Wagner Moura to Play Pablo Escobar in Netflix's NARCOS

Brazil's top film star Wagner Moura will bring back to life the charismatic trafficker and politician Pablo Escobar in a Netflix Original Series Narcos from acclaimed director Jose Padilha and Gaumont International Television.

An all-new take on the amazing story of the Medellin Cartel, once the world's most ambitious and violent trafficking organization, Narcos reunites the creators of the ultimate Brazilian cop action and political film, Elite Squad: Moura (Elysium) and Padilha (Robocop).

Executive produced by Padilha, Eric Newman (Children of Men), the team of Doug Miro and Carlos Bernard (Sorcerer's Apprentice), and Chris Brancato (Hannibal), the ten episode initial season of Narcos will soon begin filming in Colombia with the series arriving in all Netflix territories in early 2015.

"Jose and Wagner together created one of the most sophisticated and chilling portraits of criminality and official corruption ever in their Elite Squad movies," said Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos. "Their version of the Escobar saga will be like nothing ever seen before."

"Our idea is to tell the true story of how cocaine became such a huge problem in the U.S. and Europe - and how it all started here in Medellin," said Padilha, now preparing Narcos in Colombia.

"We are so thrilled to be working with Jose and Eric on this gripping and timeless story," said Katie O'Connell, Chief Executive Officer, Gaumont International Television. "Netflix is the perfect partner to launch this series and we are happy to be working once again with the amazing team there."