If you’re a cocaine kingpin on the run from Mexican police, it’s probably a good idea to lay low for a while. But Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, who escaped from a maximum-security prison via an underground tunnel last July, plays by his own set of rules. The 57-year-old drug lord was recaptured this week in the town of Los Mochis in his home state of Sinaloa, reportedly while trying to recruit actors and producers for a biopic about his life.
According to the Guardian, El Chapo’s Hollywood dream began to take shape shortly after his escape from prison last summer. It’s interesting to note that the Netflix original series Narcos, which delves into the life of Colombian drug czar Pablo Escobar, debuted while El Chapo was on the lam in August 2015. Reports suggest that he may have watched the show and been inspired to make a version based on the events of his own life.
So, how did all this lead to El Chapo’s recapture and arrest? According to Mexico’s attorney general Arely Gómez, “He established communication with actors and producers, which formed a new line of investigation.” It just goes to show you can’t trust anyone in show business, especially if you’re already a high-profile convict. There’s no word on whether the biopic will eventually get made, but plans are on indefinite hold until El Chapo manages to dig himself out of prison again.
