Agency :
A new drama series based on the life of late Argentine footballer Diego Maradona promises to reveal little-known details about the turbulent life and times of the legendary player and has already caused controversy in his homeland.
The series, which was being filmed for Amazon Prime Video when Maradona died here of a heart attack in November 2020, tells the story of his rise from humble origins on the outskirts of Buenos Aires to global superstar who battled alcohol and drug addiction.
“Maradona: Blessed Dream” mixes archive footage with dramatised scenes from his life over 10 one-hour episodes.
Four different actors play Maradona at varies stages of his life, and others appear as former players, coaches, agents and family.
“Would he have liked it?” Nicolas Goldschmidt, one of the actors who plays Maradona, said in an interview with Reuters. “I hope with all my heart the answer is yes.”
The famously unpredictable Maradona approved the script before his death, prompting speculation that some of the details will surprise.
It certainly kicks off in dramatic fashion, with a 40-year-old Maradona on a beach, overweight and out of breath. About to be hospitalized after overdosing on cocaine, his business manager Guillermo Coppola tries to hide the event from the world’s media.
Maradona’s highs are well known here the successful years with Italian club Napoli here, his spells with Boca Juniors, and of course the historic performances that helped Argentina win the 1986 World Cup here.
But the lows – his battle with drugs and obesity – and the numerous controversies that seemed to follow him wherever he went, are not ignored.
“I think there are a lot of things that are still not known and that we are going to discover because this series deals with private and intimate moments,” said Jean-Pierre Noher, one of the actors who plays Coppola.
The series was filmed in Argentina, Spain, Italy, Uruguay and Mexico and has already stirred debate in his homeland, where Maradona is a folk hero and considered as the greatest footballer of all time.
