“We had to build trust with the people we worked with”: Dan Johnstone and Castor Fernandez on Cowboy Cartel

Cowboy Cartel, Apple TV+’s latest documentary show, tells the true story of Scott Lawson, a rookie FBI agent from Tennessee. His investigation took down the Treviño brothers, the leaders of the Los Zetas gang. They were one of the most influential cartels in the whole of Mexico. 

As the audience, we witness the very first interviews with FBI agent Lawson, the main person responsible for breaking the case; IRS agent Steve Pennington; and Irving police officers, including Steve Junker, Brian Schutt and Kim Williams. The show’s creators put a lot of effort into their research, so they could tell the truth from various perspectives, while still using their own words. 

The Upcoming had the pleasure of speaking to the show’s directors, Dan Johnstone and Castor Fernandez, who told us about their friendship and working together, investigating the case, contacting the FBI and choosing the ideal aesthetic for the show’s purpose. 

Jan Tracz

Cowboy Cartel is released on Apple TV+ on 2^nd August 2024.

Watch the trailer for Cowboy Cartel here: