarasota County since January, Corcoran said, but had planned to film primarily in Rodriguez’s native Puerto Rico. However, the devastation caused by Hurricane Irma and Maria forced a change in plans.

It will start shooting in Sarasota County no earlier than December, when filming was slated to begin in Puerto Rico. Corcoran is unsure of the exact shooting locations, but believes it will likely use several local golf courses.

Rodriguez and Muniz are both expected to film in the Sarasota area. Muniz, a golf fan with Puerto Rican heritage who also appeared on the latest season of “Dancing with the Stars,” will narrate the film and hold an onscreen conversation with Rodriguez.

“It should be very warm and enjoyable,” Corcoran said.

Roberto Alcazar, a native of Spain with a background in advertising, will direct “Bullfighter on the Green,” with local resident Irene Gottlieb among the producers. The project was discussed during a Sarasota County Commission meeting Tuesday, when a tax rebate for up to $80,000 was approved as long as the production spends $400,000 or more in Sarasota County.

Published By: Hearld Tribune