Roberto Stopello, former VP of Series in Latin America at Netflix, has officially left his position based in Mexico City. While Stopello will no longer hold his executive role, it has been confirmed that he will continue to collaborate with the streaming giant on scripted content. The reason for his departure? Family reasons that have prompted Stopello’s decision to move back to the United States. Before joining Netflix in 2018, Stopello had a successful 15-year career at Telemundo, an NBCUniversal-owned Spanish-language broadcaster. During his time at Telemundo, he played a crucial part in the creation of the immensely popular telenovela, Reina Del Sur, and accumulated numerous writing credits along the way.
Throughout his tenure at Netflix, Stopello dedicated his efforts towards revolutionizing the novella genre. He sought to blend elements of classic telenovelas with captivating drama series, resulting in shows that resonated with audiences both in their home turf and across the globe. Notable projects that emerged under Stopello’s guidance include “Madre Solo Hay Do” (aka “Daughter From Another Mother”), “Oscuro Deseo” (aka “Dark Desire”), and “¿Quién mató a Sara?” (aka “Who Killed Sara?”). Collaborating with esteemed writers such as José Ignacio “Chascas” Valenzuela and Leonardo Padrón, Stopello made a significant impact on Netflix’s Latin American content offerings.
Netflix’s Commitment to Latin American Originals
Stopello’s departure comes at a time when Netflix has made substantial investments in original content from Latin America. The streaming giant has established its Mexico City base as a hub for greenlighting a wide range of projects, including films, series, and novellas. The recent announcement of the heist thriller “Bandidos” highlights the company’s commitment to producing compelling narratives with a Latin American flair. Netflix’s local originals consistently rank among the top non-English-language shows globally, demonstrating the success and popularity of these productions around the world.
Although Roberto Stopello is no longer a part of Netflix’s executive team, his collaboration with the company will not cease. He will continue to work closely with Netflix as he develops projects in which he will serve as head writer or showrunner. This ongoing partnership ensures that Stopello’s creative vision and storytelling expertise will continue to enrich the streaming platform’s Latin American content offerings. Despite his physical distance from the Mexico City base, Stopello’s influence will undoubtedly be felt in future Netflix productions.
Roberto Stopello’s departure marks a turning point in Netflix’s Latin American strategy. While he leaves behind a thriving legacy and a significant impact on the novella genre, his exit opens the door for new creative voices to shape the future of Latin American content on the streaming platform. With Netflix’s continued commitment to fostering original storytelling from the region, audiences can expect even more captivating narratives that represent the diverse cultures and perspectives of Latin America. As the streaming landscape evolves, it is certain that Roberto Stopello’s contributions will be remembered as instrumental in paving the way for Latin American content to thrive on a global scale.