Background: Danny Trejo's Latest Role Sparks Debate

Veteran actor Danny Trejo, long recognized for portraying gangsters and criminals in Hollywood, is facing criticism over his involvement in a new film titled "Pawn Shop." The movie is being produced by conservative media company The Daily Wire, founded by political commentator Ben Shapiro. Trejo's co-star in the project is Harvey Keitel, another prominent actor often associated with tough-guy roles.

Trejo's Response: Clarifying His Immigration Stance

After Trejo's casting in the film drew social media backlash for what some have described as a "pro-ICE" narrative, Trejo took to Instagram on October 9 to address the controversy. He wrote, "I am a proud Mexican who has always been and will always be a supporter of my community. I am also obviously pro immigrant. I am not pro ICE." Trejo emphasized that his role as an actor involves telling stories, and did not indicate in his statement whether he knew who was producing the movie before taking the role.

Family Stands Up: Details from Trejo’s Son

Gilbert Trejo, Danny's son, provided further context in a social media post, stating that his father accepted the role because it offered him a chance to play a hardworking, peace-loving Mexican shop owner—a departure from his usual "bad guy" characters. Gilbert noted, "My 82-year-old dad has never heard of Ben Shapiro. I had to explain to him who that is, and what kind of guy he is." He also revealed that his father did not realize Shapiro was involved in the film until two weeks after filming began. Gilbert claimed, "My dad contractually can't bad mouth him, the film, or walk away without being sued for breach of contract. He couldn't even release the statement he wanted to."

Film Overview and Cast

The film "Pawn Shop" is being shot in Livingston, Montana, and stars both Danny Trejo and Harvey Keitel. According to a synopsis currently available on IMDb, the plot follows a young federal agent who, after his partner is injured during chaos in Minneapolis, seeks refuge in a pawn shop. Inside, he becomes trapped with a traditional Hispanic father and his progressive college-age son, leading to a confrontation of differing beliefs and a test of courage and humanity. The agent for Trejo, Gloria Hinojosa, and Keitel's representative, Stephanie Simon, did not provide comment to NBC News regarding their clients' awareness of the film's production details or narrative when they signed on.

Controversy and Protests on Set

The "Pawn Shop" film set in Montana has been the site of numerous protests, following reports and leaked footage suggesting the film includes a sequence based on the January 2026 fatal shooting of Renée Good by an ICE agent in St. Paul, Minnesota. The protests have focused on what some view as the movie's potential support for controversial immigration enforcement practices. Despite this, Trejo's statements have clarified his own position in support of immigrants and his community.

Actors' Obligations and Moving Forward

Reports from Danny Trejo's son highlight the complexities actors may face when contractual obligations prevent them from speaking out or leaving a project after learning more about its production or narrative. As the film continues in production, it remains to be seen how its themes and connections will affect both its reception and the public discourse around Hollywood casting and political content.

Source: nbcnews.com.