Mexican actor and singer Alfonso Herrera has built his career on versatility, moving seamlessly from the world of telenovelas to international projects that explore Mexico’s most complex social issues. In a recent conversation about his latest documentary work, Herrera opened up about why projects like “Facing El Chapo” feel essential at this moment in Latin American storytelling, and how collaboration with director Chava Cartas shaped the final product.
“Facing El Chapo” arrives at a time when audiences around the world have shown an enormous appetite for stories that examine the inner workings of organized crime, drug trafficking, and the human cost of cartels on communities across Mexico. Netflix has been particularly active in this space, producing documentaries and series that attempt to peel back the layers of figures whose names have become synonymous with the so-called war on drugs. The streaming giant’s investment in Spanish-language true crime has been one of the most significant shifts in entertainment over the past several years, opening doors for Latin American filmmakers who previously struggled to find global platforms for their work.
Herrera, who first rose to fame as a member of the pop group RBD before launching a successful solo acting career, has spent recent years deliberately choosing projects that challenge him as a performer. His filmography includes roles in the Netflix series “Sense8” and the acclaimed Mexican thriller “The Thin Yellow Line,” along with international co-productions that have introduced him to broader audiences. Speaking about his decision to take part in “Facing El Chapo,” Herrera emphasized that the project represented something more meaningful than simply another role on his résumé.
The actor spoke openly about his working relationship with Chava Cartas, the director at the helm of the film. According to Herrera, the collaboration was marked by a sense of mutual trust and creative freedom that allowed the cast and crew to approach difficult material with sensitivity. Stories about JoaquÃn “El Chapo” Guzmán and his cartel empire are particularly delicate, given that the violence associated with the Sinaloa Cartel has left deep wounds across Mexico. Documentaries that revisit these events must balance the public’s curiosity with respect for victims and the communities most affected.
Herrera noted that Cartas created an atmosphere in which every member of the production team felt heard, a quality he considers increasingly rare in an industry that often prioritizes spectacle over substance. The director’s approach, Herrera suggested, allowed the performers to focus on the emotional truth of the characters rather than simply delivering lines or recreating events. This kind of environment, he explained, is what transforms a project from a simple dramatization into something that can actually resonate with viewers and spark important dialogue.
The release of “Facing El Chapo” also reflects a broader trend in the entertainment industry toward localized storytelling with global appeal. While American and European productions have long dominated international streaming catalogs, platforms like Netflix have recognized that audiences want authentic voices and perspectives from the regions most directly affected by the stories being told. Mexican filmmakers, in particular, have emerged as some of the most compelling chroniclers of their own reality, producing work that neither romanticizes nor sensationalizes the violence that has shaped much of the country’s recent history.
For Herrera, the importance of telling these stories extends beyond entertainment value. He views projects like “Facing El Chapo” as part of a larger cultural conversation about memory, justice, and the ways in which fiction and documentary can illuminate truths that traditional journalism sometimes struggles to convey. By stepping into the shoes of characters connected to one of the most notorious criminal figures in modern history, the actor hopes to encourage audiences to think critically about the systems that allowed such figures to rise to power.
The partnership between Herrera and Cartas also highlights how established names in Latin American entertainment are increasingly lending their visibility to independent and documentary projects. Rather than resting on the commercial success of more mainstream productions, artists like Herrera are using their platforms to elevate stories that might otherwise struggle to find an audience. This kind of career choice, while not always the most commercially obvious, often results in work that is more personally meaningful and culturally significant.
As “Facing El Chapo” makes its way to global audiences, the project stands as a testament to the power of thoughtful collaboration and the continued evolution of Mexican storytelling on the world stage. With Herrera’s performance and Cartas’s direction anchoring the production, the documentary offers viewers a chance to engage with a difficult chapter of recent history through the eyes of artists who understand the weight of what they are putting on screen. For Herrera, that responsibility is one he does not take lightly, and one he believes more performers should be willing to embrace.
