Hey remember that movie EL MUERTO starring WIlmer Valderrama that was based on an indie comic? Whatever happened to it? Well, it seems it is having a premiere in a few weeks, according to comic creator Javier Hernandez:

The independent movie based on my comic book El Muerto is screening at the San Diego Latino Film Festival on March 17. I’ll be introducing the film along with stars Tony Plana (ABC’s Ugly Betty) and Angie Cepeda. This film has had it’s journey to screen for quite some time, so it’s very satisfying to finally give it a proper premiere. You can see the trailer at www.elmuerto.com.

Update: here’s more from the press release in the jump

El Muerto, the cult Latino comic book by Javier Hernandez follows the film industry’s fascination with comic book heroes, and is a live action feature film that will be presented during the 14th Annual San Diego Latino Film Festival March 8-18. The film El Muerto fuses imagery from the rich mythology of ancient Mexico with the U.S. Latin-influenced culture of today, creating a unique contemporary superhero unlike anything you’ve seen before.

The film stars an amazing cast including Wilmar Valderrama (That ‘70s Show, MTVs Yo Momma), Tony Plana (Ugly Betty), Maria Conchita Alonso (Desperate Housewives, Saint & Sinners), and Angie Cepeda (Love in the Time of Cholera); all of whom have participated in past San Diego Latino Film Festivals. Tony Plana and Angie Cepeda are scheduled to appear again this year to present the film with El Muerto’s creator, Javier Hernandez, on Saturday, March 17th at 8:00 PM at UltraStar Mission Valley Cinemas at Hazard Center (off 163 Freeway & Friars Road).In addition to this special presentation of the film, Javier Hernandez will be joining Hector Cantú and Carlos Castellanos, co-creators of the successful syndicated comic strip Baldo during a panel discussion on Wedensday, March 14 9also @ UltraStar) entitled “From Paper to Screen: Getting Comics Produced for Both the Small and Big Screen.”

“Getting the film made from the comic was no small feat,” says Javier Hernandez, “While movie options are seemingly a weekly occurrence in comics nowadays, the actual production, completion and release very well makes this the Muerto Movie Milagro! Creating your own comic is a very solitary exercise, so working with a whole cast and crew of filmmakers was an exciting new experience for me, one that proved to be very rewarding.”

The San Diego Latino Film Festival is also currently exhibiting original works of El Muerto as this year’sARTE LATINOat theSan Diego Art Institute: Museum of the Living Artistin Balboa Park (1439 El Prado, San Diego) as part of celebration of Latino Comic Illustrators and Animators. The exhibition opened on February 15 and will run through March 18.

See the San Diego Latino Film Festival website at www.SDLatinoFilm.com to learn more about this year’s programming or call 619.230.1938. Film tickets are $9.00 and workshop tickets are $15 (additional discounts available for students and seniors) Film tickets can be purchased on-line NOW or at the UltraStar Mission Valley Cinemas at Hazard Center (7510 Hazard Center Dr, San Diego, CA 92108) Box Office starting March 1st. Box office is open daily from 10AM to 8:30PM. All proceeds from the annual San Diego Latino Film Festival benefit MACSD’s year-round education program for under-served youth,The Teen Producers Project.