Monica Belucci in S. Loren role ....and Heston's?

That's the problem. Heston has an old fashioned face. The man is gigantic not just in size but in his powerful perfomance. He's Shakespearan actor with a deep voice that amazes you even when he's playing an old dying ape in Planet of the Apes Burton's remake! How can Scott put someone like Bloom on HEAVEN'S SAKE????? Banderas -if he doesn't talk- could only mimic Irish actor Stephen Boyd as Mesala in Ben Hur if that were the case, period.
I can't think in a single actor with the powerful presence Heston delivered. If you pay attention carefully Holywood set Arnold Schwarzenegger to mimic what Heston did. Even his face and jawbone looked like kim. Probably that's why they wanted to cast him in the remake of Planet of the Apes and for good reason the would-be director Oliver Stone stepped away. Arnie is bad actor. He was excelent as Barbarian/Terminator/Commando/Predator because he didn't have to deliver too much speach. You just can't put Stallone as El Cid cos he's more like Victor Mature's Samson! You can't put The Rock either. Heston has been a rarity and that's why he's unforgettable. That was Scott's problem. Choosing Bloom was unforgivable. The only solution I have in my mind is the hero of Lord of The Rings. The KING,needless to say. Fine blonde actor and looks. By the way Viggo Mortessen speaks perfectly Spanish cos he used to dwell in Argentina.