The upcoming Brazilian miniseries Radioactive Emergency now has an official release date. Netflix will launch the show on March 18, 2026, bringing the story of one of the worst radioactive accidents in history to screens worldwide . The streaming platform recently dropped a behind-the-scenes video featuring cast and crew interviews, giving audiences a first look at how this real-life tragedy was transformed into a television series .
Produced by Gullane Entretenimento, the same company behind hit Brazilian productions, this five-part miniseries focuses on the Goiânia accident of 1987 when a forgotten radiotherapy machine was opened at a scrapyard, spreading Cesium-137 throughout the city .
What Is Radioactive Emergency About? The True Story Behind the Series
Radioactive Emergency is a fictional drama inspired by real events that shocked Brazil and the world. The story begins when scavengers break into an abandoned hospital in Goiânia, a city in central Brazil, and remove a radiotherapy machine without knowing what it contains . They take the equipment to a scrapyard and open it, releasing a bright blue powder that looks beautiful but is actually highly radioactive Cesium-137.
The powder changes hands multiple times as people share it with family and friends, fascinated by its glow. Days pass before anyone realizes the danger, and by then, contamination has spread across the city . The series follows the race against time as doctors, physicists, and scientists work desperately to track down every contaminated person and stop the radiation from causing more deaths .
The accident remains the largest radiological disaster outside of a nuclear power plant in world history . In total, four people died directly from radiation exposure, while thousands more were contaminated. The cleanup produced tons of radioactive waste that had to be buried in concrete containers .
Director Fernando Coimbra explained why this story matters. He said the show focuses on ordinary people facing an extraordinary situation .
“It is rare to have a thriller series that is not about cops and criminals, but about ordinary people dealing with an extraordinary event.” – Fernando Coimbra, Director
Radioactive Emergency Release Date and Streaming Details
Netflix has scheduled Radioactive Emergency to premiere on March 18, 2026 . The miniseries will be available for streaming in multiple countries from this date.
For viewers in different regions, here is when you can watch:
- United States: Available March 18, 2026 on Netflix
- Canada: Available March 18, 2026 on Netflix
- United Kingdom: Available March 18, 2026 on Netflix
- Australia: Available March 18, 2026 on Netflix
- India: Available March 18, 2026 on Netflix
- Brazil: Available March 18, 2026 on Netflix
The series consists of five episodes in its first season . Netflix has not announced whether additional seasons are planned, as this appears to be a limited miniseries covering the complete story of the accident.
Complete Radioactive Emergency Cast List
The miniseries features a strong ensemble cast of Brazilian actors. Johnny Massaro leads the cast as a physicist trying to understand and contain the disaster .
Here is the full cast list with their character names:
- Johnny Massaro as Márcio (a physicist, the protagonist)
- Paulo Gorgulho as Orenstein
- Tuca Andrada as the Governor
- Bukassa Kabengele as Evenildo
- Ana Costa as Antônia
- Alan Rocha as João
- Marina Merlino as Catarina
- William Costa as Darlei
- Antonio Saboia as Eduardo
- Luiz Bertazzo as Loureiro
- Clarissa Kiste as Paula
- Douglas Simon as Souza
The show also includes special appearances by Leandra Leal as Esther and Emílio de Mello as César .
Who Is Behind the Camera? Production Team Details
Radioactive Emergency comes from Gullane, one of Brazil’s most respected production companies . The Gullane brothers, Caio and Fabiano, serve as producers, bringing decades of experience in Brazilian film and television.
Gustavo Lipsztein created the series, developing the script that turns historical events into compelling drama . Fernando Coimbra directs the project, working alongside episode director Iberê Carvalho .
The production team also includes executive producers Pablo Torrecillas and Ana Saito working alongside the Gullane brothers .
What Happened in the Goiânia Accident? Background Information
On September 13, 1987, a scrapyard owner in Goiânia found a strange machine in an abandoned clinic . He took it apart with a sledgehammer, breaking open a capsule containing Cesium-137. The glowing blue powder inside caught his attention, and he showed it to friends and family.
Days later, people started getting sick with vomiting and diarrhea. Some had burns on their skin from radiation exposure. No one connected these symptoms to the pretty blue powder until a doctor recognized the signs of radiation sickness and alerted authorities .
By then, the contamination had spread. Several people had slept with the powder under their pillows. Children had played with it and eaten food with contaminated hands. The government had to decontaminate entire neighborhoods, demolish houses, and monitor thousands of people for radiation exposure .
The accident led to Brazil establishing National Day of Victims of Cesium-137 on September 13 each year .
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How the Series Portrays Real Events
The behind-the-scenes footage released by Netflix shows how the production team approached this sensitive topic. Cast members discuss the challenge of playing real people who lived through traumatic events . The series aims to honor the victims while highlighting the Brazilian scientists and doctors who worked to contain the disaster .
The creators chose to focus on multiple perspectives. Viewers see the accident through the eyes of victims, medical professionals, and government officials trying to manage an unprecedented crisis . This approach helps audiences understand how such a thing could happen and why it took days to recognize the danger.
Where to Watch Radioactive Emergency
The miniseries will be available exclusively on Netflix starting March 18, 2026 . Subscribers in all regions where Netflix operates should have access to the show with appropriate subtitles and dubbing options.
The series has an English title of Radioactive Emergency for international markets, while the original Portuguese title remains Emergência Radioativa .
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