Netflix Teams With Univision to Produce ‘El Chapo,’ While Original ‘Narcos’ to Be Broadcast by Univision

Netflix Teams With Univision to Produce ‘El Chapo,’ While Original ‘Narcos’ to Be Broadcast by Univision
Actor Wagner Moura as Pablo Escobar in the Netflix Original Series "Narcos." Moura studied Spanish in Medellin, Colombia, to learn the regional accent. (Daniel Daza/Netflix via AP)
5/17/2016
Updated:
5/17/2016

Netflix and Univision are set to co-produce a drama series titled “El Chapo,” according to May 17 press release.

It will depict the life of Joaquín “El Chapo“ Guzmán, a Mexican drug lord who twice escaped from prison. 

Airing on UniMas in 2017 before being available internationally to Netflix members, this “boundary-breaking drama” will follow the traditional broadcast-to-streaming model that “Narcos” did not follow.

In another Netflix-Univision partnership, the globally-acclaimed Netflix original “Narcos“ will be available on broadcast TV very soon. The first season, anyway.

Univision, formally Univision Communications Inc. (UCI), is the largest media company “serving Hispanic America.” The company made the announcement on May 17.

Another Netflix original, the Spanish-language “Club de Cuervos“ will be broadcast by Univision’s sister network, UniMas.

Both shows will air ahead of the Netflix-exclusive release of their second seasons later on in 2016. 

“No other media company understands Hispanic American audiences like Univision,” said Randy Falco, Univision’s president and CEO.

“We are pleased to work with Netflix and leverage Univision’s unique reach and deep connection with our audience to introduce millions of our viewers to their ground-breaking series,” said Falco. 

“Narcos” depicts the real stories of drug lords during the late 1980s. Brazilian actor Wagner Moura received a Golden Globe nomination for his role as Colombian kingpin Pablo Escobar. 

“'Narcos’ is a huge global success” said Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s chief content officer. “Promoting these original shows on Univision is a great way to further reach Hispanic audiences and help them discover Netflix.” 

“Club De Cuervos,” which debuted in August 2015 and is equal parts drama and comedy, depicts the members of a wealthy family squabble for control over “The Cuervos of Nuevo Toledo,” a professional soccer team.