On March 23, 1994, PRI presidential candidate Luis Donaldo Colosio Murrieta was shot. He was leaving a rally in Tijuana when a man shot him three times, causing injuries that eventually cost him his life. The assassination shocked Mexico to its core and rocked the upcoming elections, which saw Ernesto Zedillo succeed Carlos Salinas de Gortari. The infamous murder initially sparked a wave of conspiracy theories. Following the arrest of stwenty-two year old suspect Mario Aburto Martínez, who confessed to be working alone, suspicions began to flourish among Colosio’s supporters. It appeared to be the kind of all too tidy resolution that many found overly convenient. It didn’t help that many individuals associated with Colosio died shortly thereafter, adding fuel to the sense that there was more to this assassination than the government was willing to share.
It’s the kind of story ripe for a true crime reappraisal the likes of The Assasination of Gianni Versace and The People vs OJ Simpson. Which explains why Netflix, in association with Dynamo, will be producing a season-long fictional look at Colosio’s murder and aftermath. It’ll be the first season in an anthology series titled Historia de un crimen (literally: Crime Story), which will tackle notorious controversial crimes that have rocked countries for decades, generated social turmoil and triggered charges of corruption and a search for justice.
“We are thrilled to continue exploring new formats, investing in international talent and partnering with the best storytellers around the world to create content that travels and resonates globally,” said Erik Barmack, Netflix’s outgoing Vice President of International Originals . “Crime is a very popular genre across the globe, and we’re excited to bring Netflix members everywhere this new take on anthology series with an international twist,” he added.
With a dusty aesthetic that immediately reminds you this took place in the recent past (think of it as the polaroid filter of peak TV), Historia de un Crimen: Colosio looks to take audiences back to 1994. In the show’s first trailer, you get to see the big crowds Colosio (played by Narcos’ Jorge A. Jiménez) gathered at his rallies. But his murder is only the prologue. From the looks of it, the show is aiming to be a thriller police procedural wherein those investigating his murder will go to great lengths to dig up the truth. Or, failing to do so, creating their own. This means we get plenty of bloodied accusations thrown around in between dramatically-lit jail cells and interrogation rooms.
Joining Jimenez is a slew of Mexican talent including Ilse Salas (Cantinflas), Alberto Guerra (Ingobernable), and Gustavo Sánchez Parra (Amores Perros). The Mexican-produced series will continue the streaming service’s attempt to mine Mexican history for global consumption—they’re the ones behind Narcos: Mexico, after all, though this one is tackling even trickier and more speculative territory. Take a look at the first full trailer below.
Historia de un Crimen: Colosio comes to Netflix on March 22, 2019.