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The 'El Chapo' Story Is Coming To TV And It Looks Immense

The 'El Chapo' Story Is Coming To TV And It Looks Immense

The story of the Mexican druglord

Michael Minay

Michael Minay

Netflix is about the release a TV series based on infamous drug lord 'El Chapo'. And it promises to be a cracker.

El Chapo, or 'The Shorty' as it translates (real name Joaquin Archivaldo Guzman Loera), will be the centre of a three-cycle TV thriller - given the same name.

It's the first collaboration between Univision and Netflix and the show will begin on the former on April 23, before moving to the latter after the episodes have had their first run.

The drama will show different parts of his life - the early years in the Guadalajara cartel, his rise to power, and his inevitable downfall.

El Chapo upon arrest in 2016. Credit: PA

Need a reason to watch? Here's his condensed tale.

El Chapo joined the cartel in the 1980s and initially worked to transport drugs from the remote areas of Mexico towards the US-Mexico border by aircraft. His killing spree started when he demanded greater quantities and faster shipments of drugs - if the smuggler failed to deliver, he simply shot them.

El Chapo impressed, and was later introduced to Felix Gallardo, one of the major drug lords, where he first worked as a chauffeur before moving onto work in logistics.

After battling rival cartels and moving to Guatemala, El Chapo was first arrested in 1993 but seemingly continued to run his operations from inside prison. His associates brought him suitcases of cash to bribe prison workers.

He escaped in 2001 via a laundry cart and then in the boot of a car. Officials estimate that 78 people were involved in his escape plan.

Between 2001 and 2004, El Chapo continued to run his drug operations whille having greater influence across Mexico and further afield.

From 2009-2011, Forbes magazine rated him as the 41st, 60th and 55th most powerful person in the world respectively. In 2013 he was named 'Public Enemy Number One' by the Chicago Crime Commission.

In 2014, he was arrested in the Sierra Madre mountains after hiding for a long period (he was nearly caught a week before, but managed to escape through a series of tunnels at a family home).

Police photographed this after raiding his home in 2016. Credit: PA

But, guess what, he escaped again in 2015, and a manhunt followed until 2016, when after escaping through a tunnel and a sewer, he was nicked by police in a stolen car which he had taken at gunpoint.

He's now undergoing legal proceeding in the United States after being extradited - although he pleads not guilty to all 17 counts on which he is charged.

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Along the way, various cartel, police and government officials were harmed or killed as El Chapo continued to dominate.

If the above story isn't a good enough reason as to why to get involved with the show, then clearly excitement isn't your thing. If they pen even half of that onto a script, then a thriller awaits.

Sadly, with no release dates in the UK and Ireland, we'll have to wait a little longer. In the meantime, here's a little teaser...

Credit: Univision

And that's not all we'll be treated to El Chapo-wise this year. Sony has acquired the rights to Cole Merrell and Douglas Century's book: 'Hunting El Chapo: The Thrilling Inside Story Of The American Lawman Who Captured The World's Most-Wanted Drug Lord', although I'm sure the actual title will have a much snazzier name.

Fox, meanwhile, is adapting Don Winslow's book 'The Cartel' with Ridley Scott set to direct it.

Credit: PA

One of the most exciting criminals of our time, will finally have his story told - and we can't wait.

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Topics: Mexico, Drugs, Netflix, USA, el chapo, US