Narcos is changing showrunners once again, putting season 2’s August 2016 release date in jeopardy. This is the third time since the end of season 1 that Narcos has changed showrunners. The Netflix hit show, which revolves Pablo Escobar and the Medellín Cartel, is currently filming season 2 in Bogotá, Colombia.
Chris Brancato, the original Narcos season 1 showrunner, left the show to go run ABC’s Of Kings and Prophets in a two-year contract, leaving Adam Fierro, of The Walking Dead and The Shield pedigree, to act as showrunner for season 2. With the news of Fierro’s replacement however, one can’t help but wonder if the second season of Netflix’s golden goose is poised to lose some of its Narcos mysticism that it captured so magically in season 1.
Making things worse is that season 2 of Narcos was already a delicate knot to tackle. Season 1 of the show spanned almost a decade in telling its story, with years sometimes passing between chronological episodes. However, due to where season 1 ended in regards to Escobar’s actual timeline, season 2 only has a relatively short period of time to focus on, ranging roughly from Escobar’s escape from La Catedral in 1992 to his death on the rooftops of Medellín in 1993.
Unless of course Narcos’ storyline continues on after Escobar’s death and Narcos pivots to telling the story of law enforcement’s continued wars with the other cartels, especially the Cali Cartel. This cartel is already featured on the show and undoubtedly will be playing a major role in season 2 as the two cartels fight for control of Colombia.
So who exactly is the new showrunner of Narcos for season 2? Well, no one. Narcos has chosen to leave the position vacant and instead will tap Jose Padilha and Eric Newman to act as executive producers until the season’s wrap up. Padilha, who co-created the show with Brancato, was already acting as director for Narcos and Newman, who helped produced Children of Men, was credited as an executive producer for season 1 of Narcos and was working for the show in the same capacity for season 2.
Season 1 of Narcos netted Netflix some Golden Globe nominations recently, one in the outstanding drama series category and another one for Wagner Moura’s acting chops as Pablo Escobar. Moura, who is a Brazilian actor and learned Spanish specifically for this role, has had his accent criticized for ruining the suspension of disbelief for native Spanish speakers viewing the show, but to his credit, Moura has captured the mystique of Escobar like no one else before him.
Let’s just hope these production shake-ups don’t delay Narcos season 2 release date too much.
