Bad Bunny’s ‘Narcos: Mexico’ Character Is Based On a Real-Life Hitman
When Netflix unveiled a first look at the cast of Narcos: Mexico Season 3, Latin star Bad Bunny was on the list. The Puerto Rican rapper portrayed “Kitty” Paez, a member of the Narco Juniors. But fans may not know Bad Bunny’s character was a real-life hitman. Here is everything you need to know about the notorious cartel leader.
Who is Arturo ‘Kitty’ Paez?
Bad Bunny’s character is based on the notorious drug lord named Everardo Arturo Paez, also known as “El Kitty.” According to The Los Angeles Times, Paez grew up in Chula Vista and had a close relationship with the Arellano Félix cartel.
Paez was a prominent member of the cartel. Per Infobae, he would “judge and sentenced” assailants and decide “who to kill.” The Mexican authorities arrested Paez in 1997. Ultimately, law enforcement charged Paez with six counts of “directing tons of shipments of cocaine” into the U.S from 1988 to 1996. Also, the charges included laundering money and a “drug kingpin allegation.”
Per The LA Times, his arrest was considered the “first significant action to emerge” in the law enforcement’s efforts to thwart drug trafficking. The U.S officials wanted Paez deported as soon as possible. However, it didn’t happen until January 2001. The Mexican Supreme Court “issued a ruling” that eradicated the “legal barriers for the extradition of Mexican citizens.” Paez’s extradition marked the first time Mexico agreed to “hand over a major Mexican drug suspect.”
In October 2001, Paez pled guilty to organizing and supervising a group that smuggled drugs across the border from San Diego to Los Angeles. While Paez denied his affiliation with the Arellano Felix gang, his plea helped him avoid a life sentence in prison. In the end, he was sentenced to 30 years in prison. Furthermore, he will be released in 2032.
How did Bad Bunny secure a role in ‘Narcos: Mexico’ Season 3?
Even though Bad Bunny played a minor role in Narcos: Mexico Season 3, he made a lasting impression on audiences. Many viewers praised his acting skills, especially since this role marked the rapper’s camera debut.
In an interview with TVLine, Narcos: Mexico showrunner Carlo Bernard revealed his assistant was “so excited” to hear Bad Bunny wanted to join the series. At that moment, Bernard knew that he had to have Bad Bunny on the show.
“When we were writing the season, I was told that Bad Bunny wanted to be on the show,” he shared. “And I knew it was a big deal because my assistant was so excited. That’s when I realized we should definitely be doing this. We had to try to find a way to figure out his schedule, and he was great about trying to shift things around so he could spend as much time with us as possible.”
Bernard continued, “It felt like a fun way for Bad Bunny to lean into his charisma. He was terrific and had a really great time. All the cast and crew really liked working with him.”
Bad Bunny has several acting projects in the works
Aside from making music, Ban Bunny has decided to venture more into acting. According to NME, Bad Bunny will star in the drama-comedy American Sole. The film centers around a group of entrepreneurs building a sneaker app.
In addition, he will star alongside Pete Davidson and O’Shea Jackson Jr. The chart-topping musician joined the cast of the action film Bullet Train. At the moment, there’s limited information about the project. But, Bad Bunny will be acting alongside Hollywood veterans Brad Pitt, Michael Shannon, and Aaron Taylor Johnson.
Narcos: Mexico Season 3 is streaming now on Netflix.
