Marco Weber
Nick Kazan
1519 - The island of Cuba, a restless soldier named Hernán Cortés dreams of glory beyond the reach of kings. When the governor sends an expedition to explore the mysterious Yucatán, Cortés seizes command and sails without permission—an outlaw chasing immortality.
Landing on the coast of a vast new continent, Cortés and his ragged band of adventurers confront the dazzling power of the indigenous world. In battle and wonder they meet Marina, a brilliant enslaved woman who speaks the languages of the land. Through her, Cortés finds both his voice and his weapon. As she translates his words into prophecy, the tribes begin to believe he might be a returning god.
Marching inland through jungles and mountains, Cortés bends faith and fear to his will. He forges fragile alliances, massacres enemies, and burns his own ships so no man can turn back. With every victory his arrogance grows—and Marina, caught between loyalty and conscience, watches him transform from daring explorer to self-anointed messiah.
The journey ends on a ridge above Tenochtitlán, the shimmering city at the heart of the Aztec Empire. As Cortés gazes down at the impossible metropolis floating on water, he whispers: “Now destiny begins.”
2026