13. Hernan Cortes
This film adaption should focus on Cortes conquest of the Aztec empire, which he accomplished with the aid of only a few hundred Spanish soldiers. One fascinating aspect that could be explored is that Cortes essentially was a mutineer as the Spanish governor of Cuba, who funded the expedition, was on the way to revoke his captaincy but Cortes, after hearing about it, sailed away before the governor arrived. When he arrived in the New World, Cortes was determined to claim it for Spain and allied his soldiers with native tribes to overthrow the Aztec Empire, which had long been the main power in the area. Cortes arrived at the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan, at the time one of the largest cities anywhere in the world, and was initially welcomed by the Aztec leaders but later had to flee the city. Returning with allied native tribes, Cortes embarked on a campaign that almost completely annihilated the Aztec Empire. The adaption would have plenty of room for large battles between Spanish and Native forces and the Aztecs with the eight month siege of Tenochtitlan as the centerpiece. It could also show all of Cortes manipulation of local customs and tribes in order to upset the regional stability leading up to his campaign. In the end, a film about Cortes would deal with parts of history rarely seen on screen and would be extremely interesting.
Casting Choice: Either Javier Bardem or Benicio Del Toro would do an excellent job portraying one of the most interesting explorers of the New World.