THR reports that Penn may have plans to shoot a film in Venezuela adapted from Cuban writer Alejo Carpentier’s 1953 novel, “The Lost Steps,” about the journey of an American anthropologist and composer into the jungle along the country’s southern Orinoco river.

Chavez said that he also discussed politics with the actor, who will soon be meeting with US President Barack Obama.  Chavez explained that he told Penn to tell Obama to take some action to validate his recent Nobel Peace Prize, particularly by scrapping the US military’s plans to increase forces at bases in Colombia.

“They gave him the Nobel Prize, very well, now he should earn it,” Chavez said, echoing documentary filmmaker, Michael Moore’s open letter to Obama.

The politically active Penn was in Cuba immediately before his trip to Venezuela.  He was reportedly attempting to interview the country’s former dictator, the 83-year-old Fidel Castro.

Chavez is known for welcoming a variety of celebrities to his presidential palace, including supermodel Naomi Campbell and actors Danny Glover and Benicio del Toro.