‘Narcos’ Director Fernando Coimbra Talks Becoming Netflix Global No. 1 With Brazilian Real-Life Catastrophe Series ‘Radioactive Emergency’
Why it matters: The series' global success brings renewed attention to the 1987 Goiânia cesium-137 disaster, which resulted in four direct fatal victims.
- Fernando Coimbra, director of 'Radioactive Emergency,' achieved the No. 1 global spot on Netflix's non-English charts with over 10.8 million views, nearly four decades after experiencing the real-life tragedy as a child.
- 'Radioactive Emergency' depicts the 1987 Goiânia cesium-137 incident, where two men unknowingly exposed themselves and others to highly radioactive material, leading to four direct fatalities and over 100,000 screenings.
- Elisabetta Zenatti, Netflix's VP of content in Brazil, praised the series as a 'powerful story' with 'deeply human themes' that remain relevant and have resonated globally, honoring the victims' legacy.
- Fabiano Gullane, founding partner of Gullane, expressed pride in the series for reconnecting Brazilian audiences with their history and showcasing humanity's ability to collaborate and save lives, a message he believes is crucial in today's world.
- Coimbra was drawn to the project's multiple points of view—victims, physicists, doctors, and government—allowing him to engage deeply with diverse characters and their experiences.
Director Fernando Coimbra's 'Radioactive Emergency,' a series based on Brazil's 1987 cesium-137 catastrophe, has become a global Netflix sensation, topping non-English charts and resonating with audiences worldwide. Netflix's Elisabetta Zenatti and producer Fabiano Gullane highlight the series' powerful human themes and its ability to foster reflection and pride, while Coimbra emphasizes the rich, multi-perspective storytelling that drew him to the project.
