Julian Diaz and Alejandro Buitrago holding Christian Tappán in Narcos (2015)
Netflix has gathered together plenty of great acting ensembles down the years, but one crime thriller series on the streaming platform, in particular, stands out for its masterful casting. The three-season true crime biopic Narcos matched actors to their parts so well that it effectively launched several Hollywood careers.
This series charts the rise and fall of Pablo Escobar and his cartel of cocaine traffickers in Colombia, as well as the efforts of American drug enforcement agents to bring down both Escobar and his rival Gilberto Rodríguez Orejuela. Narcos makes some changes to the real-life story it tells, but can afford to do so because of the authenticity in its performances. The show’s galaxy of talent is worthy of comparison with the best TV casts of all time, and looks even more impressive 11 years on from its Netflix debut. The three actors who lead the series are now some of the hottest properties in their profession. Narcos Has One Of The Best Casts In Netflix History The fact that Narcos is based on a true story makes it even more essential that the show got its casting right. The part of Pablo Escobar came with the most pressure of all, given that the drug kingpin is such a well-known figure in popular consciousness, whose real-life physical appearance is familiar to a large proportion of Netflix viewers. A 38-year-old Brazilian actor relatively unknown outside his home country at the time was chosen for this part, thanks to the recommendation of series director José Padilha. Wagner Moura proved to be the perfect fit to play Escobar, matching the legendary gangster’s look and mannerisms while bringing his own effable charisma to the role. Opposite Moura, Pedro Pascal and Boyd Holbrook anchor the series as the Drug Enforcement Administration agents hellbent on bringing down his character. The two actors draw the contrasting personality traits out of their respective roles with ease, playing off each other to heighten the tension within the taskforce charged with stopping Escobar’s operation. Then there’s veteran villain actor Damián Alcázar playing drug lord Gilberto Rodríguez Orejuela with verve, and the likes of Joanna Christie and Paulina García helping to humanize the story in sympathetic supporting roles. For most of its ensemble cast, Narcos rightly relies on Latin-American actors, refusing to take shortcuts for English-speaking audiences. Overall, its casting choices gel together superbly, making for a show that’s as unflinchingly honest as it is entertaining. Few streaming dramas have ever felt as real as this one. The 3 Lead Actors Of Narcos Have All Become Major Hollywood Stars In light of how well they perform together onscreen, it’s unsurprising that the three main stars of Narcos have all gone on to become major names in Hollywood. Their various screen successes prove just how shrewd the decision was to cast them in this Netflix crime drama. Although Pedro Pascal had already been introduced to a mass American audience previously through appearances in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Graceland, and Game of Thrones, it was Narcos that really put him on the map. Pascal’s best TV shows and movies now include The Mandalorian, Gladiator II, and The Last of Us. Meanwhile, Boyd Holbrook’s résumé now boasts gigantic franchise movies like Logan and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, TV shows like The Sandman and Justified: City Primeval, and a show-stealing portrayal of Johnny Cash in the Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown. Before Narcos, Holbrook wasn’t getting any substantial roles of note. Subscribe for the newsletter that explores top Netflix casts Join the newsletter for in-depth coverage of casting, actor career arcs, and why ensembles like Narcos still matter. Subscribing unlocks analysis, interviews, and context that sharpen your view of streaming dramas and the people who bring them to life. Get Updates By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. Perhaps most significantly of all, the show placed Wagner Moura on the global stage, earning an actor already revered in Brazil lead roles in the sci-fi series Shining Girls and the action thriller movie Civil War. Now, at long last, he’s got the recognition he deserves during awards season, too. 9 Years After Narcos Ended, Wagner Moura Is Finally Getting The Recognition He Deserves Over the past decade, Wagner Moura has gone from Narcos lead to Golden Globe winner and Oscar nominee. Off the back of his award-winning performance in The Secret Agent last year, he’s about to make his Star Wars debut, too, as a brand-new character in the animated series Maul – Shadow Lord. This success in Hollywood feels like a long time coming for an actor who announced himself as one of Brazil’s biggest stars with his role in the 2007 crime movie Elite Squad. Without Narcos, though, Moura would never have had the chance to make a name for himself in the American entertainment industry the way he has. 18 8.9/10 Narcos 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed TV-MA Crime Drama Action Release Date 2015 - 2017 Network Netflix Directors Andrés Baiz, Josef Kubota Wladyka, Fernando Coimbra, Gerardo Naranjo, Guillermo Navarro Writers Andrew Black, Julie Siege, Nick Schenk, Dana Calvo, Clayton Trussell, Zachary Reiter, Allison Abner, Adam Fierro, Steve Lightfoot, David Matthews Cast See All Powered by Expand Collapse
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
‘Harry Potter’ Series Star Paapa Essiedu Says He’s Received Death Threats for Snape Casting“I’ve been told, ‘Quit or I’ll murder you,’” the actor told 'The Times.'
Read more »
The Harry Potter Reboot’s Snape Actor Reveals Death Threats Over CastingNew Snape actor Paapa Essiedu has revealed concerning reactions to his casting in HBO's upcoming Harry Potter reboot.
Read more »
Harry Potter Show’s Paapa Essiedu Says He Got Death Threats Over Snape CastingPaapa Essiedu addresses backlash and threats over his Severus Snape casting in the upcoming Harry Potter TV series.
Read more »
Ex-Bachelor Reunion Host Slams Taylor Frankie Paul CastingFormer 'Bachelor' reunion host Emmanuel Acho criticized casting Taylor Frankie Paul as the new Bachelorette and noted how much vetting goes into the show
Read more »
Legend Of Zelda Movie Ganondorf Casting Leaves Gamers TornLink fighting Ganondorf in Ocarina of Time.
Read more »
Dakota Fanning's Marvel Casting Is Officially Debunked After MCU Casting RumorsMarvel rumored actor Dakota Fanning at the TCM Classic Film Festival held at the TCL
Read more »