Netflix has confirmed its next series order. Narcos, a serialized take on Pablo Escobar and the Medellin Cartel, received a 10-episode order.
From director Jose Padilha and Gaumont International Television, the latest original will bow in 2015. The project gets an official greenlight with the addition of actor Wagner Moura to star as Escobar. It reunites the actor with his Elite Squad director.
“Jose and Wagner together created one of the most sophisticated and chilling portraits of criminality and official corruption ever in their Elite Squad movies,” said Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos. “Their version of the Escobar saga will be like nothing ever seen before.”
“Our idea is to tell the true story of how cocaine became such a huge problem in the U.S. and Europe – and how it all started here in Medellin,” added Padilha, now preparing Narcos in Colombia.
Narcos is executive produced by Padilha, Eric Newman, Doug Miro, Carlos Bernard and Chris Brancato. It will shoot in Columbia.
“We are so thrilled to be working with Jose and Eric on this gripping and timeless story,” said Gaumont International Television CEO Katie O’Connell. “Netflix is the perfect partner to launch this series and we are happy to be working once again with the amazing team there.”
On top of Netflix's current roster of originals coming out this year, Narcos will join the third season of House of Cards in 2015 and the recently ordered Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda vehicle Grace and Frankie.
