Netflix revives the 1985 Palace of Justice assault with the series "Palace"

Netflix has launched a new series titled Palacio, which dramatizes the 1985 attack on Colombia’s Palace of Justice by the revolutionary group M-19. The show features Colombian actor Carlos Manuel Vesga in the role of the military officer who led the operation to end the siege. Vesga recently received an Emmy nomination for his performance in the post-apocalyptic series Pluribus. The series will debut in November through Netflix’s streaming platform. The assault on the Palace of Justice took place on November 6, 1985, when members of the M-19 guerrilla group stormed the building, demanding that President Belisario Betancur resign. Over 300 individuals, including judges, government officials, staff, and visitors, were taken hostage during the attack. A day later, the military entered the palace, resulting in the deaths of at least one-third of the hostages. Many others were released but died later due to injuries sustained during the rescue operation. Vesga portrays the colonel responsible for directing the military response to the takeover. He described the character as highly controversial, with some viewing him as a hero and others as a murderer. “This is a historical tragedy that divides Colombia’s history into a before and after,” he told El Universal. “It was moving and heartbreaking because that’s how it really happened.” Palacio is set to air around the anniversary of the incident in Bogotá, the capital of Colombia. The cast includes actors such as Robinson Díaz (El Cartel de los Sapos), Mariana Gómez (Familia de Medianoche), and José Restrepo (Estado de Fuga). Vesga is among the few Latin American talents nominated for the Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his work in Pluribus. In Pluribus, produced by Apple TV+, Vesga plays Manousos Ovedo, one of the few survivors of an alien virus that turned humans into a peaceful collective consciousness. During the production of Palacio, Vesga had creative input, including adding a scene where he writes the name of the protagonist, Carol Sturka, played by Rhea Seehotn (Whitney). “I suggested writing it as ‘Carol is Turkish,’ they laughed, but I insisted on keeping it in the script,” he explained. Vesga expressed surprise at being nominated for an Emmy, noting that he did not expect recognition beyond his career in Colombia and Latin America. “I love the Mexican saying that ‘falling on the 20th’ means something bad, but nothing has fallen on me,” he joked. “I’m still trying to grasp what just happened. It wasn’t even on my radar. I thought my career would mainly take place in Colombia and parts of Latin America.” The Emmys ceremony is scheduled for September 14. Palacio aims to bring renewed attention to a pivotal moment in Colombian history, offering a dramatized account of the events that left a lasting impact on the nation. The series is expected to draw viewers interested in both historical narratives and the performances of its lead actors.