MOVIES - Aug. 6, 1992

Hold Up on ‘Frida’: New Line Cinema on Wednesday pulled out of producing “Frida and Diego,” a film on renowned Mexican artist Frida Kahlo and her tempestuous 26-year marriage to noted artist Diego Rivera. The $10-million feature, set to start this fall with Laura San Giacomo and Raul Julia as the stars, was to be co-financed by New Line Cinema and the Mexican government. The inability of the outside producers to provide substantial financing for the project forced the studio to withdraw, New Line president Sara Risher said. The Latino acting community has been unhappy over the casting of a non-Latina as Frida, and a group of Latina actresses were scheduled to protest today in front of New Line’s Los Angeles headquarters. Risher said New Line’s decision was “in no way related to the protest” but was a matter of “financial prudence.” She said the producers plan to proceed with a fall shoot and are seeking alternative financing and distribution.