‘The Eternaut,’ Argentina’s Most Ambitious Sci-Fi Series, Debuts On Netflix

Argentina is about to make history with the global debut of The Eternaut, its most ambitious and first-ever major science fiction series. The series is the first screen adaptation of the 1957 Argentine sci-fi graphic novel El Eternauta by Héctor G. Oesterheld and Francisco Solano López, which blends suspense, collective heroism, and social commentary against an apocalyptic backdrop.

The six-episode first season opens on a sweltering summer night in Buenos Aires, when a sudden blackout and an inexplicable, deadly snowfall descend on the city, wiping out most of its population in hours. Amidst the unknown and uncertainty, a group of friends band together, their survival instincts kicking in as they try to make sense of the disaster. Some set out across the eerily silent city, looking for answers and desperate to find loved ones, only to discover that the catastrophe is part of something far larger and more terrifying than they could have imagined.

​Internationally renowned actor Ricardo Darín​ takes on the ​lead role of Juan Salvo, the everyman thrust into extraordinary circumstances. Darín, one of Argentina’s most acclaimed film and television​ actors​ for over five decades, is known worldwide for his performances in Oscar-winning and nominated films such as El secreto de sus ojos (The Secret in Their Eyes), Wild Tales, and Argentina, 1985. ​​This marks his first foray into sci-fi​. and a leap into new territory​.

​”The truth is​,​ I never thought of being part of a science fiction​ series​. “The experience has been incredibly enriching and rewarding,​”​ says Darín.​ “It reminded me that you have to keep learning every day. In my profession, acting, you might come into a project like this thinking you already have all the tools you need, only to realize that you’re stepping into a story deeply woven with humanity, reflection, and questions about what it means to be human. To do ​that, you have to stay alert and keep learning, day after day.​”

For decades, filmmakers and producers dreamed of bringing The Eternaut to the screen, but the scale and ambition required to do justice to the comic proved daunting. Multiple attempts stalled​, due to creative, technical, and financial challenges. It ​wasn’t until ​production house K&S Films​ and Netflix ​came on board that the project finally moved forward​ as a series.​ But adapting it was no easy feat. ​

Director ​and creator Bruno Stagnaro​ was deeply influenced by The Eternaut from childhood, having read the comic with his father. This personal connection fueled his passion for adapting the story and shaped his vision for the project.

​”The biggest challenge was creating an original story that still honored the heart of the source material, while also recognizing that it needed to be updated and given new dynamics to fit a different medium​,” states Stagnaro. ​”A comic works brilliantly as a comic, but when you adapt it to another format, there are a lot of things you need to reconsider. And because this comic is so beloved by the Argentine public, there’s a lot of pressure​. You feel like you’re handling something everyone wants to remain untouched. So, for me, the hardest part was accepting that change was necessary, and at the same time, taking the risk of making those changes, with everything that entails.​”

​Adapting the story to the present time was one of those changes. Another was casting Darín as Juan Salvo​.

“Having Ricardo involved really elevated the project. At first, I was concerned about the character’s age in the comic – he’s 30 – and I thought it would be hard to match that physically. But as we developed the adaptation, I realized that Ricardo’s age actually worked perfectly if we reimagined the character as a former Malvinas war veteran. That solved an outstanding issue, which was how to connect the character to his experience with weapons, and it also added a layer that, I think, really enriched the story’s cultural and Argentine identity. In the end, it all came together in a way that made perfect sense.”

The collaboration between director and lead actor became a cornerstone of the production.

“​Besides being a great actor, he’s really a storyteller at heart—someone who truly understands the inner workings of how a story is built, not just from the perspective of his own character, but with a much broader vision​,” says Stagnaro. ​”Our conversations made me realize I needed to involve him more closely in the process, because his insights genuinely enriched the work we were doing. Honestly, it made the whole experience incredibly rewarding.​”

Darín echoed the sentiment: ​”He invited me to really sit down together and go over the script, to reflect on different situations, dialogues, and everything else. That was incredibly enriching. And for me, as an actor, it gave me a huge advantage​ – one that actors rarely get​ – which is to arrive on set already understanding the bigger picture, not just my own role. As Bruno said, it’s about having a much broader perspective on how everything fits together, and that’s a major upgrade when it comes to doing your job. It means you have so many more tools at your disposal, and that’s invaluable. I owe that to him. Honestly, I’ve worked with a lot of directors​ – some are generous, and some aren’t. He’s definitely one of the generous ones.​”

With its captivating storyline, sweeping scale, innovative production, and a stellar ensemble cast​ – including Carla Peterson, César Troncoso, Andrea Pietra, Ariel Staltari, Marcelo Subiotto, Claudio Martínez Bel, Orianna Cárdenas, and Mora Fisz​ – The Eternaut is poised to introduce viewers around the world to Argentina’s bold entry into science fiction storytelling.

“We still have the second part of The Eternaut ahead of us,” states Darín. “I believe we’re going to aim higher!”

And yes, it’s confirmed. Ahead of the series debut, there will be a season 2.