We now have a new Hollywood villain to blame for the financial crisis - not a financial arbitrageur with slicked back hair, as in the original Wall Street film, but a hedge fund manager who has the effrontery to short stocks. To add to his crimes, he does it globally!

According to Nikki Finke’s blog Deadline Hollywood Daily, Javier Bardem is being enticed to play this repulsive character in Wall Street 2, Oliver Stone’s reprise of his 1987 film about the infamies of the Street. What could be more egregious than a short-selling hedgie with a Spanish accent?

It is redundant, I suppose, to point out that short-sellers such as John Paulson, who made billions by shorting mortgage securities, play a valuable role in financial markets. Not only are the regulators on to them, but now the film industry is bringing up the rear

I am already looking forward to February next year, when the film is due to be released.

July 1, 2009 7:07pm in Business | Comment