With The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power moving into its third season, enthusiasts of Tolkien are eager for updates. However, series actor Ismael Cruz Cordova isn’t revealing anything. The performer, known for portraying the elf warrior Arondir since the first season, is committed to keeping secrets when questioned about the upcoming plot.
“Three seasons, six years so far… I have not swam this long to drown off the shore,” Cordova tells Inverse with a smile. “I can hint that it was enjoyable. I can say it was a real page-turner, featuring the thrills you expect and more. I feel the love pouring in and influencing our work on the series. But yeah… I’m sworn to secrecy.”
His caution is understandable: The Rings of Power is a massive and highly confidential production for Prime Video, and the next season is set to expand on this world. The wait for its comeback might be tough, but followers of Cordova can find solace in his new movie, The Bluff.
Under the direction of Frank E. Flowers, The Bluff is a revenge thriller set in the 19th century featuring clashing pirates. Cordova plays T.H. Bodden, a steadfast sea merchant who clashes with a savage pirate crew, marking a departure from the high fantasy of Middle-earth. Cordova calls Bodden a “damsel in distress,” noting that the character takes a secondary role in this female-driven thriller. This shift was a key reason he swapped his bow for a cutlass. Another factor was Flowers’ aim to portray a unique aspect of Caribbean piracy, bridging the gap between big-budget blockbusters and realistic historical dramas.
The Bluff centers on Ercell (Priyanka Chopra Jonas), an unassuming “fish wife” with a hidden history as a formidable pirate. When her former crew invades her home on Cayman Brac seeking treasure she supposedly stole from Captain Connor (Karl Urban), Ercell must revive the skills she abandoned to save her husband (Cordova’s Captain Bodden) and family. While The Bluff is an exciting narrative, Flowers also incorporates the heritage of his homeland, the Cayman Islands, to ground the story in historical fact.
“Many people categorize it as a genre film,” Cordova remarks. “But truly, it is a historical piece. It isn’t soft. It is quite gritty, representing the authentic reality of the Caribbean. Pirates existed; they are part of our history.”
Born in Puerto Rico, one of the many Caribbean islands where pirates operated freely for ages, Cordova commends The Bluff for moving the focus away from the glorified fun of looting and toward the real people impacted by piracy. “Frank shared his inspiration and motivation for making this movie with me,” Cordova adds. “He wanted to bring this narrative to the forefront: our voice within this historical era, the events that transpired, and the consequences of crossing those involved.”
This straightforward, crowd-pleasing story is rich in detail, particularly regarding its historical setting and the tender moments shared between Ercell and Bodden. Although The Bluff is not strictly a romance, illustrating the bond between these characters was essential for establishing the film’s emotional core and authenticity.
“For us, depicting two brown people together was vital,” Cordova states. “You rarely see that… and when you do, it is often labeled as ‘the Black film’ or ‘the Latino film.’” The Bluff stands out by allowing its characters to simply exist, portraying a nearly post-racial society that has vanished over time. This element is just one thread of the movie’s tapestry, but it significantly helps the audience understand what the anti-heroine is fighting for when she finally faces off against Connor.