When “Narcos” released on Netflix back in 2015, it became an instant hit. With a compelling narrative, talented cast, and big budget, the show received rave reviews, outpacing many other productions in a market oversaturated with movies and TV series about drug trafficking and the infamous cartel leaders working behind the scenes.
The first two seasons of “Narcos” revolve around Pablo Escobar, a Colombian cocaine dealer who grew to international infamy back in the ’80s. The third season of “Narcos” follows the aftermath of Escobar’s downfall, when a rival cartel that operates by an entirely different set of rules steps up to fill the power vacuum he left behind. Combining the distinctive magical realism popularized by Colombian art with the grit of Escobar’s rise and fall, the show makes for a nail-biting binge-watch.
Two actual Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents involved in Escobar’s capture even consulted on the production, though the show still has several inaccuracies.
Apart from its glaring historical inaccuracies, the show was also receptive to a lot of criticism at the time of its release, particularly with its casting and message. Evidently, Netflix was aiming for a global production with “Narcos,” casting Latinx actors from countries all across Central and South America. As a result, there was much online discourse regarding the Spanish accents of many of those cast in the titular roles, most of whom were not Colombian. Pablo Escobar’s actor himself, Wagner Moura, is actually Brazilian and learned Spanish specifically for the role.
As for its message, many viewers were concerned the show glorified cartels and further rehashed the painful traumas of their legacy in Colombia, where people have worked hard to heal from the physical and emotional damage caused by Escobar’s notoriety. Moreover, audiences were concerned by how “Narcos” depicted Colombians and their country, accusing the show of playing heavily into stereotypes and centering the United States’ role in Escobar’s capture through its narration, which is provided by a DEA agent.
Despite its many flaws, the show was popular at the time of its release, even getting its own spinoff in the form of “Narcos: Mexico.” For many fans, it might be coming back into the spotlight, thanks to the increasing popularity of its main protagonists. If you’ve already seen all three seasons, though, and can’t get enough of the main actors, read on to see where the cast of “Narcos” is today.
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Pedro Pascal as Javier Peña
Before starring in the Star Wars and”Kingsman franchises, Pedro Pascal worked on “Narcos” as Javier Peña, a Mexican American DEA agent involved in the hunt for Escobar. Since his time on “Narcos,” the Chilean American actor has skyrocketed to mainstream success, playing Din Djarin on “The Mandalorian” and Joel Miller on “The Last of Us.” Before he was fighting aliens and “the infected,” Pascal also played Oberyn Martell in the fourth season of “Game of Thrones.” This was hardly Pascal’s first TV role, as the actor had previously appeared in several series, including “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Law and Order,” and “The Good Wife.” Some of his most salient films since “Narcos” include “Kingsman: The Golden Circle,” “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent,” and “Wonder Woman: 1984.” As for his upcoming productions, you can catch Pascal in a few new movies, including “Freaky Tales” and “The Uninvited.”
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Boyd Holbrook as Steve Murphy
Boyd Holbrook gave a stellar performance as Steve Murphy, a no-nonsense American DEA agent who starts off a little out of his depth in Colombia, though, alongside Peña, he catches on quickly. Murphy is also the narrator of seasons one and two. Prior to his role as Murphy, Holbrook appeared in several movies, including “The Host,” “Gone Girl,” and “The Magic of Belle Isle.” He’s also starred in “Logan,” “The Predator,” and “In the Shadow of the Moon.” Holbrook’s most recent film is B.J. Novak’s “Vengeance,” with his latest TV role being The Corinthian on Netflix’s “The Sandman.” He is also in several upcoming films, including the latest installment of the Indiana Jones franchise, “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.”
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Wagner Moura as Pablo Escobar
Wagner Moura gave a stellar performance as Pablo Escobar, lending multitudes to a cartel leader immortalized in history for his violent rise to power. A Brazilian actor, Moura starred in plenty of productions before landing the role of Escobar. Some of his TV credits from then include major roles in dramas such as “A Lua Me Disse” (“Moon Told Me”) and “Paraíso Tropical” (“Tropical Paradise”). He also earned international acclaim for his work in the 2007 film “Tropa de Élite” (“Elite Squad”) with a Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival. Since his work on “Narcos,” Moura has starred in several other TV series and films, with his most recent production being the Wolf in “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.” IMDb also lists him in the upcoming film “Civil War,” alongside Cailee Spaeny and Kirsten Dunst.
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Juan Pablo Raba as Gustavo Gaviria
In real life, Gustavo Gaviria was Pablo Escobar’s cousin and righthand man, a role portrayed by the Colombian-born actor Juan Pablo Raba. Like many of his coworkers, Raba got his start on the soap-opera scene, with major roles in South American productions like the Colombian telenovela “Amor en Forma” (“Love in a Way”) and the Venezuelan series “¡Viva la Pepa!” (“Let the Good Times Roll!”), which were some of his earlier works. Around the same time as when he landed his role on “Narcos,” he also starred in “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” His latest production is the Apple TV+ series “Echo 3.” He has two more upcoming US-based films as well, both in the action-movie genre.
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Paulina Gaitan as Tata Escobar
Paulina Gaitan, a Mexican actress, landed the role of Tata Escobar on “Narcos.” Playing the doting wife to an infamous drug lord was no small feat, but Gaitan provided a compelling performance of a character ultimately divided between her love for her husband and wanting what’s best for her children. Gaitan has a prolific acting career, having starred in several films and even a few TV series before her role as Tata. Most notably since her time on “Narcos,” she’s worked on “Diablo Guardián” (“Guardian Devil”), “El Presidente” (“The President”), and “Las Niñas Bien” (“The Good Girls”). Her most recent works include the 2023 film “Maquíllame Otra Vez” (“Do My Makeup Again”), as well as four more upcoming productions.
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Alberto Ammann as Pacho Herrera
Alberto Ammann, an Argentine actor, plays the incendiary Pacho Herrera, one of three drug lords integral to the Cali cartel’s operations. He also played a pivotal role in Escobar’s downfall, alongside his two other associates. Though Ammann starred in several Spanish movies and TV series before joining “Narcos,” since then, he’s worked on various other notable productions like “Apaches,” “Mars,” and Prime Video’s “Overdose.” He even reprised the role of Herrera for “Narcos: Mexico.” His latest project is the 2022 film “La Llegada” (“Upon Entry”), but IMDb credits him with four upcoming productions.
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Francisco Denis as Miguel Rodríguez Orejuela
Venezuelan actor Francisco Denis plays the role of Miguel Rodríguez Orejuela on “Narcos,” the third of the Cali cartel’s feared kingpins. Denis starred in several Spanish-language productions prior to his work on “Narcos,” but the actor’s filmography has only amplified since his appearance, with roles in “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan,” “La Venganza de las Juanas” (“The Five Juanas”), and “Diary of a Gigolo.” His most recent project is the TV series “Surviving the Cartel,” but he has several other upcoming films of the drama-thriller genre lined up.
