Narcos: what will happen to javier pena? What happened in real life?

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO JAVIER PENA IN NARCOS SEASON 4? Pena, played by Pedro Pascal, succeeded in taking down the Cali Cartel in the season three finale, but his victory was bittersweet. During

the investigation, he discovered that the cartel had effectively bought the Colombian presidency, and worse still – that the US authorities knew about it. With the Cali godfathers behind

bars, the DEA set their sights on Mexico. But Pena handed in his notice and returned home to Texas, defeated. In the closing scenes, Pena and his father stand and watch a boat full of

smugglers bringing a shipment of cocaine into the US. “You can stand here for an hour and you'll count 20 of them going by,” his father says, before asking if he will go with the DEA to

Mexico. Pena replies: “I’ve done enough. I'm through.” Showrunner Eric Newman has hinted that leading man Pedro Pascal will not return for season four, saying: “I think you can believe

[Pena’s] final words. “I do think that we've told Pena's story pretty effectively,” he told The Hollywood Reporter.  “‘The only way to win is not to play’ is a certain aspect of

it. He has been irremovably changed by this experience, and whether he'll be happy in his life at home? I would say no.  “I don't think it's a particularly happy ending for

him. But I think it's certainly accepting the futility of this.  “He sort of realises that, not only am I playing a rigged game, but everyone around me is OK with it, so what can I do?”

Newman added: “What's tragic about it is that you're losing truly one of the good guys.” READ MORE: WHO IS JORGE SALCEDO AND WHERE IS HE NOW? WHAT HAPPENED TO JAVIER PENA IN REAL

LIFE?  In real life, Pena left Colombia after Pablo Escobar had been captured and killed. He had no involvement in the Cali Cartel operation. He did, however, remain with the DEA for another

two decades. His career took him to Puerto Rico, Texas, and back to Colombia. In 2011, Pena took on a new role heading up the DEA’s Houston division. He remained there until his retirement

in January 2014. The final shot of Narcos season three panned across the River Grande, suggesting that the action will move to Mexico – without Pena. “There is definitely a natural passing

of the torch to Mexico, who at the time were already very successful as heroine and marijuana smugglers,” Newman teased.  “It makes perfect sense that you would employ what they call the

Mexican Trampoline to bounce cocaine into the States.” READ MORE: WHO IS ANDREA LONDO? WHEN IS NARCOS SEASON 4 OUT ON NETFLIX? Season four was announced at the same time as season three.

Newman explained that the show will “tell the continuing story of cocaine”, evolving to feature new characters and locations. Netflix hasn’t yet announced a release date for Narcos season

four, but tradition dictates that it will arrive in late August or early September 2018. READ MORE: NARCOS SEASON 4 RELEASE DATE