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We may be in the midst of a new Latino film wave, but it’s not helping the producers of the very political “Romero.”

It’s the story of martyred Salvadorian archbishop Oscar Romero, gunned down by rightists during a church service in 1980, after he had evolved from a meek priest to a courageous leader against government oppression. Raul Julia was all but signed for the title role last week, we’re told, when his agent suddenly balked at the terms. And other name Latino actors are snubbing lesser roles in the ensemble production from Father Ellwood Keiser’s Paulist Productions, scheduled to begin shooting outside Mexico City in May.

“I’d like the Esai Moraleses and the Steven Bauers of the world calling me on the phone,” said a frustrated Lawrence Mortorff, exec producer. “But I’m not getting any response from Hispanic actors. We may have to do most of our casting with Mexican actors--for an English-language picture!”

Although Richard Jordan has been set for a strong supporting role, casting director Bob Morones (“Salvador,” “La Bamba”) has been meeting resistance from Latino talent for months, Mortorff said. He conceded that the low-budget (“under $3 million”) project--written by John Sacret Young, directed by Aussie John Duygan--would be “a labor of love,” not riches.

“If I were an actor, I’d be honored to have a role, however small, in the life story of Oscar Romero,” Mortorff said. “It’s an irony that we’re trying to make an important, inspiring, timeless film about a Latin mouse who became a Latin lion--a Latin ‘Man for All Seasons’--but we can’t even tap into the Latino acting community.”