Allan Durell plays Vice Admiral Ortega in Netflix’s La captura (Facing El Chapo), a thriller inspired by the real-life events and criminal capture.
Note: I was invited as media for the interview. However any personal views expressed are always 100% my own.
To learn more about his role, I interviewed Allan about researching a historic military role, what it's like filming on location and more.
How much historical or real-life research did you do for Ortega
Allan Durell: Because you have such a short time to prepare your your work, and the deadline for the movie is coming, here, I have to go into the internet. Right now it's a great tool where you can find a lot of things, but also, I have to go with with the real voices.
I have friends and some some relatives that have been part of the army. And so I have to rely on on my connections and to get close to real experience. To hear the voices of the people, who have been in this kind of situations.
Allan Durell: And also I was preferred by the production, I was trained, to get a proper military training.
But we have such a short time, right? So, I thank myself for doing theater where I'm always working on my on my body, try to be flexible. Try to have stamina. To be in good shape, to give this to my character.
Because, when, I read the script and knew about the story, I knew this was going to be an action movie, so I had to be on a high level, right?
Allan Durell: Also, I didn't want to make a cartoon out of this character, like a cliche of what a military guy is. So, I have to go deep. You have to become like Sherlock Holmes and try to dig for information to put pieces together. Little pieces that you can bring to the set.
It might not work for the first day, but then later on, there's the day that you can add this to the character, so you bring like this tool box, full of full of experience, right?
How did you balance movie script actions versus what real life actually happened
Allan Durell: That's a great question, because when you are in that situation, Chava Cartas, the director, he would prepare this universe, this set, that your emotions, would react to what was going on right there.
Like, the operation. Black Swan, was taking place during the evening. The whole night until the morning. So on set, we did exactly that. You know, you get tired of doing it over and over and over, and then the the morning is coming.
Allan Durell: All of those things were reacting on yourself, so I would let myself be into the right moment, to let it sink in to me to be, like, okay, I know I'm tired, but I have to go through this. Yeah, try to work on myself.
And on the other side, yes, you have this responsibility of playing this character to portray him. The leader of his Marine Corps, and to be on a pursuit of the most wanted person in the world. So, you have all these layers, but once you are in that Universe that your director provides you, it helps way, way, way more.
Filming on location, what was it like being in that environment
Allan Durell: I think the production and Chava Cartas and his whole crew. They provided us with this universe. With all these struggle that an outdoor environment can provide.
As an spectator, you might watch the movie, but then being there hours and hours under the Sun. Like, when you see the movie and thinking about those highways in the middle of nowhere on that desert.
I'm from the north, we can stand heat. We are like 45 50 degrees Celsius here most of the time, but being there. There's no shade, there's nowhere to hide. But the production provides you with everything, but you are there hours and hours, and then the night, the shooting nights.
Allan Durell: We were there for a whole week, entering that home with real explosion with real shootouts. All that taking it into your body, and then you go and relax, and go back late again the next day.
I think, for me especially, that was the best way to do this. You have to be all real. No sets at all, just the real deal with the road.
Funny or unexpected moments on set
Allan Durell: Yes, every day was a funny day, every day. Because, I think, this way we were dealing with all the stress that would come out of situation, or a movie like these.
This action movie requires of yourself, of your body, of your stamina. We were joking every day, ater every cut, everybody will tell a joke and everybody would smile. So, yeah, I was very lucky to be on set. This is a family.
Allan Durell: Chava Cartas really take cares of making the whole crew, the whole cast as a whole family. So you talk with everyone on the same level. There's no hierarchy, I'm better than you or nothing like that. Everything is in the same level.
You feel like that Sunday with your family, and there's a table with food, and everybody is just hanging around. It's a comfortable environment. I couldn't believe when I was watching a movie, that it was a serious movie. We were just joking behind the scenes.
How does it feel seeing the global Community respond to a Mexican Latin True Crime Story?
Allan Durell: I feel very happy. I feel honored to be in this project. I feel the privilege to have been not only part of the movie, but also portrayed the Army forces of my country with that respect.
And in that way. I've been receiving a lot of messages from the Army community, in my country, regarding the way that we did this movie.
That we spoke the good side, that we portray them as the good guys, as honored people. So I feel very happy about it. I just I just receive it as a gift.
What do you hope viewers take away from watching La Captura
Allan Durell: I want them to first of all, enjoy this movie, we did it with all our heart. And not only me, but that whole crew that they see, and the people behind the crew. That this is Mexico.
This is the people taking care of their situations of their conflicts. That we are not as other narratives have been trying to portray us to the world, as corrupted or as disloyal. We are good people.
Allan Durell: We are people who care for their family, who care for their partner. Who care for their work and who care for the country.
And if you watch the soccer World Cup, you saw the people having fun every every game here in Mexico. This is Mexico. This Is Us and we are taking care of our narratives now.
Allan Durell
Allan Durell is a Mexican actor and fully bilingual performer whose work spans film, television, theater and voiceover. He can currently be seen as Ortega in Netflix’s La Captura (Facing El Chapo), alongside Alfonso Herrera, Noé Hernández and Héctor Kotsifakis.
His film credits also include 108 Costuras, and he will next appear in the upcoming horror film El Infinito, alongside Sophie Alexander-Katz and Mayra Hermosillo.
Beyond the screen, Allan has an extensive theater background, with roles in productions including Federico García Lorca’s Bodas de Sangre and Wajdi Mouawad’s Litoral.
SYNOPSIS
Facing El Chapo - Official Trailer - Netflix
In Facing El Chapo, two Mexican officers must survive the final hours of their shift after crossing a ruthless cartel boss in this crime drama based on true events.
Starring: Alfonso Herrera, Noé Hernández, Héctor Kotsifakis
Shot entirely on location across Scotland’s West Highland Way and Cape Wrath Trail, THE NORTH follows two friends in their early thirties who reunite after a decade apart to undertake the grueling 330-mile journey.
Picturehouse has released the official trailer for THE NORTH, the European Film Awards-shortlisted immersive new feature from writer-director Bart Schrijver (Human Nature), which will open theatrically across North America beginning October 9.
Ahead of its theatrical release, the film will have a special sneak preview on October 5 in over 100 Dolby Cinema locations, offering audiences an early opportunity to experience the film on the big screen complete with Dolby Vision dual 4K laser projection and Dolby Atmos immersive sound, which enhances the film’s richly detailed soundscape, from the elements and ambient sounds of the Scottish Highlands.
On October 9, THE NORTH will open in New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, Denver/Boulder, Portland, Seattle, Toronto and Vancouver, with additional markets to follow.
SYNOPSIS
Chris (Bart Harder), a Dutchman, and Lluis (Carles Pulido), a Spaniard, navigate Scotland’s lush but unpredictable terrain and the emotional challenges of reconnecting, embarking on a journey filled with overwhelming natural beauty, unexpected epiphanies and life-changing self-discovery.
The filmmakers and cast immersed themselves in the experience to make the film. Director Bart Schrijver took his small team onto the trails, carrying their equipment and supplies and sleeping outdoors along the way.
Without lighting equipment and with fewer than six cast and crew on the trail at any given time, the production had the freedom to adapt to the journey as it unfolded.
They shot chronologically, with Schrijver rewriting scenes at night based on what they had encountered that day, allowing the weather, terrain and physical realities of the journey to shape the story.
That immersive quality extends to the film’s sound design. With no traditional musical score, THE NORTH relies on the natural sounds of the trail, including wind, rain, wildlife and footsteps, to place audiences alongside its characters.
The North Trailer | Official Trailer
THE NORTH was written and directed by Bart Schrijver and stars Bart Harder and Carles Pulido.
The film was produced by Schrijver, Arnold Janssen and Tom Hölscher, with Kees De Jong serving as executive producer. Cinematography is by Twan Peeters, with sound recording by Fraser Allan and editing by Gijs Walstra.
The North is a production of the Netherlands-based Tuesday Studio, which is handling international sales on the film.
Learn more and purchase tickets, visit - www.picturehouse.com/thenorth
This fall, INDEPENDENT LENS explores stories of artificial intelligence with Ghost in the Machine, which reveals ’AI’s troubled history and present-day impacts.
Ghost in the Machine is now streaming on the PBS App and PBS Documentaries YouTube channel.
SYNOPSIS
Ghost in the Machine reveals how the human values, biases, and power structures behind artificial intelligence are shaping our world—and its societal and environmental consequences.
Ghost in the Machine Trailer | Independent Lens | PBS
Directed By: Valerie Veatch
Executive Producers: Lois Vossen, Royd Chung, Sue Cambell, Kevin Veatch, Neerja Narayanan
Learn more, visit - www.pbs.org/independentlens
In theaters October 16, CRAWLERS is about a catastrophic infestation of venomous and deadly spiders sends an apartment building into lockdown.
SYNOPSIS
Trapped inside by a police-mandated quarantine, building manager Serena (Lutz) and her residents battle to survive as the creatures multiply by the second. Armed with her intimate knowledge of the complex, Serena may be the only one who can keep them alive—if she can confront her deepest fear.
Starring Matilda Lutz
Crawlers | Official: Trailer | In Theaters October 16
Directed by Ángel Gómez Hernández
Written by Jayson Rothwell
Produced by Scott Strauss, Peter Welter, Jayson Rothwell, Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee, Josh Weinstock, Alexandra Milchan
Executive Produced by Andrew Schwartzberg, Jon Shiffman, Diarmaid McGrath
Players can once again conquer the Crucible with the release of Hell Rising, the first DLC for dark samurai action RPG, Nioh 3 from KOEI TECMO America and developer Team NINJA.
In Hell Rising, players travel to the Keian era where they will encounter a version of Edo in the midst of a crisis following the death of the future shogun, Takechiyo. Joined by the one-eyed swordsman Yagyu Jubei and the Spanish envoy Rodrigo, players will explore an emerging mystery surrounding the Spirit Stones.
The new open-field map, the Keian era, will feature a hellish wasteland ravaged by the gales of the Crucible, where yokai, human rebels and alchemists from foreign lands roam.
In addition, Nioh 3’s second DLC, Bloody Insurrection, is currently in development, with more information to be revealed soon. Hell Rising is now available for PlayStation®5 and PC Steam™.
In Nioh 3, released in February 2026, players take on the role of Tokugawa Takechiyo, poised to become the next shogun during Japan’s prosperous Edo era.
The story unfolds on a larger scale than ever before in series history, covering various eras and regions including Edo Castle, the Totomi region during the Warring States era, the Heian era's capital city of Kyoto, and, for the first time in the franchise’s history, the Bakumatsu era.
Players can freely explore each era as a vast open field, featuring beautiful and distinct environments.
Before launching into the full game, players have the opportunity to hone their skills in the free demo, which includes both solo play and online multiplayer mode for up to three players on both PlayStation®5* and Windows PC via Steam®**. (*PlayStation®5 users in Germany will need to have a PlayStation®Plus account in order to download and play the demo. **Cross-play is not supported for online multiplayer mode.)
Fans can create their own custom character and dive into the turbulent Warring States era, even testing their abilities in an electrifying boss fight against Jakotsu-baba, with the ability to carry over save data to the full version of the game.
Nioh 3 is now available worldwide on PlayStation®5 and Windows PC via Steam®. The game includes Japanese and English voices with texts in English, French, Italian, German and Spanish.
Action cinema hits differently when the stakes are personal in Shadow Force, releasing on 4K Ultra HD and Digital on September 29, 2026 from Lions Gate.
The upcoming 4K Ultra HD and Digital release brings every explosive firefight and tactical pursuit into sharp focus. Balancing bone-crunching stunts with high-tension drama, Shadow Force offers a lot for home theater enthusiasts.
Synopsis:
In Shadow Force, Kyrah (Kerry Washington) and Issac (Golden Globe® nominee Omar Sy) were once the leaders of a multinational special forces group called Shadow Force. They broke the rules by falling in love, and in order to protect their son, they go underground.
With a large bounty on their heads, and the vengeful Shadow Force hot on their trail, one family’s fight becomes an all-out war.
Cast: Kerry Washington, Omar Sy, Mark Strong, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Cliff “Method Man” Smith, Jahleel Kamara
Special Features
- Shadow Force: Declassified — Audio Commentary with Writer-Director Joe Carnahan and Editor Kevin Hale - Making Shadow Force — Ain't Nothing to F*** With - International Waters: The Locations Behind Shadow Force - Isla Gunfight: Final Battle Breakdown - Couples Therapy: Stunts and Weapons Training - Theatrical Trailer
An audacious comedic fable about sex, marriage, and the absurdities of social convention, WICKER tells the wholly original love story of an ostracized fisherwoman (Olivia Colman) who commissions a husband to be made by the local basketmaker (Peter Dinklage).
Leading independent studio Black Bear has set an October 23, 2026 limited theatrical release; the film will expand nationwide the following week, October 30, 2026.
SYNOPSIS
When her wicker husband (Alexander Skarsgård) proves more spectacular than she ever imagined, his soulful spirit and unique prowess awaken something inside her, setting off a wave of jealousy, fascination, and upheaval that threatens the very fabric of village life.
Led by a cast including Academy Award® winner Olivia Colman, Golden Globe® winner Alexander Skarsgård, and Emmy Award® winners Elizabeth Debicki and Peter Dinklage, WICKER earned rave reviews and a double standing ovation at Sundance.
WICKER | Official Trailer | Only In Theaters October
Adapted by Alex Huston Fischer & Eleanor Wilson (SAVE YOURSELVES!) from Ursula Wills’ acclaimed short story “The Wicker Husband,” WICKER was brought to life through exceptional craftsmanship, including cinematography by Academy Award® winner Lol Crawley (THE BRUTALIST), production design by Art Directors Guild Award winner Renátó Cseh (POOR THINGS), costumes by Tóth András Dániel and Attila Godena-Juhász, and a bold score by Anna Meredith (EIGHTH GRADE).
Alexander Skarsgård’s title character was masterfully realized through a fully practical suit, created by Joe Dunckley and the acclaimed design shop, Weta Workshop (AVATAR, THE LORD OF THE RINGS).
Written for the Screen and Directed by: Alex Huston Fischer & Eleanor Wilson
Produced by: Ed Sinclair, p.g.a., Tom Carver, p.g.a., Olivia Colman, Justin Lothrop, p.g.a., Brent Stiefel, Brad Zimmerman, p.g.a., David Michod, Andrea Cornwell, Oliver Kassman, Tim Headington, Lia Buman, Ryan Heller, Michael Bloom.
Learn more, visit - www.blackbearpictures.com - or - www.wicker.movie
Follow #WICKER on Social:
IG: @wickermovie
X/TW: @wickermovie
