'Narcos' season 3 spoilers: Javier Pena out of the frame; story shifts to Mexico

A promotional still image from "Narcos" featuring Pedro Pascal as Javier PenaFacebook/NarcosNetflix

Now that the focus is on the Cali Cartel, "Narcos" season 3 will not see much of Javier Pena (Pedro Pascal), who was one of the key persons that made Pablo Escobar's (Wagner Moura) downfall happen.

The second season ended with Pena heading back to the United States for a brand new operation after the takedown of the Medellin Cartel and the Colombian drug kingpin.

In real life, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent was not involved in the crackdown on the Cali, and this might likely be the case in "Narcos" season 3 as well.

Since the Netflix hit follows the history books almost to the letter, "Narcos" season 3 will be short of Pena. However, executive producer Eric Newman hopes he will still be in the new season to some extent.

"We try to be as bound to what actually happened as we can — within reason, obviously. We do take some liberties for dramatic purposes," Newman told Entertainment Weekly.

"But I'd probably have to look at what Pena's role would be in the Cali, in taking down Cali. I love working with Pedro Pascal, so nothing would make me happier than to be back in business with him in some way," he went on to say.

Now that Escobar is dead and gone, "Narcos" season 3 will see a new lead character in Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela (Damian Alcazar), one of the Cali Cartel bosses.

Cali's rise will be the center of the next season. This presents the possibility of the show moving away from Colombia to Mexico, at least, at some point.

After all, it was the cartel that "really got the Mexicans into cocaine, which proved to be a much better business than heroin." Newman said that Mexico "could be" the next setting.

It is unclear if the transition will happen in "Narcos" season 3, but fans can expect the series moving there at some point in the future.