Netflix's "Griselda" showrunner Eric Newman shared that the series was intended to be six episodes only due to its practicality to the production and the main actress Sofia Vergara.
"Griselda" debuted on Netflix on January 25 featuring the real-life story of drug lord Griselda Blanco.
Story Behind Netflix Miniseries "Griselda"
According to Newman, "Griselda" has been planned for so long with Vergara initiating to take the role while he was working on the second season of "Narcos" in 2015. However, it was only in 2021 that Netflix gave a go signal to the production.
"Griselda requires a much more focused telling, not just to highlight Sofía's spectacular performance, but just to live in the intimacy of this story, and to allow an audience to connect with a single mother, an immigrant who's trying to do the best for her kids and gets lost," the creator shared.
Meanwhile, Newman explained that six episodes were the ideal number for one director to handle the length and prep time to complete the series. Moreover, Vergara has been hosting "America's Got Talent" so it contributed to the limited production window.
Netflix Ends 'Griselda' in Different Way
The ending of "Griselda" did not show the demise of the titular character but the show ended in an unexpected yet real way. Although some viewers felt it was cut short, Newman explained that it was intentional.
"We had to show this is someone who cared about her children," he stated. The show is about showing how death was not Griselda's death but the loss of her sons, whom she was protecting from the beginning of the series.
Likewise, Vergara faced challenges in portraying Griselda in the final episode, citing that she had to tap into her past life. This included her brother getting killed in the '90s for being part of the narco system.
"Griselda" is co-created by Newman, Carlo Bernard, Ingrid Escajeda, and Doug Miro. Meanwhile, Vergara took the role of the executive producer with Andres Baiz as the director.
