The Miami Cartel is back in MGM+ new eight episode series Hotel Cocaine headlined by Danny Pino (Mayans M.C., Law & Order: SVU), Michael Chiklis (The Shield, Winning Time), Mark Feuerstein (Power, The Baby-Sitters Club), Yul Vazquez (Severance, Godfather of Harlem). The first episode will premiere June 16 on MGM+, with new episodes airing on Sundays until August 4.

Hotel Cocaine is a crime thriller which place in the late ‘70s, early 80’s, when the Miami cocaine scene was at its height. The story centers around Roman Compte (Danny Pino), a Cuban exile and general manager of the Mutiny Hotel, the glamorous epicenter of the Miami cocaine scene. The Mutiny Hotel is a glitzy nightclub, restaurant, and hotel frequented by Florida businessmen, politicians, international narcos, CIA and FBI agents, models, sports stars, and musicians. Compte can’t believe he is living his American Dream, until he is not.

His brother, Nestor Cabal (Yul Vazquez) is known as the “biggest trafficker in Miami’ by the Feds. 

Chris Brancato (Godfather of Harlem, Narcos) created the series and serves as executive producer and showrunner. Guillermo Navarro ( (Pan’s Labyrinth) directed the pilot and executive produced the series alongside Brancato, with Michael Panes (Godfather of Harlem, Back Wash) and Alfredo Barrios Jr. (Harlan Coben’s Shelter, Burn Notice) also serving as executive producers. 

With a series based in Miami about drugs trafficking, we can at least bet that there will be plenty of work for Latinos in front and behind the camera, and this series lives up to that expectation.  

Series Regulars

Tania Watson Plays Marisol, Roman’s girlfriend and de facto stepmother to his daughter Valeria. She watches with growing fear as he becomes enmeshed in his drug-dealing brother’s life.

Watson most recently played Erika Fisher in The Head Season Two, directed by Jorge Dorado for Mediapro, and Blanca Martínez in the German Series Balko Tenerife, directed by Felix Koch for RTL+ and UFA Fiction. 

Corina Bradley plays “Valeria”, the 16 year old daughter of Roman Compte.  Bradley is   originally from Venezuela, but now makes her home in Toronto. As Valenria, she watches her father get pulled into the middle of the Miami drug wars and begins her own investigation into her father and uncle’s activities. Personally, Corina boasts a massive TikTok following of 303,000 with 13.8 million likes, where she showcases her musical talents through covers. 

Laura Gordon plays “Janice Nichols”, the head of the Mutiny girls, the fun-loving, charming, and vivacious women who populate the Mutiny Club.

Recurring Characters 

Mayra Hermosillo (Narcos: Mexico) as “Yolanda,” a a ruthless Colombian drug smuggler and girlfriend of Gilberto Henao. Juan Pablo Raba (Narcos, Six) as “Gilberto ‘La Cobra’ Henao,” a powerful Colombian drug lord who’s come to take over the Miami cocaine market. Erniel Baez (Reacher, Alex Cross) as “Ray Dorado,” an untrustworthy banker with criminal ties. Nick Barkla (Blind Company, Em 4 Jay) as “Congressman Landon,” a corrupt-to-the-bone civil servant who works with criminals in order to further his own political agenda. Cale Ambrozic is “Andrew Landon,” Congressman Landon’s son and a potential love interest for Roman’s daughter Valeria. Candy Santana as “Gale,” a Mutiny Girl and Janice’s right hand. Lola Claire as “Trini,” a Mutiny Girl. Camila Valero (Pacto de Silencio; Mala Fortuna) as “Alejandra,” Nestor’s fourth wife. 

Maggie Lacey (Julia, American Animals, New Amsterdam) as “Constance,” the uptight sister of Burton Greenberg. Don Mike as “Omar,” the Mutiny Club maitre’d. Pedro Giunti as “Guillermo,” Nestor’s henchman and driver. 

Guest stars for the eight episodes include:

John Ventimiglia (Gaslit, Jessica Jones) as “Hunter Thompson,” the prolific writer who’s come to publish a piece about Burton’s family. Larry Powell (White Men Can’t Jump, The Browsing Effect) as “Rick James,” the renowned singer who’s come to the Mutiny in search of inspiration for his new album. 

Hotel Cocaine is produced by MGM+ Studios, in association with Stan in Australia and internationally distributed by Amazon MGM Studios Distribution. Casting by Miguel Fernandez and Carla Hool.

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Key Largo, a film noir style theatrical production, co-adapted by actor Andy Garcia and Jeffrey Hatcher, is an admirable and stunning production that is well served by its ensemble cast who bring vibrant layered portrayals to the stage drama.

Set in a small hotel in the Florida Keys in the late 1940s where mobster Johnny Rocco is hiding out waiting to complete a criminal deal while a Hurricane is brewing. The drama unfolds when a former soldier arrives to visit the father and widow of a fallen World War II comrade, with the resulting interaction with Rocco and the other hotel residents.  The rising storm outside reflecting the rising tensions among the unwilling participants caught in a dire situation in the hotel.

One of the most important leading Latino film actors of his generation, Garcia is stepping on stage for the first time in four decades and this is a rare opportunity to see him in a superb live performance.

Garcia takes center stage and is a commanding presence as Rocco. He is stylish, brash, cunning and deadly, interacting with the other players with confidence as the gangster all the while displaying a controlled maturity.

Danny Pino (Mayans M.C., Law and Order SVU) is quite effective and has a quiet reserve as the veteran Frank Mcloud and Tony Plana (Mayans M.C., Resurrection Blvd.) as Mr. D’Alcala, the aged and blind owner of the hotel gives a standout performance. Joely Fisher as Rocco’s aged alcoholic girlfriend Gaye, elicits empathy in a nuanced portrayal. 

The rest of the seasoned cast delivers the goods. John Lee Beatty’s scenic design evokes a rundown tropical hotel of the era. The costumes by Linda Cho are spot-on for the time period and locale. The lighting, special effects and sound design are exemplary. Ten-time Grammy award and Emmy recipient musician and composer, Arturo Sandoval contributed an atmospheric underlying trumpet laden musical score that sets the tone and punctuates the drama. 

The production is based on Maxwell Anderson’s play and the Warner Bros’ 1949 film Key Largo which is now recognized as a classic, starring Edward G, Robinson, Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall and Claire Trevor. Garcia and stage production cast have managed to make their imprint on the material. Bogey and Gang would be awfully proud. 

The Geffen Playhouse and producer Frank Mancuso should be commended for their total and unsparing support of Latinx artists, giving American Theater a new perspective.  The smaller Geffen Theater venue allows for a richer more intimate theatrical experience. Garcia co-adapted along with Mancuso and is also listed as one of the producers of Key Largo, with Doug Hughes directing.

Key Largo runs through December 15th at The Geffen is located in Westwood just across the street from the UCLA Campus and Medical center. Tickets are going fast and are sure to sell out. This is a rare opportunity to see notable Latinx actors at work, up close and personal in a wonderful theatrical production that won’t disappoint.  For early birds, there are 2:00 P.M. afternoon performances scheduled for Saturdays and Sundays, otherwise, shows are Tuesday through Sunday 8:00 P.M. For more information: Contact the Geffen Playhouse at 310-208-5454.

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