''El Señor de los Cielos'' (in English: ''Lord of the Skies'') is an American

telenovela A telenovela is a type of a television serial drama or soap opera produced primarily in Latin America. The word combines ''tele'' (for "television") and ''novela'' (meaning "novel"). Similar drama genres around the world include '' teleserye'' ...

created by Luis Zelkowicz, based on an original idea by Mariano Calasso, and Andrés López and it started airing on American broadcast channel

Telemundo Telemundo (; formerly NetSpan) is an American Spanish-language terrestrial television network owned by NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, a division of NBCUniversal, which in turn is owned by Comcast. It provides content nationally with pr ...

. Produced by

Argos Comunicación Argos Comunicación is a television and film production company owned by Epigmenio Ibarra based in Mexico City. Profile The company started as the telenovela-production unit for TV Azteca with '' Nada personal'' and has since then produced many ...

and

Telemundo Studios Telemundo Studios, formerly known as Telemundo Television Studios, is a division of NBCUniversal NBCUniversal Media, LLC is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate corporation owned by Comcast and headquartered at ...

, and Caracol Internacional in the first season, and distributed by

Telemundo Internacional Telemundo Internacional is a Latin American pay television network owned by NBCUniversal. Telemundo Internacional carries a variety of programs, consisting mainly of select programs from the Telemundo national schedule. History Origins as Telen ...

. The series is based on the life and work of

Amado Carrillo Fuentes Amado Carrillo Fuentes (; December 17, 1956 – July 7, 1997) was a Mexican drug lord who seized control of the Juárez Cartel after assassinating his boss Rafael Aguilar Guajardo. Amado Carrillo became known as "''El Señor de Los Cielos''" ( ...

, the former leader of the Juarez Cartel. It stars

Rafael Amaya José Rafael Amaya Núñez (born 28 February 1977) is a Mexican actor, born in Hermosillo, Mexico. He is best known for his character Aurelio Casillas in the Telemundo series ''El Señor de los Cielos''. Biography Amaya was born in Hermosill ...

as the titular character,

Aurelio Casillas Aurelio Casillas is a fictional character and the protagonist on the Telemundo television series ''El Señor de los Cielos'', created by Luis Zelkowicz, portrayed by Rafael Amaya. The character is based on Mexican drug trafficker Amado Carrillo Fu ...

. The series has won several awards including;

International Emmy Award The International Emmy Awards, or International Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the television industry. Bestowed by the New York–based International Academy of Television Arts and Sci ...

for Non-English Language Us Primetime Program.

Premios Tu Mundo The Premios Tu Mundo (Spanish for "Your World Awards") is an annual award presented by American television network Telemundo Telemundo (; formerly NetSpan) is an American Spanish-language terrestrial television network owned by NBCUnivers ...

for Novela or serie of the Year for three consecutive years. On 15 February 2022,

announced that the series had been renewed for an eighth season which is set to premiere on 17 January 2023.

Synopsis

The series follows the life of

(

), a drug lord who is recognized for knowing how to transfer drug substances to Mexico, Colombia, and the United States. Aurelio and his wife Ximena (

Ximena Herrera Ximena Herrera (born Carla Ximena Herrera Bowles on October 5, 1979 in La Paz, Bolivia) is a Bolivian actress. She has acted in telenovelas such as '' La madrastra'' and ''Corazones al límite''. She was married to Alex Sirvent Alejandro Sir ...

) have three children, Rutila ( Carmen Aub), Heriberto (Ruy Senderos), and Luz Marina (Gala Montes). He also has his faithful brother Chacorta (

Raúl Méndez Raúl Méndez Martínez (born April 11, 1975 in Laguna, Torreón, Mexico) is a Mexican actor of film, theater and television. Biography He studied acting at the Center for Arts Education Monterrey and La Casa del Teatro with Luis de Ta ...

) who helps him in all his illicit businesses. Aurelio ends up being cornered by the authorities after being found as he decides to undergo a face operation in which he supposedly dies, thus causing his empire of power to fall. In season two, believed to be dead, Aurelio returns to enact his revenge on police officer Leonor Ballesteros (

Carmen Villalobos Villalobos (born Yorley del Carmen Villalobos Barrios on July 13, 1983) is a Colombian actress and model. Career She is best known for her character Catalina Santana in the telenovela '' Sin senos no hay paraíso'' based on the book by Gustavo ...

), who through her fault ends up operating his face in a failed attempt to escape from the authorities. Aurelio meets Victoria Navárez (

Marlene Favela Marlene Favela (born Silvia Marlene Favela Meraz on August 5, 1977, in Santiago Papasquiaro, Durango, Mexico) is a Mexican actress and model. In Mexican television, as of 2013 she was best known as Esmeralda in the TV show ''Zorro, La Espada y l ...

), a beautiful woman who throws herself to be the governor of

Jalisco Jalisco (, , ; Nahuatl: Xalixco), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Jalisco ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Jalisco ; Nahuatl: Tlahtohcayotl Xalixco), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the 32 Federal ...

. Aurelio, after seeing her actions, falls in love and decides to deceive her by posing as another man and usurping the identity of Danilo Ferro. A character that is then introduced is José María "Chema" Venegas (

Mauricio Ochmann Mauricio Ochmann (born November 16, 1977) is an American-born, Mexican actor best known for his roles in telenovelas, such as ''Amarte Asi'', where he starred as Ignacio "Nacho" Reyes. He also appeared in Kevin Costner's film ''Message in a Bottl ...

), one of the great enemies of Aurelio who decides to take all its power to Aurelio. At the end of the season, Leonor captures Aurelio and lasts several months in prison naval bunker. In season three, after several months imprisoned in naval bunker in Mexico, Aurelio receives the mutilated head of his brother Chacorta in a box, implying that his brother has died, who gives him reason to wage a war against all his enemies and to look for the murderer of his brother, to avenge his death. After all the problems with the government and the DEA, Aurelio learns that he suffers from kidney failure and decides to remember his past in order to find his lost son. In season four, Aurelio after being cornered by his illness and not finding no relative who lives with him can donate a kidney, decides to undertake a search for all the lovers he had in order to find a lost son who can donate a kidney. After several attempts of searching, Aurelio finds a young man named Ismael (

Iván Arana Luis Iván Arana Zúñiga (born in Mexico City, Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south ...

), who can be his salvation. His enemies, after learning of his illness, decide to do everything possible to get Ismael out of the way. When everything seems to take its course and achieve total stability in the world of legal and illegal businesses of Aurelio, Emiliana Contreras (

Vanessa Villela Vanessa Villela (born January 28, 1978)" is a Mexican-American actress turned real estate agent, who appeared in Mexican TV series ''Romántica obsesión'', ''Ellas, inocentes o culpables'', '' Súbete a mi moto'', ''Un nuevo amor'', ''El cuerpo ...

) appears a beautiful woman sent by Feyo Aguilera (

Leonardo Daniel Leonardo Daniel (; born 26 July 1954) is a Mexican actor An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as fil ...

) to be able to make Aurelio fall, but her mission is to become the lover Of Aurelio to thus be able to finally make the fall of Aurelio's empire. In season five, Aurelio, will unleash a new war, but this time it will not be against his former rivals and enemies – this time, it will be against his own family because of the betrayals he had previously experienced on their part. Later, Aurelio (

), will also face a serious illness, which puts at stake his power and prestige since this man fails to get a donor, so they can make his transplant, necessary to continue living. On the other hand, Mónica ( Fernanda Castillo) fights for her life after being rescued from Víctor's hands in the middle of their wedding, since while she fled received a shot that apparently is mortal; After being taken from his side, Víctor (

Jorge Luis Moreno Jorge Luis Moreno (born December 19, 1981, in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico Mexico (Spanish language, Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a List of sovereign states, country in the southern portion of North America. ...

) searches everywhere to find Mónica's whereabouts and continue with her wedding plans. In season six,

recovered all the lost fortune and finally feels the need to retire. But it is time for retribution, the hatred that he sowed since he sold his soul to the drug trafficking demon is now knocking on his door with the face and blood of the many innocent people he destroyed. Aurelio will understand that his riches are an illusion, and that after being the great hunter he was, he will now become the prey. The women he mistreated, the men he betrayed, the political puppets he put in power, and even his own children will turn against him. In season seven, to avoid falling into the hands of the American justice, Amado Leal "El Águila Azul", now Amado Casillas (

Matías Novoa Matías Novoa, (born June 14, 1980) is a Chilean-Mexican actor and model. He is best known for working with TV Azteca doing telenovelas A telenovela is a type of a television serial drama or soap opera produced primarily in Latin America. The ...

), has turned himself in to Bernardo Castillo (José Sedek), Secretary of Security of Mexico. The DEA commissioner, Joe Navarro (

Guy Ecker Guy Frederick Ecker (born February 9, 1959) is an American actor. Ecker became a household name in Latin America for his portrayal of Sebastián Vallejo in the Colombian telenovela '' Café, con aroma de mujer''. A second Colombian production, ' ...

), has made every attempt to achieve his extradition. What he does not know is that Baltazar Ojeda (

Eduardo Santamarina Eduardo Hernández García Santamarina (; born 9 July 1969) is a Mexican film, theater, and television actor who is known for his leading roles in many telenovelas. Beside Televisa telenovelas, Santamarina appeared in some Telemundo telenovelas. ...

), a

CIA The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA ), known informally as the Agency and historically as the Company, is a civilian foreign intelligence service of the federal government of the United States, officially tasked with gathering, processing, ...

agent, has the plan to eliminate Amado before, since he is the only one who can prove that within the organization in which both worked together, there is a scheme of corruption and murky management that endangers its existence within it and its freedom. He has already been transferred to a jail on the outskirts of the

State of Mexico The State of Mexico ( es, Estado de México; ), officially just Mexico ( es, México), is one of the 32 federal entities of the United Mexican States. Commonly known as Edomex (from ) to distinguish it from the name of the whole country, it is ...

and is about to be taken to the airport, under strict security measures when the Casillas cartel tries to rescue him and Baltazar Ojeda himself tries to kill him. In the midst of this tension and in parallel, under the supervision of Doña Alba (

Lisa Owen Lisa Dian Owen Wyckoff (born 8 July 1965), known professionally as Lisa Owen, is a Mexican actress and writer. She is best known for her role as "Doña Alba" in the hit Telemundo telenovela '' El Señor de los Cielos''. Filmography Films ...

) and a specialized doctor, they try a risky procedure to revive Aurelio (

Cast and characters

(seasons 1–6; guest season 7; guest appearance in ''El Chema''), the main protagonist of the series and also made a guest appearance in ''El Chema'' *

as Ximena Letrán (seasons 1–2) * Robinson Díaz as Miltón Jiménez / Pío José Valdivia "El Cabo" (season 1, 6–7; recurring season 2; special guest star season 5) *

as Víctor Casillas "Chacorta" (seasons 1–3) *

as Leonor Ballesteros Mirelis (seasons 1–3) *

Gabriel Porras Gabriel Porras (born Carlos Gabriel Porras Flores, February 13, 1968 in Mexico City, Mexico) is a Mexican actor. He began his acting career working for TV Azteca in telenovelas like "Tres Veces Sofia" along with Mexican diva Lucía Méndez and " ...

as Marco Cartagena Mejía (

season 1 Season One may refer to: Albums * ''Season One'' (Suburban Legends album), 2004 * ''Season One'' (All Sons & Daughters album), 2012 * ''Season One'' (Saukrates album), 2012 See also * * * Season 2 (disambiguation) * Season 4 (disambiguati ...

) *

as José María Venegas Mendivil "El Chema" (seasons 2–3; special guest stars season 1; the main protagonist in the spin-off series of ''

El Chema ''El Chema'' is an American crime television series premiered on Telemundo on December 6, 2016, and concluded on April 3, 2017. The series is produced by Argos Comunicación and Telemundo Studios for Telemundo. Starred and produced by Mauricio O ...

'') **

Alberto Guerra Alberto Guerra López (born 8 May 1944) is a Mexican former football manager and Defensive midfildier. He played for C.D. Guadalajara throughout his career. Playing career When Guerra was five, his parents decided to move to the city of Guad ...

as José María Venegas Mendivil "El Chema" (season 6; recurring season 7) * Fernanda Castillo as Mónica Robles Urdieta (seasons 2–5; recurring

; she also made a guest appearance in the spin-off series of ''El Chema'') *

as Victoria Navárez "La Gober" (season 2) * Carmen Aub as Rutila Casillas Letrán (seasons 3–7; recurring season 2; guest appearance in the spin-off series of ''El Chema'') ** Terina Angell as Child Rutila (season 1) ** Ana Sofía Durán as Child Rutila (season 2) *

Maritza Rodríguez Sarah Mintz (born Maritza Rodríguez Gómez; September 1, 1975 in Barranquilla, Colombia) is a Colombian telenovela actress and model. In January 2018, she announced that she had changed her name to Sarah Mintz. She is best known for her roles ...

as Amparo Rojas (seasons 3–4) * Sabrina Seara as Esperanza Salvatierra Cortini (seasons 4–5, recurring season 3) *

as Emiliana Contreras Cortenas (seasons 4–5; guest appearance in the spin-off series of ''El Chema'') * Marisela González as Eunice Lara "La Felina" (season 5, recurring season 4; main role in

Season 2 Season 2 may refer to: * ''Season 2'' (Infinite album) * '' 2econd Season'' See also

* {{disambig ...

of '' La Doña'') *

Miguel Varoni Miguel Américo Belloto Gutiérrez (born 11 December 1964), known professionally as Miguel Varoni, is a Colombian-Argentinian host, actor and director. He is married to Colombian actress Catherine Siachoque. He is the son of the actress Teresa ...

as Leandro Quezada (season 5–6) *

as Joe Navarro (season 6–present) * Ninel Conde as María de los Ángeles "Evelina" López (season 6–7) *

Carlos Bardem Carlos Encinas Bardem (born 7 March 1963) is a Spanish actor and writer. He is often cast in tough guy roles, if not outright villains. Biography Born in Madrid on 7 March 1963, he is the son of actress Pilar Bardem and brother of actors Mó ...

as Don Leonidas "Chivo" Ahumada ( season 6), Former Candidate for the Governor of Coahuila. * Alejandro López Silva as El Súper Javi (season 6; recurring seasons 3–5, 7; guest appearance in the spin-off series of ''El Chema'') * Francisco Gattorno as Gustavo Casasola (season 6) *

Jesús Moré Jesús Moré (born 8 March 1979) is a Mexican actor. Born in Mexico and currently resides in Los Angeles, United States. He is an actor graduated from the Centro de Educación Artística of Televisa, he started his career making recurring roles ...

as Omar Terán Robles (season 6; recurring seasons 3–5; guest appearance in the spin-off series of ''El Chema'') *

as Doña Alba Casillas (season 6; recurring seasons 1–3, 5, 7) *

Isabella Castillo Isabella Castillo Díaz (born 23 December 1994) is a Cuban actress and singer. Her best known role is that of Graciela "Grachi" Alonso, main character of the Nickelodeon Latin America's series ''Grachi'', for which has released several songs. ...

as Diana Ahumada (season 6–7) *

María Conchita Alonso María Concepción Alonso Bustillo (born June 29, 1957), better known as María Conchita Alonso, is a singer, actress and former beauty queen. She has participated in film and television productions, and was nominated for the Independent Spiri ...

as Nora Requena (season 6) *

as Amado Casillas Leal "El Águila Azul" (season 6–7) *

as Ismael Casillas Guerra (season 6–7; recurring seasons 4–5; guest appearance in the spin-off series of ''El Chema'') *

Héctor Bonilla Héctor Hermilo Bonilla Rebentun (14 March 1939 – 25 November 2022) was a Mexican actor and director known for his movies Meridiano 100 and Rojo Amanecer. Bonilla died on 25 November 2022, at the age of 83. Filmography Film Television ...

as Arturo López "El Rayo" (season 6) *

Roberto Escobar Roberto de Jesús Escobar Gaviria (born January 13, 1947), nicknamed ''El Osito'' ("the little teddy bear"), is the brother of deceased drug kingpin, Pablo Escobar, and the former accountant and co-founder of the Medellín Cartel, which was re ...

as José Ramiro Valdés (season 6; recurring season 7) *

as Balthazar Ojeda (season 7; recurring season 6) *

Danna García Danna María García Osuna (born February 4, 1978) is a Colombian actress and model best known for playing main roles in telenovelas in Colombia, Mexico and the US. Personal life She has one child, born in July 2017, from her relationship ...

as Violeta Estrella (season 7)

Crossovers

''El Señor de los Cielos'' is known for taking place in the same universe as other famous narconovelas like ''

'' (a spin-off of ''El Señor de los Cielos''), ''

Señora Acero ''Señora Acero'', also known as ''Señora Acero: La Coyote'' as of season three, is an American telenovela created by Roberto Stopello and produced by Argos Comunicación and Telemundo Studios, and distributed by Telemundo Internacional. The se ...

'', '' Queen of the South'' (the English adaptation of '' La Reina del Sur''), '' Pablo Escobar: El Patrón del Mal'', ''

Dueños del Paraíso ''Dueños del paraíso'' (English: ''Owners of Paradise''), is a 2015 Spanish-language telenovela produced by United States-based television network Telemundo Studios, Miami in co-production by Chile-based television network TVN. The telenovela i ...

'' and '' La Doña''. In the

of ''El Señor de los Cielos'',

Pablo Escobar Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria (; ; 1 December 19492 December 1993) was a Colombian drug lord and narcoterrorist who was the founder and sole leader of the Medellín Cartel. Dubbed "the king of cocaine", Escobar is the wealthiest criminal i ...

(

Andrés Parra Andrés Parra Medina (born 18 September 1977) is a Colombian film and television actor. He is best known for portraying the drug lord Pablo Escobar Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria (; ; 1 December 19492 December 1993) was a Colombian drug ...

) from '' Pablo Escobar: El Patrón del Mal'' appears as a recurring character. In ''

'',

(

), the protagonist of El Señor de los Cielos appeared in three episodes, two of the first season and one in the second season. Aurelio also appears in the English adaptation of '' La Reina del Sur'', entitled '' Queen of the South'' in which

is a big rival to Teresa Mendoza (

Alice Braga Alice Braga Moraes (; born 15 April 1983) is a Brazilian actress and producer. She has appeared in several Brazilian films, starring as Angélica in the acclaimed '' City of God'' (2002), Karinna in ''Lower City'' (2005), and Dolores in '' Only ...

), the main protagonist of ''Queen of the South'' and the head of Mendoza Cartel. Later Aurelio appeared in the sequel of the series ''El Señor de los Cielos'', titled ''

'', the character appears in few episodes of the series. In the fifth season of ''El Señor de los Cielos'', there is a crossover with ''

'' when the main villain of ''Dueños del Paraiso'', Leandro Quezada (

), the head of Santa Norma Cartel (or Cartel de Santa Norma) goes to war against

for the control of drug trafficking and becomes the fiercest opponent that Aurelio Casillas has ever faced. In the sixth season of ''El Señor de los Cielos'', there is a crossover with '' La Doña'' when the protagonist and main character of ''La Doña'', Altagracia Sandoval or La Doña (

Aracely Arámbula Aracely Arámbula Jacques (; born March 6, 1975), known professionally as Aracely Arámbula, is a Mexican actress, model, singer, television personality and entrepreneur. Life and career Early life Aracely Arambula Jacques was born in Chih ...

) becomes an unexpected ally of the main character and protagonist of El Señor de los Cielos,

or Señor de los Cielos (

) after returning to

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

after fleeing to

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

after the events in La Doña. Another crossover between ''El Señor de los Cielos'' and ''La Doña'' occurs in the second season when the characters Eunice Lara "La Felina" ( Maricela González), and Amado Casillas "El Águila Azul" (

), two of the main characters of El Señor de los Cielos become recurring characters in La Doña

Related media

During the broadcast of the second season,

published a comic based on the second season of the series, portraying part of the plot of the series. In September 2014, the character played by

, appeared in the series ''

'' in the first two episodes of the series as a special guest, in November 2015 returned to have a special participation in the series in an episode with Ana Lucia Dominguez. The character of Aurelio has appeared twice in the adaptation of '' La Reina del Sur'', titled '' Queen of the South.

Spin-off

Telemundo confirmed on May 15, 2016, that the series would see a Spin-off based upon actor

's character "El Chema". ''

'' premiered on December 6, 2016.

Opening theme

All songs in the series are composed by Marco Flores and performed by Cardenales de Nuevo León. In the first season the main theme was "El jefe de todos". For the second season, the opening theme song was changed to "El verdadero Jefe de todos". In the third season the song was composed around the main character of the series and is titled "Aurelio Casillas". In the fourth season, the song of the main theme was changed to "El cuarto corrido". In the fifth season the opening theme titled "El quinto corrido", this time performed by Don Chayo, member of the band Cardenales de Nuevo León.

Ratings

;Notes

Awards and nominations

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Senor de los Cielos, El 2013 American television series debuts 2013 Mexican television series debuts Films about Mexican drug cartels American television series based on telenovelas Telemundo telenovelas Mexican telenovelas Spanish-language American telenovelas 2013 telenovelas 2014 telenovelas 2015 telenovelas 2016 telenovelas Argos Comunicación telenovelas 2010s American LGBT-related drama television series 2017 telenovelas American telenovelas Mexican LGBT-related television shows Spanish-language television shows 2018 telenovelas 2019 telenovelas Television series about organized crime Works about Mexican drug cartels 2020 American television series endings 2020 Mexican television series endings