There were rumors saying that Gilberto Orejuela will be some sort of replacement to Pablo Escobar, played by Brazilian actor Wagner Moura during the first two seasons of “Narcos.”
In a recent interview, Newman said that there is nobody who would be replacing Pablo Escobar in “Narcos” because what the show is trying to do is explain the drug trade and corruption within Colombia or the extent of its impact on the South American nation.
Escobar was an outlaw but the Cali Cartel was able to infiltrate the Colombian government system. They were able to buy their way into the system so they enjoyed a higher type of protection from the Colombian government compared to Pablo Escobar.
In addition, Escobar was only a single-celled organism whereas the Cali Cartel was more complex and certainly a multi-celled organism.
With the death of Pablo Escobar in Season 2, “Narcos” Season 3 shall be moving forward without some of its original characters.
According to initial reports, Season 3 of “Narcos” shall focus on Pablo Escobar’s successors which is no other than the Cali Cartel featuring Helmer ‘Pacho’ Herrera, Miguel Rodriguez, and Orejuela.
The fourth key member of the Cali Cartel is Jose ‘Chepe’ Santacruz-Londono, who has yet to be introduced in “Narcos” and is likely to be done so by the series in its upcoming third season.