Money Heist Part 5 Release Date, Cast And Plot - What We Know So Far

Spanish drama "Money Heist" has taken on a life of its own since Netflix acquired the property in 2017. The crime drama, created by Álex Pina and known in its native country as "La Casa de Papel," is a Spanish-language series filmed in Madrid. Pina intended the story of "Money Heist" to be told in two parts, each one covering a different long-prepared criminal operation: one perpetrated against the Spanish Royal Mint, and the other against the Bank of Spain. 

"Money Heist" first ran on Spanish network Antena 3, and received a ton of critical claim before Netflix stepped in to prep the project for an international audience (via Rotten Tomatoes). The streamer recut Pina's 15-episode series into 22 digestible bites and debuted the first part with an English translation on December 20, 2017. International viewers couldn't get enough of the mysterious Professor (Álvaro Morte) and his eight criminal recruits, and Netflix knew it had another hit on its hands.

The streamer re-upped its order for two more "parts," and ponied up a substantially bigger budget than the first two parts received. Pina delivered 16 episodes for "Money Heist" Parts 3 and 4, bringing the series total up to 38, even though IMDb still lists the Spanish total of 31.

Although the company has reached the end of the creator's original vision, Netflix is giving "Money Heist" one last part. In July 2020, Netflix renewed the series for Part 5 (via Deadline), which will be its last. 

Here's everything we know so far about "Money Heist" Part 5, including its release date, cast, and plot.

On May 24, 2021, nearly a year after the renewal news broke, Netflix announced the official release date for "Money Heist" Part 5 (via YouTube). Well, actually, the streamer announced the official release dates for "Money Heist" Part 5 ... parts 1 and 2. Confused? Let's break it down. 

"Money Heist" Part 5 will be split into parts, or "volumes," as most are calling them. Each volume will consist of five episodes, and fans won't have to wait too long between them (though they will have to wait a little bit). "Money Heist" Part 5, Volume 1 arrives on Netflix on September 3, 2021, while Volume 2 will debut on December 3, 2021. 

At the time this news dropped, "Money Heist" creator Álex Pina released a statement explaining why Part 5 is broken up into two volumes, and teased what fans can expect from each installment. "When we began to write Part 5 in the midst of the pandemic, we felt that we had to change what was expected from the 10-episode season and used every tool we could to create the sensation of a season finale or series finale in the first volume itself. We decided to work in an extremely aggressive genre, putting the Gang on the ropes," he said, according to Variety. "In Volume 2, we focus more on the emotional situation of the characters. It is a journey across their sentimental map that connects us directly to their departure."

One of the great joys of "Money Heist" is the introduction of all the incredible European actors in the cast. The death of Nairobi (Alba Flores) left a heroine-sized gap in the stellar cast, but many of the series' mainstays remain alive, kicking, and likely return for a fifth round. Even Nairobi may see new life in Part 5, since the series likes to jump around in time and regularly leverages flashback scenes to dramatic effect.

That's not to say, thought, that her return is guaranteed. On Netflix's behind-the-scenes doc "Money Heist: The Phenomenon," Flores suggested that she may be ready to move on from the project. "It's over, and I have nothing on the horizon," she said (via Lipstiq.com). "It's a really liberating feeling."

Of the surviving cast members, Álvaro Morte will return as the Professor, which isn't too surprising given that Part 4 set up a pretty big cliffhanger involving the character. Also confirmed to return are Úrsula Corberó as Tokyo, Itziar Ituño as Lisbon, Pedro Alonso as Berlin, Miguel Herrán as Rio, Jaime Lorente as Denver, Darko Perić as Helsinki, Esther Acebo as Stockholm, José Manuel Poga as César Gandía, Fernando Cayo as Colonel Luis Tamayo, Rodrigo de la Serna as Martín Berrote (aka Palermo and the Engineer), Luka Peroš as Marseille, Belén Cuesta as Julia (aka Manila), Enrique Arce as Arturo Román, Hovik Keuchkerian as Bogotá, and Najwa Nimri as Alicia Sierra, per Variety.

According to Variety, two new faces will join the "Money Heist" cast in Part 5: Miguel Ángel Silvestre and Patrick Criado.

As expected for the concluding part of an epic series, "Money Heist" Part 5 will be one wild ride — though details on what exactly will happen remain scarce for the time being. Any version of Part 5 will have to pick up some of the loose threads left dangling at the end of "Money Heist" Part 4. Fans will recall that the Professor's plan to free Lisbon finally bears fruit as things come to a close, despite the dangerous Gandía nearly ruining things. It's hardly a happy ending, however, as Inspectora Sierra, having gone rogue, appears to have the Professor finally cornered at gunpoint right before the credits roll. Of course, the show throws in another twist after that, with an in-credits Easter egg that potentially sets up some surprises for both Sierra and the Professor. 

With the Professor captured and the gang trapped inside the Bank of Spain in Madrid, they're all operating without a plan. The situation turns darker and deadlier when the Spanish military intercepts. As Netflix notes in the logline for Part 5, "The gang has been in the Bank of Spain for over 100 hours and the Professor is at risk. To make matters worse, a new adversary is coming: the army" (via YouTube).

Check back for updates on "Money Heist" Part 5, Volumes 1 and 2 as more information becomes available.