Velho Chico

Velho Chico (English title: Old River) is a Brazilian telenovela produced and broadcast by TV Globo that premiered on 14 March 2016, replacing A Regra do Jogo, and ended on 30 September 2016, being followed by A Lei do Amor. Created by Benedito Ruy Barbosa, Edmara Barbosa and Bruno Luperi in collaboration with Luis Alberto de Abreu, Velho Chico is artistically directed by Luiz Fernando Carvalho together with: Carlos Araújo, Gustavo Fernandez, Antônio Karnewale and Philipe Barcinski. Initially conceived to be a 6 pm telenovela, set to premiere in August 2016, after Êta Mundo Bom!, it was released earlier as a 9 pm telenovela. With two distinct phases, the telenovela had a total of 172 episodes in its original run. Velho Chico faced unprecedented challenges during its production; with Umberto Magnani and Domingos Montagner untimely deaths. On the wake of Montagner's passing on 15 September 2016, two weeks before the scheduled finale, production became uncertain. The first phase features performances by Rodrigo Santoro, Carol Castro, Julia Dalavia, Renato Góes, Selma Egrei, Tarcísio Meira, Rodrigo Lombardi, Fabiula Nascimento, Chico Díaz and Cyria Coentro. The second phase set years later, features Antonio Fagundes, Christiane Torloni, Camila Pitanga, Domingos Montagner, Marcos Palmeira, Selma Egrei, Dira Paes, Irandhir Santos, Gabriel Leone, Giullia Buscacio and Lucy Alves. The telenovela attracted moderate viewership but still considered low. Velho Chico received a nomination from the International Emmy Award for Best Telenovela in 2017. In 2009, Benedito Ruy Barbosa submitted to Rede Globo the synopsis of possible telenovela set at the São Francisco River but after evaluation by the network, the story was considered too political. Barbosa hoped to shoot it the following year in the 9 pm time slot. In 2015, the project was approved by Rede Globo and was set to premiere just after Êta Mundo Bom! at 6 pm timeslot. Rogério Gomes was later announced to direct but on request of the show's author and O Rei do Gado reprise's success, Luiz Fernando Carvalho was offered to direct.