Damián Alcázar, star of “Narcos” as Pablo Escobar’s successor, Cali mafia boss Gilberto Rodríguez Orejuela, will star in “Rookies,” the television series that marks the screenwriting and directing debut of prominent Colombian film director José Luis Rugeles.

Rugeles, one of Colombia’s most prominent film directors, debuted with Cannes 2015’s Una Cierta Mirada title “Alias ​​María,” and also directed late 2022’s “Rebelión” and “Elawakening,” a best-selling title at Ventana Sur last December.

Winner of the award at Conecta Magaluf-Mallorca in May, “Rookies” (“Oficina de Detectives”) is installed at Rhayuela Films, one of the main Colombian production companies behind “El Páramo”, sold by Wild Bunch, and the first HBO Max series in Colombia, “A Thousand Fangs”.

“Rookies,” now on sale in Latin America at this week’s Bogotá Audiovisual Market (BAM), stars Alcázar as Toro, one of two strangers who discover they are half-brothers on the same day they inherit a detective agency. Trapped by the agency, they discover that their father did not die of old age: he died because he knew too much. And now they know too much too.

Díaz, the other half-brother, is played by Christian Tappan, star of “La Reina del Sur” and more recently of the Netflix hit “The Hijacking of Flight 601.”

A clearly Latin tropical thriller that addresses the detective procedure, “‘Rookies’ is a series that moves to the rhythm of cumbia, presenting ordinary people as protagonists. They become detectives by accident and their motivations do not arise from a vocation or thirst for justice, but from the need to survive,” Rugeles said. Variety.

“With elements of a more Latin and popular noir style, the ‘Rookies’ cases are resolved based on mistakes, clumsiness and the strength of the group. A group of misfits who choose to be a family,” he added.

The series is currently in the middle stages of development; A tour of the market is planned this year. Rhayuela is looking for Mexican co-producers to join the financing process and enrich the story with their creative contribution. A complete sales bible is available.

“Of the more than 60 films I have filmed as an actor, “García”, directed by José Luis Rugeles, is one of my favorites. The intelligent and sensitive direction of “Chepe” made its filming one of the best experiences of my career,” said Alcázar. Variety.

“Now I am invited again to collaborate with him on the series project ‘Rookies’,” he added. “It will be a pleasure to approach and enjoy again a new story, created and directed by my dear friend and director. I hope he can put it together soon. I already see myself on set, enjoying the dark but endearing humor of “Chepe” and its intelligent social criticism.”

“Having José Luis Rugeles gave me the confidence to immerse myself in the universe of the series and give life to Díaz, a detective by accident; a hero who achieves his objectives almost without design, guided by his characteristic ingenuity,” Tappan added.

“The combination of black humor, suspense and elements of popular culture gives the series a very unique identity,” he added.