José María Yazpik sees acting as a serious game. He has a playful approach to his craft. Since he was a child, he loved to mimic voices and gestures. "Acting is like playing when I was seven years old," he shared. He remembers dressing up and acting out every part, even in school plays. This same creative spark guides him today. He finds something in each character that matches a part of himself. Then, he adds the voice, the tone, and the movements. There’s always a bit of him in every role.
This thoughtful approach shapes the projects Yazpik chooses. He’s back on Netflix with Gringo Hunters, a show that started streaming on July 9. It’s already stirring up a lot of talk. Yazpik, who is 53, grew up in Tijuana, a border city. This gave him a strong connection to the series. "It was a no-brainer," he said about taking the role. "I had to accept it right away." During an exclusive interview with Us Weekly en Español, he mentioned what drew him in. He liked that the real-life group existed and worked secretly for so long in Tijuana.
The series is based on true events. It flips the usual script about criminals. Instead of Latino criminals running to the U.S., this show features Mexican agents. They track down American fugitives who think they’ve escaped justice by crossing the border. "A criminal is a criminal, no matter where they come from," Yazpik stated. He believes the story can start new conversations. These talks can be about justice, borders, and old stereotypes.
More Than Just a Villain
Yazpik’s character in Gringo Hunters is named Meyer-Rodríguez. He isn’t part of the team hunting fugitives. Instead, he follows a different path. Meyer-Rodríguez is a businessman. He wants to build Las Vegas-style casinos in Tijuana. This adds a deeper layer to the series, Yazpik explained. It shows the problems that arise when money and politics push forward. Sometimes, they don’t consider what’s best for society.
José María Yazpik pointed out that his character is a complex antagonist. "He believes he’s doing the right thing, even when he’s not," Yazpik explained. "He doesn’t think about new ways to make progress." This inner conflict was a big reason he took the part. Unlike earlier in his career, Yazpik no longer takes roles that don’t truly interest him. "It’s been a long time since I accepted something I didn’t truly want to do," he admitted.
José María Yazpik Carla Danieli / Courtesy Netflix
Finding Humor in Drama
Many of Yazpik’s characters are wrapped in serious drama. Yet, he admits that comedy comes naturally to him. He likes to mix humor into rigid situations. He even found comedy in his famous role as Amado Carrillo in the series Narcos. He said many of those comedic moments didn’t make it into the final edited show.
Breaking Down Stereotypes
Yazpik also spoke about Latino talent in the global entertainment world. He believes their visibility "has never been higher." This is a great moment, but he warns that there’s still work to do. He wants to see Latino actors in roles that break old molds. "Why can’t a Latino be a millionaire in New York without being tied to corruption?" he asked. He noted that many stereotypical roles are still offered. Yazpik hopes for more universal and human portrayals. He said global fiction needs more Latino heroes and heroines.
What’s Next: Zombies, Romance, and AI
Yazpik is currently in Barcelona filming the second part of Apocalipsis Z. He’s excited about this action project. He sees it as a gift for his oldest daughter, who loves the zombie genre. He also mentioned two other upcoming projects. Soon, he will release the romantic comedy You’re Dating a Narcissist, starring alongside Marisa Tomei. Next year, Netflix will stream Futuro Desierto. This series, created by Lucía Puenzo, explores artificial intelligence.
As if that weren’t enough, Yazpik is already writing his second screenplay as a director. "Writing, producing, and directing is something I want to keep doing for the rest of my life," he confirmed.