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Writer Juan Camilo Ferrand: “It’s Very Gratifying To See The Audience Results Of Dinastía Casillas”
Maribel Ramos-Weiner| 20 de febrero de 2026
Colombian writer Juan Camilo Ferrand was in charge of writing Dinastía Casillas
Colombian writer Juan Camilo Ferrand, who was in charge of writing Dinastía Casillas, a spin-off of El Señor de los Cielos that concludes this Monday the 16th on Telemundo, spoke with PRODU about the origins of the project and what it meant to him.
“It came to me thanks to a call from Sergio Mendoza, VP of Development at Telemundo Studios, an executive with the soul and craft of a writer, who approaches the creative process with the sensitivity of someone who has also lived it. Javier Pons had just arrived to lead Telemundo Studios,” he commented.
He said that once on board the project, he set out to approach the story under a premise that would shape its 92 episodes: “Is Ismael Casillas capable of assuming the role of father and head of the organization, despite his possible orphanhood and his enemies’ opportunism to destroy his empire and legacy?”
He recounts that well-known franchise characters such as Diana and Leo joined Ismael Casillas, “but also others I created, such as Elizabeth, El Parcero and Eréndira. This amalgam of characters gave me the opportunity to balance the dramatic weight of the story and adjust it to the production’s requirements.”
Ferrand with writers Iris Dubs, Juan Manuel Andrade and, Luis Colmenares
He noted that during the process he was supported by writers Iris Dubs, Juan Manuel Andrade, Carmina Narro, Luis Colmenares and Nuriam Mendoza. He also had the support and guidance of Javier Pons and Mónica Albuquerque, as well as Telemundo’s Research and Marketing departments, and producers Mónica Vizzi and Jacky Castro.
INCLUDING VÍCTOR CASILLAS WAS COMPLEX BUT SATISFYING
“One of the most complex processes, but also one of the most satisfying after seeing the result on screen, was the inclusion of the character Víctor Casillas, played by Raúl Méndez, who, before filming began, shared with me his enthusiasm and excitement about returning. His performance, his role and his arc were, I believe, memorable,” he said.
He mentioned that during preproduction he had the opportunity to speak with several cast members. “One of my best friends is an actor, so I understand something about the concerns, fears and questions that usually arise before starting a project. It was a pleasure, for example, to work with María Fernanda Yepes and to share mutual concerns and doubts. Isabela Castillo, who plays Diana Ahumada, confirmed to me when I met her that she would be one of the pillars of the story,” he said.
Ferrand stayed some weeks in Mexico writing a block of episodes and experiencing the country’s reality firsthand
He added that it was an honor to speak with Plutarco Haza “and to know we would have his experience and professionalism. With my fellow countryman Robinson Díaz, I spent more than an hour on a virtual call trying to find paths for the character El Cabo, whom I interestingly created—along with Andrés López—more than 15 years ago for the series El Cartel, from Caracol.”
VISIT TO MEXICO
Ferrand recounts that he was in Mexico writing a block of episodes and experiencing the country’s reality firsthand. “The work was so intense and the delivery deadlines so tight that I wasn’t able to attend the filming. However, I connected with one of the directors, also Colombian, whom I met in 2003 on a set—Mauricio Corredor. At that time, we coincided on a Caracol series called La Jaula, where he was making his debut as an actor (just a teenager), and I was the general producer,” he described.
THE RESULT
For Ferrand, it is very “gratifying” to see the ratings results of Dinastía Casillas. “I understand that throughout its run it remained one of the most-watched programs on Spanish-language TV in the U.S. I could feel it through the reactions I saw on social media—viewers getting involved, commenting on videos or sending me messages,” he said.
He emphasized that it was a “difficult, exhausting and demanding, but satisfying” process, and one for which he feels deeply grateful. “My hope is that audiences enjoy it on its other distribution windows as well,” he said.
Finally, he hinted that after taking some time to rest, he has returned to his notebook and to hunting for news stories. “Reality never stops giving me inspiration to shape a new story. Hopefully things will turn out as well as they did this time,” he concluded.
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