Actor explains ending of spin-off series

Mauricio Ochmann declined to return for a second season of the 2016 Telemundo series El Chema.

The 48-year-old actor explained his decision in a recent interview with Melo Montoya. He argued that the global message of the story needed careful consideration. Ochmann said he enjoyed playing villainous roles but questioned the narrative impact on viewers. "Yo no quise hacer la segunda temporada de ‘El Chema’ por el mensaje global," he stated. He added that while he could be the bad guy, the production had to account for who was watching.

The character, José María Venegas, first appeared in the 2013 debut season of El Señor de los Cielos. The original series focused on a Mexican drug lord from the 1990s. Venegas became popular enough for the network to create a dedicated spin-off. That series ran for only one season. Ochmann made the final call to stop production after that initial run.

The actor pointed to specific viewer data that prompted his reflection. He recalled a day when producers shared a statistic with the team. "Hay una estadística de que hay un porcentaje muy grande de niños cuyo sueño y su meta es convertirse en narcotraficantes," Ochmann said. He noted that a large share of women also cited becoming the partner of a drug lord as a personal goal.

Ochmann clarified that he does not hold actors solely responsible for shaping viewer behavior. "No me quiero hacer responsable de influir negativamente," he said. He emphasized that once an actor performs, the responsibility shifts to the audience. However, he observed that families often watched the series in groups, similar to viewing a Sunday soccer match.

The original series generated significant popularity and inspired other productions centered on the drug trade. Following the conclusion of the spin-off, Ochmann continued his acting career. He has since taken on lead roles in addition to antagonists. This year, he also joined the cast of the television program ¿Quién es la máscara?. He works on that show alongside Anahí, Juanpa Zurita, and Yuri.

The decision to end the spin-off aligns with the actor's broader career moves. He remains active in both dramatic and variety television roles. The narrative choice reflects a specific interpretation of audience reception during the mid-2010s.