‘Zorro’ makes a comeback to California, and we’re here to share what you’ll find in this reimagining of one of the most iconic heroes in movie and TV history. Discover more about Prime Video’s new venture in partnership with Spanish public television.
Synopsis of ‘Zorro’ (2024)
Amid a sea of reboots, remakes, and reimaginings, the series ‘Zorro’ (2024) emerges as a bold yet curiously familiar attempt to revive a classic. Blending action, drama, and a hint of humor that barely masks its lack of originality, the iconic masked hero is back, for the modern era.
The series chronicles the exploits of the enigmatic Diego de la Vega, El Zorro, a vigilante who begins his fight against injustice with the elegance of a flamenco dancer and the subtlety of a derailed train. In this iteration, Zorro is more of a caped hacker, as in computer hacker, than a swordsman, an update aimed at capturing the 21st-century audience, albeit with limited success.
The protagonist, played by Spanish actor Miguel Bernardeau, and always accompanied by his faithful horse Tornado, balances his life between defending the oppressed and being something akin to a social media influencer. Indeed, Zorro now juggles his battle against tyranny with appearances as if he had an Instagram account, taking selfies, a move that would surely have Don Diego de la Vega turning in his fictitious grave. He shares the spotlight with actresses Renata Notni and Dalia Xiuhcoatl, with Notni playing Lolita Márquez, Zorro’s love interest he must leave behind for his fight against Xiuhcoatl’s Nah-Lin, a brave Native American warrior who seeks to take the mask from him and be recognized as Zorro, sharing with him similarities in their sense of justice but feeling robbed of her legacy.
The series strives to be visually striking, with action sequences filled with parkour, special effects, and liberal use of slow motion, which sometimes feels more like an attempt to stretch the episode than a stylistic choice. The villains, although updated to reflect modern evils, often fall into the usual stereotypes, leaving little to the imagination and even less to character depth.
In essence, an effort to update a classic for a modern audience, but that does not escape the trap of melodrama and superficiality. A duality between extending the legacy of a character and trying to write a new one.
Rating of ‘Zorro’ (2024)
- Overall Rating: 6.77
- Casting Rating: 7
- Direction Rating: 6.5
- Editing: 6.25
- Cinematography: 6.75
- Screenplay: 6
- Costume Design: 7.5
- Visual Effects: 6
- Sound: 7
- Original Score (BSO): 7
- Song: 7.5
Why You Should Watch ‘Zorro’
- The series offers an intriguing update of Zorro, adapting him to modern times with a more contemporary narrative.
- For fans of updated sequels to classic heroes.
- It tackles contemporary social and political issues, attempting to add depth and relevance to the story.
Why You Might Prefer to Skip It
- Purists of Zorro and his classic version might want to abstain.
- The series leans towards stereotypes and a superficial narrative, missing the chance to develop characters more meaningfully.
- Attempts to incorporate modern themes and humor can seem forced or poorly executed.
Series Context
- The protagonist is Zorro, a new version of the fighter for lost causes.
- The series is set in a Western location, in the Los Angeles area and the state of California.
- Released in February 2024.
- The plot follows Zorro’s adventures in fighting injustice, using both combat skills and heart and social relationships.
- Updating the Zorro character with a modern focus, incorporating action elements and current social themes.
Release Date and where to watch
- The ten episodes of the series hit our screens on January 18, 2024, and can be enjoyed by subscribers of Prime Video. It premieres in the US and in Latin America on the same day.
More Information on ‘Zorro’
- 1st season of 10 episodes.
- Action and adventure with dramatic and comedic touches.
- Creator: Carlos Portela.
- Directors: Javier Quintas, along with Jorge Saavedra and José Luis Alegría.
- Production: David Cotarelo, Ángela Agudo, Sergio Pizzolante, Carlos Portela, David Martínez, John Gertz, Andy Kaplan, Glenda Pacanins.
- Cast: Miguel Bernardeau (Diego de la Vega), Renata Notni (Lolita Márquez), Dalia Xiuhcoatl (Nah-Lin), Rodolfo Sancho (Governor Pedro Victoria), Emiliano Zurita (Monastery), Andrés Almeida (Tadeo Márquez), Cuauhtémoc Jiménez (Nocturnal Crow), Elia Galera (Lucia), Paco Tous (Mute), Luis Tosar (Alejandro de la Vega), Fele Martínez (Don Antonio), Peter Vives (Janus Carter), Chacha Huang (Mei), Joel Bosqued (Samael), Cecilia Suárez (Guadalupe Montero), Gonzalo Ramírez, and Cristo Fernández (Zorro’s stunt doubles), among a vast cast of participants.
- Studio: 2023 Sequoya Ficción S.L.
This reimagined ‘Zorro’ (2024) navigates between updating a classic character for a contemporary audience and retaining the essence of its legendary heroism. Its mixed reception highlights the challenges of modernizing iconic characters while preserving their core appeal. The attempt to integrate modern themes and social media elements into Zorro’s character is an interesting twist, potentially attracting a new generation of viewers, albeit with the risk of alienating traditional fans.
