Netflix’s latest Argentine sci-fi series THE ETERNAUT introduces a gripping survival story set against the hauntingly beautiful — and deadly — backdrop of Buenos Aires. This six-episode series was created and directed by Bruno Stagnaro, co-written with actor-writer Ariel Staltari. The show stars acclaimed Argentine actor Ricardo Darín as Juan Salvo, an everyday man caught in extraordinary, apocalyptic circumstances. Alongside him are Carla Peterson as Elena (Salvo’s ex-wife), César Troncoso as Alfredo Favalli, Andrea Pietra as Ana, and others like Marcelo Subiotto, Mora Fisz, and Ariel Staltari himself, who plays a new character named Omar, throughout the story.
The story starts when there is a strange snowfall in Buenos Aires, which doesn’t normally get snow. What begins as an odd weather event quickly turns into a horror story: anyone who gets touched by the snow dies right away. In this scary new world, survivors have to put on gas masks and makeshift shields to stay safe while they navigate a landscape where the snowflakes are poisonous. As the survivors deal with this threat that can’t be seen, Juan Salvo steps up as a reluctant but determined leader. He sets out to not only stay alive but also find his daughter Clara (Mora Fisz). Along the way, he finds scary truths that were buried under the snow.
But is THE ETERNAUT based on a novel? The answer is yes — and the source material is legendary in Argentina.
IS THE ETERNAUT ON NETFLIX BASED ON A NOVEL?
Yes, Netflix’s THE ETERNAUT is based on “El Eternauta,” a groundbreaking Argentine graphic novel written by Héctor Germán Oesterheld and illustrated by Francisco Solano López. Originally serialized between 1957 and 1959 in the magazine Hora Cero Semanal, the story became a cultural touchstone in Argentina and Latin America. It was eventually published as a single volume in 2015, earning global recognition, including an Eisner Award, which is one of the most prestigious honors in the comic book industry.
The novel’s premise, much like the Netflix series, centers around a deadly snowfall blanketing Buenos Aires and the fight for survival that ensues. The central character, Juan Salvo, leads a small group of survivors through increasingly dangerous and surreal challenges, including alien invaders and psychological warfare. The story blends science fiction, political commentary, and philosophical reflection — making it far more than just a post-apocalyptic thriller.
Director Bruno Stagnaro, who has been connected to the source material since childhood, told Netflix that El Eternauta was “one of the first things I read in full in my life, when I was 10 years old.” He explained that the adaptation is deeply personal, aiming to “reconstruct the genuine emotion of living an adventure on the corner of your neighborhood” and highlighting Juan Salvo as “that great Argentine hero.”
WHERE WAS NETFLIX’S THE ETERNAUT FILMED?
A LONG JOURNEY TO THE SCREEN
Adapting El Eternauta has been a decades-long challenge in Argentina’s entertainment history. As early as 1968, there were plans to create an animated TV series, backed by the production company Gil & Bertolini. The animation was ambitious for its time, utilizing rotoscoping, a costly technique. A 24-minute pilot was produced, but the project was ultimately shelved.
In the 1980s and 1990s, directors like Fernando “Pino” Solanas, Gustavo Mosquera, and Adolfo Aristarain all showed interest in adapting the novel. Aristarain even considered an English-language version with American actors due to budget constraints — but ultimately rejected the idea, stating that “Argentine culture is an integral part of The Eternaut.” The essence of Buenos Aires, its streets, and its people were considered vital to the story’s power.
In 1995, a major TV network in Buenos Aires began developing a miniseries with digital effects provided by Aicon, a computer animation company. A contract was even signed with a Hollywood studio, but again, the project stalled.
In 2007, an Italian production company began working with Oesterheld’s widow and grandsons on a new adaptation. Talks began with Argentine studios and the country’s INCAA (National Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts). The following year, acclaimed director Lucrecia Martel was tapped to direct a movie version and even wrote a script set in the present day. However, the Oesterheld family felt it strayed too far from the original vision, and the project collapsed.
More recently, in 2018, Spanish filmmaker Álex de la Iglesia showed interest in a big-screen adaptation with Ricardo Darín attached to star. However, it wasn’t until Bruno Stagnaro, known for gritty Argentine classics like Pizza, Beer, and Cigarettes and Okupas, came onboard with Netflix that the story finally came to life.
Stagnaro actually began work on a version of The Eternaut as far back as 2003, even writing a full script for the first episode and doing camera tests with actor Rodrigo de la Serna. But production company Ideas del Sur dropped the project due to budget limitations.
The Netflix series finally gave the story the resources it needed. With the Argentine capital as both the emotional and geographical backdrop, and with Darín bringing gravity to the role of Salvo, the show leans deeply into the source material’s themes of survival, unity, resistance, and national identity.
A NATIONAL ICON
The Eternaut is more than just a sci-fi tale in Argentina — it is deeply tied to the country’s political and historical consciousness. Héctor Oesterheld, the original writer, was tragically “disappeared” by Argentina’s military dictatorship in the late 1970s, along with four of his daughters. His legacy is embedded in the DNA of the story — resistance, repression, and resilience.
Juan Salvo’s journey is not just physical but symbolic: a man protecting his family, leading his friends, and fighting back against overwhelming forces — both alien and all-too-human. The Netflix series honors that legacy by preserving the essence of the novel, while updating it for modern audiences.
In this version, Buenos Aires becomes a ghost city coated in deathly white. Survivors wear gas masks and heavy gear to stay alive, and every street corner becomes a battlefield. As Salvo searches for his daughter, he is joined by Elena, Favalli, Ana, Lucas, Polsky, and new characters like Omar and Inga. Their bond becomes their strength as the series explores how people come together in moments of crisis.
Yes, THE ETERNAUT on Netflix is firmly rooted in the legendary Argentine graphic novel El Eternauta. After decades of failed adaptations and production delays, the story has finally reached a global audience — and it remains just as powerful, mysterious, and timely as when it first appeared in 1957.
With a stellar cast, striking visuals, and a haunting atmosphere, this new version pays tribute to the past while embracing the present. The adaptation is more than a television event — it’s a cultural milestone for Argentina, and a gripping entry into global sci-fi storytelling.
Return to tvacute.com soon for more updates, deep dives, and breakdowns from THE ETERNAUT.
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