Mexican drug lord ‘El Chapo’ wanted to make biopic

MEXICO CITY—Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman sought to make a biopic while he was on the run, going as far as contacting producers, authorities said following his arrest Friday.

Guzman was recaptured in his home state of Sinaloa, six months after his Hollywood-like escape from a maximum-security prison near Mexico City.

READ: Mexican president: drug lord Chapo Guzman recaptured

The manhunt led authorities back to Sinaloa and neighboring states, where Guzman is revered as a sort of Robin Hood figure despite his Sinaloa drug cartel’s notorious violence.

Attorney General Arely Gomez said an “important aspect that allowed us to locate him was that we discovered Guzman’s intention to make a biographical film, for which he established contact with actresses and producers.”

“The follow-up work allowed us to document meetings between attorneys of the now-detainee and these people,” she said.

READ: Mexican drug lord Chapo Guzman flown back to prison he escaped from

Gomez did not provide more details, but she said the matter was part of a new line of investigation into Guzman’s escape.

His July 11 prison break, in which he fled through an elaborate tunnel, has already inspired a Mexican production house, Dragon Films, which made a movie titled “El Chapo: The Escape of the Century.”

Mexican media said this week that the film will premiere on January 15.