Rafael Amaya breaks his silence on departure from "El Señor de los Cielos" as fans criticize series finale

The anticipation was high as Telemundo closed the ninth season of "El Señor de los Cielos" (ESDLC) this week, marking the end of Rafael Amaya's journey with the successful Super Series. The Mexican actor who brought infamous drug lord Aurelio Casillas to life announced that he would be leaving the series after a decade of prime-time dominance in Spanish-language television.

To the surprise of many, Amaya's character did not have a conclusive ending. The ninth season finale left many questions unanswered. And while there were several deaths, the protagonist's fate remained open-ended.

The unexpected ending of ESDLC

As expected, the controversial ending sparked a flurry of reactions on social media.

"I'm a bit confused by that ending," admitted one viewer of the Telemundo narcodrama. "The ending was open. You can't say Aurelio is gone for good. Everything was left inconclusive as always," read another of the thousands of comments posted. "I didn't like that ending, too many plot holes. How can Rafael Amaya leave such an important role like that? It's not fair to the loyal fans," opined another fan.

The show concluded with a dramatic scene where Aurelio Casillas witnessed the murder of his partner, Mecha (África Zavala), via video call, and the kidnapping of his daughter, Rutila (Carmen Aub), by a mysterious, unidentified character.

The "Dinastía Casillas"

True to its announcement, Telemundo confirmed through a promotional video that the story will continue in 2025 with "Dinastía Casillas." "In 2025, a new era begins. Get ready, the story you love continues," the network announced.

This continuation of the successful franchise will see the heirs of the Casillas family, including Rutila (Carmen Aub) and Ismael Casillas (Iván Arana), taking control of the family's legacy.

"Rutila, this season we cried, suffered, hit rock bottom, and came out on top. What awaits us now?" Aub pondered her Instagram profile. "Thank you all for so much."

Rafael Amaya says good-bye

A few months ago, Amaya announced that he had decided to conclude his cycle with El Señor de los Cielos after the ninth season. "I am filled with pride for the evolution of the character and the series over the past eleven years," he said. "I'm ready for a new chapter in my career."

While bidding farewell to the super series, Amaya wished his colleagues "good luck" in this new era set to begin next year with the premiere of Dinastía Casillas.

"I wish you all the best," Amaya expressed through People en Español.

He also published an scathing message in social media: "The more fake you are, the bigger your circle will be. The more real you are, the smaller your circle will be. This is the reality that nobody understands."