El Chapo wanted to direct film about his own life, witness says

Alex Cifuentes, Guzman's self-described one-time 'right-hand man', says the accused drug lord 'loved the idea' of directing a movie about his own life

Accused Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman and Defense attorney A. Eduardo Balarezo (left) are seen during Guzman's trial, in this courtroom sketch in Brooklyn federal court in New York, US, 3 January, 2019. (Reuters)

Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman dreamed of directing his own biopic before his capture, according to a trial witness.

Alex Cifuentes, the accused drug lord’s self-described one-time “right-hand man”, made the revelation in Brooklyn federal court on Monday.

Cifuentez said he learned about a planned movie project while living with Guzman in the mountains of his boss’ home state of Sinaloa, Mexico, from 2007 to 2009.

Guzman was interested in directing a movie about his life story as early as 2007, jurors heard on Monday.

That was long before Guzman's well-known meeting with US actor Sean Penn and Mexican actress Kate Del Castillo in 2015.

Cifuentes told jurors his own wife came up with the idea for a biopic, the New York Post reported.

“He loved the idea!” Cifuentes said about Guzman, according to the newspaper.

It was revealed in January 2016 that Guzman had met with Penn and Del Castillo for an interview.

Guzman had been arrested just a couple of days prior.

Additional reporting by agencies.