Is Hotel Cocaine based on a true story? Details explored of MGM+ premiere

Hotel Cocaine is set to make its grand premiere on June 16, 2024, exclusively on MGM+. Created by Chris Brancato, the series revolves around Miami's notorious drug trade. The series features Danny Pino as general manager Roman Compte, a Cuban exile who navigates the treacherous waters of the cocaine-laden Miami scene.

Hotel Cocaine draws inspiration from the real history of Miami's cocaine trade from the late 1970s and early 1980s. The series focuses on the Mutiny Hotel, which is modeled after the actual hotel and former club (with the same name). It was considered a notorious hotspot where traffickers, celebrities, and law enforcement mingled back then.

The show's setting and context are rooted in this authentic backdrop, however, the characters and specific plot details are fictionalized. In an interview with Reuters on June 14, 2024, showrunner Chris Brancato spoke about the series concept:

"The part that's fiction is that Roman Compte did not have an older brother who was Miami's biggest drug dealer and was not tasked by the DEA with catching said fictional older brother. But the whole backdrop of the show, the setting, is all real."

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What is Hotel Cocaine about?

Hotel Cocaine (Image via MGM+)

Hotel Cocaine transports viewers to the vibrant and volatile world of Miami where the Mutiny Hotel stands as the pulsating heart of the city's cocaine trade. Described as a mix between Casablanca and a high-stakes drug opera, the hotel is a melting pot of Florida's elite international drug lords and undercover federal agents.

Each episode goes through the complex layers of Roman Compte's life as he strives to manage the hotel's operations while entangling with federal authorities eager for his cooperation against the drug trade. All the while Compte must navigate the dangerous tightrope of family ties with his drug-involved relatives, contributing to the moral conflict.

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Cast of Hotel Cocaine

Hotel Cocaine (Image via MGM+)

Danny Pino stars as Roman Compte, the hotel's general manager whose leadership is constantly tested by both allies and adversaries. Alongside him, Yul Vazquez portrays Nestor Cabal who is a key player in Miami's drug scene, and Compte's challenging associate.

Michael Chiklis steps into the role of Agent Zulio, who will be representing the federal force aiming to dismantle the drug empire. The show also features Mark Feuerstein as Burton Greenberg and Laura Gordon as Janice Nichols. The supporting cast is crucial in bringing the tension-filled atmosphere of the Mutiny Hotel to life.

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Directors and producers

Hotel Cocaine (Image via MGM+)

The crime thriller drama is created by Chris Brancato, who is known for his previous projects such as Narcos and Godfather of Harlem. He is also the executive producer of the series. Director Guillermo Navarro and Fernando Rovzar contribute to the rich visual style and compelling narrative of the show.

The show producers include Maurice Compte and Ricardo Del Río. The makers have ensured that audiences get to experience the authentic 1980s Miami ambiance where the complex characters develop on-screen.

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Hotel Cocaine kicks off with the first episode, titled The Mutiny, which is slated to release on June 16, 2024. It introduces Roman Compte's challenging role as a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) informant spying on his brother, Nestor, setting the stage for high stakes and intense drama.

The second episode titled The Orishas airs on June 23, 2024, and heightens the suspense as Nestor and Roman orchestrate a daring rescue of Chucho from a local hospital.

The next six episodes are set to release on consequent Sundays, only on MGM+.