It appears there are no decent Native American actors in the whole of the US (or far more likely, none whose name is well known enough to sell a movie, and none anyone fancies giving a big break to), as Mexican actor Benicio Del Toro has signed on to play a Plains Indian in Jimmy Picard, according to Deadline.
The movie is based on Georges Devereux’s non-fiction book, Psychotherapy Of A Plains Indian. The book is about a Plains Indian member who uses the alias Jimmy Picard. He returns from his tour in World War II and starts suffering from various mysterious medical symptoms that cannot be explained physiologically. The soldier travels to the famous Winter Hospital in Topeka, Kansas to consult with French psychoanalyst Georges Devereux (Mathieu Amalric), who is known for his understanding of Native Americans. They end up becoming friends through their many therapy sessions.
Arnaud Desplechin is directing, with production slated to begin in Michigan within the next few days.