‘Narcos’ season 3 update: The rise of Cali Cartel; Agent Penna hints at a lot of cocaine in upcoming season

“Narcos” season 3 will see the Cali Cartel rise as the world's biggest cocaine dealer after Pablo's death. Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela (Damian Alcazar), Pablo’s (Wagner Moura) former partner and leader of the notorious Cali Cartel, will return as the new antagonist. Series producers hinted that the third season may take the events to Mexico and introduce drug kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman (Sean Penn).

There’s little doubt that “Narcos” will see the rise of the Cali Cartel after Pablo’s death in season 3. An unholy alliance between the Calis and Judy Moncada, whose husband was killed by Pablo, will bring the drug lord down. The finale of the series’ second season essentially sets the path for the Cali cartel's rise to power. The cartel will eventually hold 90 percent of the world’s cocaine market.

The four Calis godfathers -- brothers Gilberto, Miguel (Francisco Denis), Pacho Herrera (Alberto Ammann) and “Chepe” -- then create a brouhaha before eventually meeting bad endings. “Narcos” season 3 will focus a lot on their lives.

“There’s a reason why we call this show Narcos and not Pablo Escobar,” showrunner Eric Newman previously said to the Hollywood Reporter. “It’s very much about the trade,” he added. “There are other drug dealers and there are alliances formed against Pablo [in season two], so there are a multitude of stories we could tackle.”

Season 3 will also delve deeper into the systemic effects of cocaine and corruption within Colombia. While Escobar was seen as an outlaw who is loved by the people, the Cali Cartel will be portrayed in an entirely different approach. The Cartel is very much a part of the system, per Newman. It is protected by a political and economic system that they had rather ingeniously built.

“It’s a different kind of villain,” Newman told THR. “While Escobar was a single-cell organism, they were a complex, multi-celled organism.”

As for the cast, Pedro Pascal returns in “Narcos”as DEA agent Javier Pena. He was recently reported telling Jimmy Kimmel on his show that season 3 viewers will see a lot of cocaine. Actor Boyd Holbrook however confirmed that he will not be in season 3.

Meanwhile, Netflix has made several new additions. Michael Stahl-David (Cloverfield) and New Zealand actor Matt Whelan (Go Girls) will be joining as regulars. Stahl-David will be seen as DEA agent Chris Feistl, while Whelan is playing Feistl’s DEA partner, Daniel Van Ness. “Broad City’s” Arturo Castro will be joining “Narcos” as Miguel's oldest son David Rodriguez, per Deadline. “Halt and Catch Fire's” Kerry Bishé will be another regular as an American woman named Christina.

“Narcos” season 3 will return to Netflix later this year. Meanwhile, the first two seasons are available for streaming on Netflix Instant.