Netflix is preparing a TV series adaptation of ‘Jotadé’, the crime-novel saga by the Spanish author Santiago Díaz. According to information obtained exclusively by ActualTV, the platform is working on bringing to the screen the stories of sub-inspector Jotadé Cortés, the protagonist of one of the author’s recent crime cycles.
The project is in development and its premiere is planned on Netflix, although a date has not yet been announced. Neither the cast, the production company, the creative team, nor the number of episodes have been disclosed. Therefore, it is still early to know what changes the adaptation will introduce compared to the books.
What is defined is its literary starting point: a police thriller set in Madrid, with particularly violent crimes and an investigator who does not excel in obedience to the rules. The clash between his personality and police discipline is one of the traits that define the character.
This outlet has reached Netflix, which declined to comment.
Who is Jotadé and how many books are in the saga
Jotadé is the nickname of Juan de Dios Cortés, a Romani sub-inspector who moves between the demands of his job and a very particular way of understanding authority. Santiago Díaz made him the protagonist of ‘Jotadé’ (2025), published by Alfaguara, after his run with the Indira Ramos detective novels.
According to the saga’s editorial information, the first book opens with a macabre crime in Madrid: two men are thrown from a bridge on the M-30, and the incident results in the death of a young woman, the daughter of a commissioner. The pressure to solve the case puts Jotadé in a particularly uncomfortable position.
The story continued in ‘El amo’ (2026), the second installment starring the same officer. This time, the investigation centers on the body of a young woman who disappeared long ago and a string of kidnappings and murders of women. It is, therefore, a literary series with two published novels, not a standalone single book. It has not been confirmed whether the forthcoming TV adaptation will adapt both.
Netflix continues looking at Spanish crime fiction
The potential translation of this universe to screen fits a line of fiction that the platform knows well. ‘The Girl in the Snow’ and ‘The Crystal Cuckoo’, based on works by Javier Castillo, are two examples of how Netflix has turned Spanish literary thrillers into suspense series.
Interest in these stories isn’t limited to a single platform. The jump of Red Queen to Prime Video is another precedent of the ability of Spanish crime novels to fuel TV projects with recognizable characters and long-running plots.
In the case of Jotadé, moreover, its creator has first-hand knowledge of the audiovisual language: before solidifying his literary career, Santiago Díaz spent years working as a television screenwriter. That, however, does not mean he is confirmed as a writer for this adaptation.
For now, the known information is limited to the preparation of the series for Netflix. There is no official announcement about its cast, start of filming, or release date. Those will be the next details that will reveal how Jotadé Cortés’s universe takes shape on screen.
