Rafael Amaya, Telemundo confirm they have parted ways: No more Aurelio Casillas in 'El Señor de Los Cielos'

MIAMI - It was a widely discussed rumor in the halls of Telemundo and the offices of talent agencies, and has now been confirmed: the Hispanic television network has lost its most famous and profitable actor. Rafael Amaya has not renewed his contract and is saying a permanent goodbye to his iconic character in the hit series "El Señor de los Cielos," Aurelio Casillas.

The news was initially shared by Amaya himself in an interview with People en Español. The actor expressed his "pride in the evolution of Aurelio's character and the series over the last eleven years." "I am ready for a new chapter in my career," Amaya said.

Shortly after the interview was published this Thursday, Telemundo released a statement thanking Amaya for his work and wishing him good luck.

"Rafael Amaya has been an integral part of the Telemundo family and the success of the El Señor de los Cielos franchise for more than a decade. His ongoing dedication and professionalism, combined with his great talent, brought to life one of the most beloved and legendary characters of these times. Together, we provided our audience with the most successful and longest-running fiction series in Hispanic television. We wish Rafael the best in his future projects and hope to have opportunities to collaborate with him again" - Telemundo.

The complicated relationship between Rafael Amaya and Telemundo

The relationship between Telemundo and the Mexican actor has not been the best for several years. Since season five of the hit series, it seems they have continued together only out of mutual convenience.

Season six was challenging for both parties. On one hand, Amaya was dealing with a crisis of addiction. On the other, Telemundo had to keep the series on air. Due to the actor's frequent absences, which even led to his total disappearance, the writers and producers resorted to one of the oldest tricks in telenovelas—they put his character, Aurelio Casillas, in a coma. The ratings remained stable with hopes of a miraculous recovery.

That season ended, and season seven began with the announcement of Amaya's return, but it was only an illusion. The actor only appeared in the first few episodes, which ended with his character's death.

The lead role was then taken by Chilean actor Matías Novoa, which dealt a severe blow to viewership levels. Amaya, for his part, underwent intensive detoxification and rehabilitation, maintaining positive results to this day.

Telemundo announced Amaya's return for season eight with great fanfare, featuring a reflective and penitent Aurelio Casillas. The ratings increased, but not significantly. Season nine followed with the character's return to his violent and promiscuous origins. The result was what everyone wanted: total dominance of prime-time viewership numbers.

Why is Rafael Amaya leaving El Señor de los Cielos?

If everything was going so well, what could have been so serious that the network would lose its most beloved actor who delivered spectacular results? Sources close to both parties confirmed that it was a salary disagreement.

Amaya wanted to be rewarded for the success of his work and the financial results it brought to Telemundo, as higher ratings mean more advertising purchases. Unfortunately, they could not reach an agreement.

This is compounded with the fact that Telemundo changed its executive leadership, the crisis of open TV networks, and an actor who has played the same role for 11 years likely desiring a change.

Rafael Amaya after Aurelio Casillas

In an interview with The Latin Times during the filming of the ninth season, Amaya mentioned he was interested "in pursuing different types of projects, flexing my acting muscle." He is also eager to continue exploring roles behind the camera.

Indeed, almost all images have disappeared from his Instagram profile. There is not a trace of Aurelio Casillas on his social networks. Just as he said, he is preparing for "a new beginning."

However, his last post seems to give a hint of his future direction. It features a short film he directed in 2013 called "La Hora Cero."

As for the future of "El Señor de los Cielos", Telemundo hasn't announced whether this ninth season is the last, or if they will go on without the character of Aurelio Casillas.