20 Years Without Valentín Elizalde: Makers of New Docuseries Discuss the Late Musical Icon & His Still-Unsolved Murder
Categoria: Musica
The Killing of The Golden Rooster premiered globally on Thursday on HBO Max.
Por Billboard | 13/11/2026
The 72 hours leading up to the murder of regional Mexican music icon Valentín Elizalde , which occurred in the early hours of Nov. 25, 2006, in the border city of Reynosa, Mexico, are the central focus of the new HBO Max docuseries The Killing of The Golden Rooster ( Valentín: La muerte del Gallo de Oro ). The series, which premiered globally on Thursday (Nov. 12), explores Elizalde’s life and legacy through firsthand accounts and archival material. It delves into his origins, musical career and final hours, as well as the theories and lingering questions surrounding a case that shook a nation 20 years ago — while his musical legacy continues to resonate across generations. “The murder of Valentín Elizalde has remained unresolved for 20 years,” says Esteban Vidal, executive producer of HBO Max, in an interview with Billboard Español . “Two decades after his death, we felt it was an important moment to revisit his story, his profile, and to address an issue that persists in the country: violence and impunity.” Directed by Ida Cuellar, The Killing of The Golden Rooster reconstructs the singer’s final hours across three episodes, and examines the various theories surrounding his murder: a forbidden love, possible ties to organized crime and a betrayal from within his inner circle. The docuseries features voices such as Fausto “Tano” Castro Elizalde, Valentín’s cousin and the sole survivor of the attack; Gabriela Sabag, the singer’s ex-wife; Gabriela Elizalde, his daughter; Alejandro Lira, a songwriter and friend of Valentín; Héctor López, his manager; and contemporary regional Mexican star Carín León. “This is not a judicial investigation; it’s a documentary,” clarifies Alejandro Sugich, executive producer of Sula Entertainment. “That’s why we aimed to include all perspectives.” Sugich also mentions that he maintained communication with the singer’s family and hopes that, after the docuseries’ release, his relatives will see it as a “tribute” to the life and work of the “Gallo de Oro,” while maintaining impartiality. “I spoke with his mother, his son-in-law, and everyone else,” Sugich says. “I think they may have initially thought the documentary was being told from the perspective of someone they don’t have a relationship with. But here, the protagonist is Valentín Elizalde and the impunity in Mexico — that’s what the docuseries is about.” Valentina Elizalde, the late singer’s daughter, issued a statement on Wednesday (Nov. 11) on her Instagram account on behalf of her family — including the singer’s mother, Camila Valencia — where they decline to comment on the program. They explain that, since they did not participate in its production or review its content, they prefer not to express an opinion. Beyond reconstructing the crime, the docuseries explores the social context surrounding Elizalde’s story and the com