Antonio Banderas at the Perfume launch for 'Blue Seduction' at Cedar Lake. New York City, USA - 10.07.08

The Legend of Zorro star approached the wealthy family from the United Arab Emirates to bankroll Muhammad XII - about the 15th century exiled king known as Boabdil.

But he reveals negotiations broke down when they demanded he change the cultural focus of his film.

He says, "In Abu Dhabi, they offered to produce it. But I would have had to agree to various things.

"They wanted it to be filmed in English, but I wanted it to be in Arabic and Spanish. On those terms, I left the negotiations.

"My project is Arabic. It's not just financial, but ideological. The Arabic characters will be played by Arab actors and the plot centres on Boabdil, who has been labelled by history a coward and a traitor."

Source: WENN