Walter Mercado is a legendary figure in the world of astrology and television. But if you are a primarily English-speaking person, you might not have ever heard of him. You see, Mercado is perhaps the biggest astrology superstar in the world, reaching more than 120 million viewers, but his reach was mainly in the Latin community. But even if you’ve never heard of Mercado before, the upcoming documentary, “Mucho Mucho Amor: The Legend of Walter Mercado” seems like it will be a must-see in July.
The trailer for the documentary lays it all out there, presenting viewers with footage of Mercado at his prime, as a flamboyant, gender non-conforming superstar that delighted TV audiences with his horoscopes and fortune-telling abilities. But even if you didn’t care about his supposed psychic powers, you were probably entranced by his persona, with his larger than life outfits and presentation. But eventually, Mercado just disappeared from TV screens and never returned. Now, Netflix’s new doc attempts to shed light on what happened to Mercado in recent years and how his personal life has shaped his celebrity persona.
The documentary comes from filmmakers Cristina Costantini and Kareem Tabsch. Costantini is probably best known for her 2018 doc “Science Fair,” while Tabsch is known for his previous film “The Last Resort.”
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“Mucho Mucho Amor: The Legend of Walter Mercado” debuts on Netflix on July 8.
Here’s the synopsis:
Every day for decades, extravagant Puerto Rican astrologer, psychic, and gender nonconforming legend Walter Mercado charmed the world with his televised horoscopes. Equal parts Oprah, Liberace, and Mr. Rogers, Walter reached over 120 million viewers at his peak, enthralling the Latin world with sequined capes, opulent jewelry and horoscopes that shared a message of love and hope to his devoted viewers. Then, he mysteriously disappeared. Over a decade later award-winning directors Cristina Costantini and Kareem Tabsch and producer Alex Fumero capture Walter’s final two years, when the pioneering icon grappled with aging and his legacy, and prepared for one last star-studded spectacle.