A Max Original production that brings together like never before, key journalistic investigations, victim testimonies, and previously unseen material to construct a profound and revealing portrait of Marcial Maciel.
onstruct a profound and revealing portrait of Marcial Maciel.
Mexico City, July 31st, 2025 — HBO Max presents the official trailer for its new documentary series, MARCIAL MACIEL: THE WOLF OF GOD, a revealing production that delves into the complex and controversial life of Marcial Maciel, founder of the Legionaries of Christ. Through never-before-seen documents, exclusive testimonies, and expert analysis, this four-part series, produced by Anima Films for Warner Bros. Discovery premieres August 14 on HBO Max.
MARCIAL MACIEL: THE WOLF OF GOD examines pivotal moments in the life of one of the most controversial figures in the modern Catholic Church. The case is reconstructed through the direct testimonies of those who experienced it firsthand, complemented by the insights of journalists, researchers, and experts who have followed the case closely, including Jason Berry, Carmen Aristegui, and Emiliano Ruiz Parra, among others. Their perspectives help contextualize the documentary evidence and shed light on the web of complicity that, according to these sources, enabled a long-standing cover-up.
Over the course of four episodes, the series traces Maciel’s trajectory from his youth in Michoacán to his eventual fall amid global scandal. It explores his rise through the ecclesiastical hierarchy and the mechanisms that, according to various sources, allowed him to operate with impunity for decades while leading multiple parallel lives under different identities. Even after his death, the emotional and social aftermath of his story continues to affect victims, religious communities, and faithful followers in more than 25 countries.
This production joins HBO Max’s lineup of documentaries that address topics of major social impact and regional relevance. With previously unreleased materials and a rigorous investigative approach, MARCIAL MACIEL: THE WOLF OF GOD aims not only to present the facts, but also to open a space for analysis, reflection, and dialogue around the structures that allowed this story to persist for decades.
The series premieres on August 14 on HBO Max.
