Netflix Neon release date, cast, synopsis, trailer, and more

From executive producer and “King of Reggaeton” himself, Daddy Yankee, and co-creators Max Searle and Shea Serrano comes a charming new reggaeton comedy called Neon. The Netflix series was initially ordered to series in November 2022 and will make its streaming debut this October.

The show follows an up-and-coming artist with aspirations of becoming a renowned reggaeton singer and includes original music produced by Tainy. You can check out the show’s official soundtrack now on Spotify and Apple Music.

Max Searle, the writer and producer of the Netflix Original series The Ranch, serves as Neon‘s showrunner. He also wrote several episodes, as did co-creator Shea Serrano.

You might have read some of Serrano’s previous works, such as his popular book The Rap Year, or his contributions to the sports and pop culture websites The Ringer and Grantland. Serrano also recently created, wrote, and produced the semi-autobiographical Prime Video sitcom Primo. Directing duties are shared between Oz Rodriguez, Eli Gonda, Steven Canals, and Kimberly McCullough.

Serrano and Searle are executive producing Neon alongside SB Projects’ Scooter Braun, Scott Manson, and James Shin. Jordan Mendoza, who plays Felix in the show, serves as a consulting producer on the project. Demi Adejuyigbe and Kyle Vinuya are co-executive producers.

Here’s everything we know about the upcoming Netflix comedy series!

Netflix Neon release date

All eight episodes of Neon will launch on Netflix on Thursday, October 19 at 3:00 a.m. EST. Netflix announced the show’s release date and more in August.

What is Neon on Netflix about?

Santi wants to become the biggest reggaeton star in the world. His best friends Felix and Ness believe he can make that happen, or, at the very least, find a few paid gigs so they can start paying rent and stop living out of a car.

The eight-episode series from Daddy Yankee follows the three friends on their journey to superstardom as they cross paths with an A&R (artists and repertoire) rep who can’t help but find herself charmed by Santi’s confidence. But making their dreams come true won’t be easy, and throughout the first season, the friends will experience some of the harsh realities of the music industry.

Neon was filmed in Miami, Florida, and went into pre-production this past January before filming started in February, followed by post-production in April.

Netflix shared the official series plot synopsis:

"From small-town Florida to the bustling beaches and bright lights of Miami, Neon follows three friends as they hustle their way to making it big in the world of reggaeton. The eight-episode comedy captures not only the three besties’ larger-than-life dreams, but also the harsh realities and funny mishaps of surviving the music industry. Tyler Dean Flores plays Santi, a rising reggaeton artist who, with the help of his friends Ness (Emma Ferreira), Felix (Jordan Mendoza), and A&R rep Mia (Courtney Taylor), hopes to become the biggest star in reggaeton. Or at least pay his rent."

Netflix Neon cast

Tyler Dean Flores plays the lead role of Santi. The Puerto Rican-American actor got his start in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises and recently played the character Diego in Marvel’s Falcon and the Winter Soldier. He also appeared in Netflix’s When They See Us.

Joining Flores in the main cast are Emma Ferreira, Jordan Mendoza, and Courtney Taylor. Ferreira and Mendoza play Santi’s best friends, Ness and Felix, while Taylor is the A&R representative Mia.

Mendoza is known for playing RJ in Netflix’s Kaleidoscope and he also had a role in the Jennifer Lawrence comedy No Hard Feelings. You’ve seen Taylor in shows like Insecure and Abbott Elementary, while Ferreira played Ruby in Rob Lowe’s comedy series Unstable.

Here’s the full cast list:

Tyler Dean Flores as Santi
Emma Ferreira as Ness
Jordan Mendoza as Felix
Courtney Taylor as Mia
Jessie Camacho as Ynez
Alycia Pascual-Pena as Celeste
Michelle Cortés as Sofia
Nicole Diane Rios as Lucia
Ana Sofia Pomales as Daniella
Cecille Colón as Kimberly

Special guest stars include:

Genesis Rodriguez as Isa
Jordana Brewster as Gina
Jhayco as Javier Luna
Santiago Cabrera as Oscar
Zack Fox as Zale
Daddy Yankee as himself
Jowell as himself
Villana as herself

What to know about the music in Neon on Netflix

Given the premise of the show, Netflix had to hire some reggaeton experts to help flesh out the world and music within Neon. Grammy Award-winning producer Tainy is one of three supervising music producers on the show, the other two include Lex Borrero and Ivan Rodriguez.

As a collective, the trio is known as Tainy & One Six, part of Neon16 and Ntertain. They created original songs for the series. Joe Rodriguez and Javier Nuno of Indice are also credited as music supervisors on Neon.

One of the most notable original songs on the show is Santi’s single, “Exagerao,” which he uploads to YouTube. His song becomes popular enough to play in nightclubs and helps Santi on his journey to fame. In real life, the catchy tune is produced by Tainy.

During a Netflix press interview, Tainy said that “Exagerao” is more than just a reggaeton song because it will help viewers connect further with Santi’s character.

"“Yes, the production bangs and feels like a club song, but it also connects with the character culturally. The slang, the delivery, his lover-boy persona, even the choices on his pronunciation being more like a second-generation Latino in the U.S. In subtle ways every line tells you about Santi.”"

You can listen to the song ahead of Neon‘s premiere below:

Does Tyler Dean Flores really sing in Neon?

While Tyler Dean Flores perfectly embodies Santi visually, his singing vocals were contributed to the show by Neon16 artist RMAND.

On RMAND, Tainy says:

"“His melodies, his delivery created the ‘voice’ of the character. So in that way it’s very ‘true to character’ and consistent through the three songs in the series.”"

Netflix Neon teaser

Just shy of one year after Netflix initially ordered the reggaeton comedy to series, the first official teaser has arrived! The teaser introduces us to three friends played by Tyler Dean Flores, Emma Ferreira, and Jordan Mendoza. Santi aspires to become the next big reggaeton artist and with the help of his pals Ness and Felix, he just might make his dreams come true.

Ferreira gets the opening teaser voiceover saying, “Picture it. You are a star. We have to show them that we’re not just some loser wannabes,” before Felix drags her back down to earth with a reminder that all three of them are currently living in a 2009 Toyota Corolla.

Netflix Neon first-look photos

Get your first glimpse at the stars of Neon with the following photographs!

Neon premieres this October, only on Netflix. Add the series to your Netflix watchlist now.

Next. 73 best Netflix shows. dark

Home/Netflix Originals