Isak Férriz Stars as Troubled Detective in Netflix's Gaudí-Themed Barcelona Thriller

Andorran actor Isak Férriz stars as the troubled detective Milo Malart in Netflix's new police thriller *Ciudad de sombras*, an adaptation of Aro Sáinz de la Maza's novel *El verdugo de Gaudí*. The six-episode series, directed by Jorge Torregrossa, marks the late Verónica Echegui's final role and follows a dark murder investigation beginning with a body discovered at Barcelona's iconic Pedrera building.

Férriz, who previously collaborated with Torregrossa on *El cuerpo en llamas*, immersed himself in Sáinz de la Maza's four-novel series to build his character. He described Milo as a detective burdened by grief over a lost loved one, family trauma, a recent separation, and the psychological toll of the case. "It's a character with many layers of wounds," Férriz said, noting the challenge of sustaining that emotional intensity over five months of filming.

Beyond its gripping plot, the series delivers a pointed social critique of Barcelona's transformation. Murders unfold at Gaudí landmarks like the Pedrera and Palau Güell, symbolising a backlash against the city's polished tourist image. Férriz highlighted how urban renewal—such as demolishing Barceloneta neighbourhoods for a gleaming promenade—has displaced locals, only to attract rowdy visitors and expose networks of political corruption. One killer even uses a van branded "Barcelona posa't guapa" (Barcelona, make yourself pretty), underscoring the irony.

Filming at these tourist hotspots posed logistical hurdles. Crews shot nighttime scenes to simulate daytime at the Pedrera, where morning queues made access impossible, and restricted Palau Güell to Mondays. Weekends became weekdays, with Thursdays and Fridays as rare days off.

Férriz expressed mixed emotions about the release without Echegui, calling her loss "irreparable" and praising their shared moments, like a freezing December night swim at Barceloneta. The author visited the set and approved the adaptation, which condensed the 700-page book while staying true to its essence, to the satisfaction of fans at a preview.

Reflecting on Andorra, where Férriz grew up, the actor voiced nostalgia amid rapid changes. Each return surprises him, he said, lamenting soaring rents, traffic congestion, and a shift away from values he once held dear. "It's heading in a direction I wouldn't choose," he noted, criticising inaction on housing woes affecting working residents. Still, he remains open to local projects if the timing and appeal align.