The Immortal: A New Madrid Crime Drama from Movistar+
The tale centers on the Los Miami gang, a crime organization that operated in Madrid during the 1990s and dominated drug trafficking and extortion while the crew’s protector and public figure was their ruthless boss. This story anchors the new drama by David Ulloa, titled The Immortal, which Movistar+ plans to release on October 27.
Screenwriter Diego Sotelo explained at the Vitoria Television FesTVal that the project aims to subvert the familiar drug trafficking series. The creators chose to zoom in on the people on the street, to reflect their lived realities, how relationships develop, how problems are tackled, and the family ties that form in the shadows of crime.
The eight-episode crime drama, each installment running around fifty minutes, is directed by Álex García and centers on a character inspired by the life of the Los Miami gang’s leader. The notoriety around the name and the aura of the mentor who commanded the operation gave rise to the moniker Immortal that the show uses for him.
For García, the challenge lay in building a character who makes poor decisions without passing judgment. He recalls being impressed by the script’s rapid pace, emotional depth, and a storytelling style that moves scenes forward without waste. The actor studied interviews and period documentaries, noting that the internet today offers a sharp, current lens into the era. He also trained physically, boxing daily to prepare for the fight sequences.
José Manuel Lorenzo, the series creator, emphasized that the project is fiction rather than a strict biopic. Real events and figures provided the seeds, but the narrative reimagines them in a dramatized form. Lorenzo had long heard anecdotes about Madrid’s most infamous gang and, after coming across an investigative article by Javier Negre titled Immortal, felt compelled to learn more about the central figure. This curiosity led him to reach out to the leader, with whom he built a working rapport. The collaboration helped shape the adaptation, though the production team notes that some aspects of the leader’s life were highly repetitive and required creative interpretation to keep the plot engaging.
The writing team, Sotelo and David Moreno, collaborated closely with Lorenzo. They received input from the real José Antonio, yet their craft remained firmly rooted in fiction, allowing the storyline to take its own direction. Moreno reflected on the process by asking how the characters would behave under certain pressures, transforming those ideas into scenes and dialogue. In the final stages of production, Marcel Borrás, who plays Rober, indicated that the real leader appeared on set, adding a layer of authenticity to the filming experience.
While the show features a spectrum of violence, sexuality, and drug use, García points to bright, human-scale moments that give the series a distinct texture. Recreating Madrid in the 1990s brings a palpable sense of history, including scenes that touch on events such as the Olympic Games and the broader European context, which appear in the backdrop of the narrative. The production team describes the era as an emotional landscape that mirrors the high-stakes life of the gang and the evolving city around them.
Singer Chanel appears in a minor but intense role. The cast observed that filming brought unexpected twists, particularly when Eurovision was referenced as a pivotal moment within the story. The on-screen turmoil surrounding the event intensifies the tension surrounding the Immortal and his circle, underscoring the precarious balance between public spectacle and criminal enterprise.
In addition to García and Borrás, the ensemble includes Teresa Riott, Emilio Palacios, María Hervás, Jon Kortajarena, Jason Day, and Claudia Pineda. The blend of established actors and rising talents aims to deliver a portrayal that feels both grounded and unpredictable, echoing the volatile world the series depicts. The production team has positioned The Immortal as a panoramic portrait of a city and a generation shaped by crime, loyalty, and the relentless pursuit of control in an era of great social and political change. Source materials and behind-the-scenes reporting cited in press materials and interviews with the creative team provide context for viewers seeking deeper understanding of the creators’ aims and the historical milieu. (Source attribution: Movistar+ press materials and public interviews.)