The legal battle surrounding the Netflix series “Griselda,” featuring Sofia Vergara as the notorious Colombian drug lord Griselda Blanco, has reached a settlement. The lawsuit, initially filed by Blanco’s family, alleged unauthorized use of their image for the show, leading to a recent resolution.
Documents obtained by The Hollywood Reporter reveal that Blanco’s family has dismissed the complaint with prejudice, signaling the conclusion of the legal dispute. This settlement comes after weeks of contention, during which the family sought to block the airing of the miniseries, citing concerns over unauthorized portrayal.
Blanco’s son, Michael Corleone Blanco, and his wife, Marie, lodged the lawsuit in a Miami-Dade County Court, asserting that Netflix lacked authorization to depict their family’s story. The complaint outlined Michael’s previous discussions with producers about developing a book and show based on his mother’s life. However, he claimed that the limited series was produced without proper acknowledgment or compensation for his contributions.
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In response to the lawsuit, executive producer Eric Newman, though not named as a defendant, addressed the nature of the series as a fictionalized account rather than a documentary. He drew parallels to his experiences with Pablo Escobar’s children during the production of Netflix’s Narcos franchise, emphasizing the creative liberties taken in storytelling.
While the legal dispute has been resolved, the case underscores the complexities of portraying real-life figures in fictionalized narratives. The settlement brings closure to the legal wrangling surrounding “Griselda,” allowing the series to move forward without further legal impediments.