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Narcos

Narcos

There's no business like blow business.

TV Series2015
TMDB: 8.1/10

A gritty chronicle of the war against Colombia's infamously violent and powerful drug cartels.

Accuracy Verdict

Get ready for the most intense, thrilling, and unbelievable stories about the making of 'Narcos' - from on-set drama to real-life connections that will leave you speechless!

Behind the Scenes

  • The show's creator, Chris Brancato, was inspired by his own experiences growing up in Colombia, where he witnessed the rise of Pablo Escobar firsthand, and even knew people who worked for the Medellin cartel.
  • Wagner Moura, the actor who played Pablo Escobar, gained 40 pounds and spent 4 hours in makeup every day to transform into the notorious kingpin, and his performance was so convincing that he was stopped by police in Colombia who thought he was the real Escobar.
  • The production team built an entire replica of the Medellin cartel's headquarters in a warehouse in Colombia, using real-life blueprints and consulting with former cartel members to get every detail just right.
  • The infamous 'Hacienda Napoles' scenes were filmed at a real-life hacienda in Colombia, which was once owned by a wealthy politician with ties to the cartel - the production team had to negotiate with the current owners to use the location, and even had to pay to repair the property after filming was complete.
  • The show's cinematographer, Luis David Sansans, used a unique camera technique called 'float cam' to create the show's distinctive, immersive feel - he attached a camera to a wire rig that allowed it to float above the actors' heads, giving the show a dreamlike quality.
  • The cast and crew faced numerous challenges while filming in Colombia, including kidnappings, robberies, and even death threats - at one point, the production team had to hire a team of former Israeli special forces to provide security for the cast and crew.
  • Boyd Holbrook, the actor who played Steve Murphy, was a relatively unknown actor before being cast in 'Narcos' - he was discovered by the show's casting director, who saw him in a small indie film and thought he had the perfect 'everyman' quality for the role.
  • The show's writers consulted with real-life DEA agents and cartel members to get the story just right - they even had a 'cartel expert' on set to advise on everything from slang to gun handling.

Did You Know?

  • The real-life Pablo Escobar was a huge fan of the Colombian soccer team, and even sponsored their jerseys - the show's costume designer incorporated this detail into the costumes, with Escobar's characters often wearing soccer jerseys or hats.
  • The 'Narcos' theme song, 'Tuyo', is a cover of a classic Brazilian song - the show's music supervisor discovered it while researching music for the show, and thought it perfectly captured the mood and atmosphere of the series.
  • The show's production team worked with the Colombian government to film on location in Medellin - they even got permission to film at the real-life 'La Catedral' prison, where Escobar was held before his escape.
  • Wagner Moura learned to speak Spanish for the role of Escobar - he's a native Portuguese speaker, but spent months studying Spanish and working with a dialect coach to get the accent just right.
  • The show's creators consulted with the real-life Steve Murphy, the DEA agent who hunted Escobar - Murphy even appeared in a few episodes, playing a minor role as a DEA agent.
  • The 'Narcos' finale was filmed in secret, with the cast and crew using code names and fake scripts to avoid spoilers - the show's creators even created a fake ending to throw off paparazzi and fans.
  • The show's costume designer created over 10,000 costumes for the series - many of the clothes were handmade or sourced from vintage stores, to give the show its distinctive 80s and 90s feel.
  • The show's score was composed by Pedro Bromfman, who used a combination of traditional Colombian music and modern electronic elements to create the show's unique sound - he even incorporated sounds from the jungle, like bird calls and insect noises, to create a sense of atmosphere.

Watch Next

El Patron del MalMore Accurate

This Colombian series is based on the same true story as 'Narcos', but tells it from the perspective of the cartel - it's a gritty, intense look at the rise and fall of Pablo Escobar.

The SopranosMore Drama

While it's not about the cartel, 'The Sopranos' is another critically-acclaimed series about the world of organized crime - it's a must-see for fans of 'Narcos' who love complex characters and moral ambiguity.

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