The telenovela storyline addresses contemporary life at the world's largest tropical wetland area, the Pantanal, and the cattle-ranching activity in the region. Filmed in location shortly after the worst forest fire in the Pantanal history,[6] the show also tackles the climate change and the fight against deforestation between locals and natives.
Joventino, one of the greatest farmers in the Pantanal, disappears without a trace and abandons his son, José Leôncio. Five years later, on a trip to Rio de Janeiro, José Leôncio falls in love and marries Madeleine. The two move to the Pantanal, where their son, Jove, is born. Madeleine misses her life in the city and does not accept the fate of loneliness that comes with being a farmer's wife. With her husband always on the road, she is forced to live with Filó, a maid whom she knows little and does not trust. Madeleine doesn't understand José Leôncio's relationship with Filó and Tadeu, Filó's son and godson of José Leôncio. What Madeleine does not know is that Filó was a prostitute with whom José Leôncio had a relationship on one of his trips in the past.
Madeleine flees the Pantanal taking Jove, still a baby, to her family's mansion. Jove grows up out of sight of his father, who found himself unable to fight for custody of his son. José Leôncio has never failed to meet his legal obligations, sending monthly alimony. Jove grows up believing that his father is dead, while José Leôncio finds an heir in Tadeu. Some years after Madeleine's departure, Filó confesses that Tadeu is also José Leôncio's son. Despite their joy at the revelation, the three of them keep the information a secret. Thus, Tadeu remains only as the godson of his boss, which hurts him deeply.
Twenty years later, Jove discovers that his father is alive and goes in search of him, in a reunion marked by a big party. Although happy with the moment, José Leôncio and Jove face an abyss of behavioral and cultural differences, while Jove deals with Tadeu's jealousy. To complete the family turmoil, at one point, everyone is surprised by the arrival of a third son who vies for the love and admiration of this father: José Lucas de Nada. José Lucas arrives at the farm by the hand of fate and discovers the family ties he never had. In the midst of the events, Jove and Juma Marruá fall in love. The daughter of Maria Marruá and Gil, Juma does not open her guard to anyone and has learned from her mother to defend herself from the "animal men", the most dangerous species that can prowl the abandoned village where she lives. The "animal men" took her whole family. Thus, she became a wild and distant woman. Despite their differences, Jove and Juma live an intense passion.[1]
On 6 September 2020, TV Globo announced that it would be producing a new version of Pantanal. Bruno Luperi, grandson of Benedito Ruy Barbosa, was announced as writer of the new version.[10] Filming began in August 2021.[11][12][13] Filming of the first part of the series ended in December 2021.[14][15]
Casting
The first cast members of the series were announced in July 2021.[16] On 19 September 2021, Alanis Guillen was confirmed in the leading role.[17]
