Antonio Banderas is all set to play Spanish explorer Hernan Cortes in the historical epic Conquistador, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The film tells the story of the expedition that sailed west from Cuba to what is not called Mexico, in 1519, in hopes of expanding the Spanish Empire. Cortes led the bloody assault on the Aztec empire to add to the coffers of the Spanish Empire.

The film will be directed by Brazilian filmmaker Andrucha Waddington ("Eu Tu Eles", "Casa de Areia"). The script has been written by Nicholas Kazan ("Reversal of Fortune"). Some scenes in Conquistador are expected to be in Mayan and Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs.

Conquistador will hit the floors in September. It will be shot in Spain, Mexico and South America. The $ 40 million Conquistador is widely believed to be the most expensively produced of all Spanish movies thus far.

The Mask of Zorro star Antonio Banderas' latest release was the ballroom dancing drama "Take the Lead." that hit theatres last week.

Antonio Banderas is happily married to actress Melanie Griffith.