Baron and Toluca (often styled B+T) is an independent science-fiction drama project spearheaded by actors Brendan Fehr and Majandra Delfino, best known for playing Michael and Maria on the cult TV series Roswell. Conceived as a “spiritual successor” to Roswell, the project reunites the two stars in a new paranormal story set in New Mexico. What began as an idea fueled by their lightning-in-a-bottle on-screen chemistry and enduring fan enthusiasm has evolved into a crowdfunded pilot episode with a passionate following. Below is a comprehensive overview of Baron and Toluca, including its origin, plot, development journey, the collaboration of its stars, fan and media reception, and how to watch or follow the project today.
Background and Origin of the Project
Brendan Fehr and Majandra Delfino’s natural chemistry on Roswell (where they portrayed a beloved couple) laid the groundwork for Baron and Toluca. After Roswell ended in 2002, the two remained close friends and often discussed reuniting creatively. Delfino in particular had “always had this idea” to recapture that dynamic in a new story – a meta homage to Roswell that would let them play off each other again. The concept truly gained momentum in 2014, when the pair attended a Roswell cast reunion panel at the ATX Television Festival. Seeing the surprisingly large and enthusiastic fan turnout, and realizing how many people “were still just so in love” with their characters’ relationship, Delfino was inspired to start writing Baron and Toluca in earnest.
What she envisioned was not a direct Roswell continuation, but a “spiritual successor” – something that would wink at their past show while standing on its own. By 2016, Fehr and Delfino had developed a pitch and even filmed a short promo teaser to introduce the concept. They began referring to the project affectionately as Baron and Toluca, intentionally echoing their Roswell character names (Maria and Michael) with the initials “B+T.” In interviews, Delfino described the premise as a tongue-in-cheek twist on their history: “It’s not Roswell, but it’s taking those elements… in a little tongue-in-cheek way that gives us the opportunity to be back together on screen”. In other words, Baron and Toluca would channel the fun, romantic–bantering vibe of their Roswell pairing, but in a fresh story they could call their own.
This origin story itself has a charming meta layer: Fehr wasn’t even aware Delfino had been quietly developing the idea for years until she was nearly done. As Delfino tells it, “I always wrote it with Brendan in mind, but never really said anything… As I’m literally about to finish the final draft, I get a call from Brendan [saying he wanted to work together again]”. It was serendipitous confirmation that both actors were eager to team up again. With the concept and enthusiasm in place, all they needed was a way to get the project off the ground.
Plot Summary and Thematic Elements
Jake Baron and Toluca Mendez – former co-stars turned reluctant partners – ride together in a scene from the Baron and Toluca pilot. The series blends paranormal mystery with witty banter and a dose of nostalgic meta-humor.
In Baron and Toluca, Brendan Fehr and Majandra Delfino portray Jake Baron and Toluca Mendez, respectively – two actors who once co-starred on a 1990s sci-fi TV show (a cheesy cult hit called “Alien Advocates” in the story’s universe). Years after their teen stardom has faded, these former co-stars – and former lovers – find themselves unexpectedly reunited in a familiar part of New Mexico. Both are drawn to a fan convention (a “second-rate Comic Con”) for a quick paycheck, which brings the estranged pair back together in Roswell – a playful nod to the actors’ real Roswell roots.
When Jake and Toluca reconnect, Baron and Toluca quickly shifts into an X-Files–esque paranormal adventure. A bizarre incident occurs: the two experience a mysterious blackout and awaken with strange brand markings on their bodies – and no clothes. This frightening ordeal forces the bickering duo to set aside their differences and team up. They soon discover that people have been vanishing amid other eerie occurrences in town, suggesting an otherworldly cause. With the help (perhaps) of a local lawman, Sheriff Miles Sorrenti, Jake and Toluca attempt to unravel the “eerie abductions” and supernatural chaos surrounding them before they become the next victims.
The tone of B+T balances sci-fi mystery, drama, and humor. Just as their Roswell characters had a love–hate spark, Jake and Toluca carry a similar romantic tension – trading barbs even as life-threatening danger draws them closer. The series is rife with Roswell Easter eggs and ’90s nostalgia, yet it stands on its own feet with an original story. One review noted that the pilot is “fast-paced, mystery-driven, easter-egg filled [and] feel-good”, delivering a fun paranormal romp that “combines original unique nostalgia with an all-new mystery.” In essence, Baron and Toluca captures the X-Files-meets-romantic-comedy vibe that Fehr and Delfino set out to create. Viewers can expect witty banter, simmering “candy” chemistry (as Roswell fans call it), and supernatural suspense – all anchored by the duo’s on-screen charisma. And, true to the cheeky spirit of the show, Jake and Toluca’s biggest challenge may simply be keeping their clothes on and their tempers in check long enough to solve the mystery!
Development and Production History
The journey from idea to screen for Baron and Toluca has been unconventional and very much driven by fan power. In 2016, after shooting a proof-of-concept promo, Fehr and Delfino began shopping the project to networks and streamers. They even launched a grassroots social media campaign with fans, using the hashtag #NETFLIXforBandT, hoping to catch Netflix’s attention. Over a series of organized “tweet-a-thons” and fan-made viral content (even poetic video messages to Netflix), the Roswell fandom demonstrated their excitement. Entertainment Weekly covered the project’s announcement that year, showcasing an exclusive teaser and encouraging readers to “follow the campaign on Twitter @BaronAndToluca”. Despite this buzz and the ardent online support, traditional networks initially passed on picking up B+T.
Undeterred by a few Hollywood “no’s,” Fehr and Delfino decided to take matters into their own hands. “We just went, ‘Oh, you know what? Let’s just prove it to them,’” Fehr said of their mindset. In October 2020, they launched an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign to finance a pilot episode independently. Their goal was set at $100,000 – enough to produce a quality pilot they could then use to sell the series. The response from fans was instantaneous and overwhelming. Within 24 hours they had raised over half the goal, and by October 23, 2020, the $100k target was fully met. By the campaign’s close in November, Baron and Toluca had amassed $172,000 from 1,654 backers, far exceeding expectations. This groundswell of support not only funded production but sent a clear message that the audience was eager to see this show made. Fehr and Delfino made sure to involve the fans directly in the process: through Indiegogo, supporters could earn perks like being listed as a producer, visiting the set, or even appearing as an extra in the pilot. (At the pilot’s first screening, they asked how many backers spotted their own names in the credits – a large portion of the audience raised their hands.) This innovative approach blurred the line between creators and fans, essentially making the Roswell community a part of the B+T production team.
With funding secured, filming took place in 2021. Majandra Delfino penned the script, and Brendan Fehr stepped behind the camera to direct, in addition to both of them starring. Despite working on a modest indie budget, they assembled a professional crew and even cast a few fellow Roswell alumni in surprise cameo roles for eagle-eyed fans. By early 2022, Baron and Toluca had wrapped shooting and moved into post-production. Fehr teased progress on social media – for instance, posting a photo from a New Mexico highway with the caption “Location scouting” back in February 2021 – and by spring 2022 they were deep into editing.
June 2022 marked a major milestone: the world premiere of the Baron and Toluca pilot at the ATX Television Festival in Austin, Texas. ATX (sometimes dubbed “TV camp for grown-ups”) was a fitting launch pad, given its role in inspiring the project years earlier. Crashdown.com, a long-running Roswell fan site, noted that ATX was “the perfect place to premiere a pilot that is not only a heartfelt project of co-creators Delfino and Fehr, [but] it was supported and fought for by fans.” Fehr and Delfino attended the festival and took part in a post-screening Q&A panel, where they received an standing ovation from an audience that included many of the very fans who had funded the show. Over the next few months, they arranged additional special screenings: an international premiere in Paris, France (on September 10, 2022) as part of a fan-organized event, and later a limited theatrical showing in Albuquerque, New Mexico on July 14, 2023. The New Mexico screening, held at the South Broadway Cultural Center in Albuquerque, was particularly meaningful – essentially bringing B+T home to the Roswell area setting that inspired it.
As of 2023, Baron and Toluca remains a single pilot episode (approximately a one-hour installment), as the creators seek a network or streaming platform to pick up the full series. The pilot’s festival run and positive word-of-mouth have been aimed at demonstrating its potential to industry partners. Fehr and Delfino have made it clear that their endgame is to get a Baron and Toluca full season green-lit, whether on Netflix (their original target) or any distributor willing to embrace the show. In the meantime, they’ve kept the project alive through fan engagement, merchandise, and incremental “drops” of content (for example, exclusive behind-the-scenes clips sent to Indiegogo backers, and new promo images shared on social media).
Fehr and Delfino’s Collaboration History (Post-Roswell)
For fans of Roswell, the prospect of Brendan Fehr and Majandra Delfino partnering up again has been the ultimate wish-fulfillment. On Roswell (1999–2002), the two actors’ portrayal of bad-boy alien Michael Guerin and free-spirited Maria DeLuca made them a standout couple on the show. Their sharp, affectionate bickering and electric chemistry earned a devoted sub-fandom (the “Candy” fanbase, nicknamed for one sweet scene) and even carried off-screen – Fehr and Delfino briefly dated in real life during the Roswell years. After the series ended, both went on to separate projects: Fehr appeared in shows like CSI: Miami and The Night Shift, while Delfino acted in sitcoms (e.g. State of Georgia) and pursued music. For nearly two decades, they didn’t share the screen. Baron and Toluca is thus the first scripted drama to reunite them since 2002, and it was born directly out of their mutual desire to work together again.
The collaboration behind B+T has been very hands-on for the pair. Delfino is the creator and writer of the project, and Fehr is a co-creator who directed the pilot – a role that allowed him to shape their on-screen dynamic from behind the camera. In developing the show, Delfino drew explicitly on the Roswell experience: she recognized that what she and Fehr had as Michael and Maria was rare. “When you’re young, you think you’ll have all these [great roles]… Then you grow up and realize, oh man, that [Roswell role] actually was a lightning-in-a-bottle chemistry,” she said, explaining why she knew recapturing that magic was worthwhile. Fehr agreed, half-joking that he “only had the idea that I wanted to work with her,” not knowing she was already writing something for them. This long-standing trust and camaraderie between the two form the backbone of Baron and Toluca.
Beyond the show itself, Fehr and Delfino have kept their partnership in the public eye through other fan-centric ventures. In 2020, during the run-up to filming B+T, they launched a nostalgic re-watch podcast titled “The Ex-Files” (a playful nod to X-Files and the fact that they are ex-co-stars/exes). In the podcast, they re-watch Roswell episodes together and share behind-the-scenes anecdotes, often with guest appearances from fellow cast members. (As the tagline puts it, “Join Brendan Fehr and Majandra Delfino, the former stars and real-life exes of the cult hit WB show Roswell, as they dive into …” old episodesopen.spotify.com.) This project, along with frequent joint convention appearances (like 90s Con and Dragon Con in 2023–24), has shown that their off-screen chemistry and friendship are as strong as ever. It also demonstrates their commitment to Roswell’s fan community – something that undoubtedly carried over into the making of Baron and Toluca. In interviews, both have described B+T as a way to give fans that coveted reunion in a creative new form. As one journalist observed, Baron and Toluca is effectively Fehr and Delfino’s love letter to the fans, a thank-you for years of support and an attempt to “bring them along for the ride” on a new adventure.
Fan and Media Reception
From its inception, Baron and Toluca has been a fan-driven phenomenon, and the reception from fans has been nothing short of impassioned. Roswell fans – often praised for their loyalty – immediately rallied behind the project when it was first hinted in 2016. Online, they organized coordinated Twitter storms with the hashtag #NETFLIXforBandT that trended worldwide, bombarding Netflix with pleas to consider the show. As one piece put it, “Fans of other fandoms will try to argue it, but there is nothing like a Roswell fan”, highlighting how this small cult show’s devotees can mobilize. The same article noted that B+T is “Delfino and Fehr’s love letter back to the fans” for this very reason. Indeed, the devotion runs both ways – Fehr and Delfino have been visibly appreciative and inclusive of their fanbase at every step (from crowdsourcing the pilot to giving shout-outs to longtime “Roswellians” in interviews). This positive feedback loop of fan enthusiasm helped B+T hit its crowdfunding goals and generated press coverage in outlets like Entertainment Weekly, HuffPost, and various genre websites long before any network was attached.
After the pilot was completed, select critics and fan outlets that saw it continued the positive buzz. Crashdown.com, the premier Roswell fan news site, published a detailed Baron and Toluca pilot review in July 2022, soon after the ATX festival premiere. The review’s verdict was extremely encouraging: “The good news: The wait and the fight was worth it. The bad news: again, they left viewers craving for more.” It highlighted the “sizzling” on-screen chemistry and the intriguing paranormal mystery, and ended by imploring, “Can we have a premiere date of a full season please?” Audience reactions at the live screenings mirrored this sentiment – fans laughed in the right places, gasped at the twists, and many came out of the theater already eager for a continuation. In Q&As, viewers commented that the episode felt like a fun mix of Roswell nostalgia and new, more adult storytelling – exactly what it set out to be.
The project has also been embraced by the Roswell cast and creator family. Fellow Roswell alumni have promoted B+T on social media, and some even participated in the pilot (in secret cameo roles) as a show of support Fan communities on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Discord have formed to share Easter egg finds (for example, spotting iconic props like Maria’s red Jetta car or references to Roswell episode titles cleverly inserted in B+T). In short, Baron and Toluca has been received as a labor of love – one that both honors a beloved 20-year-old series and offers something new and exciting. The main critique heard, in fact, is that fans only have one episode to savor so far; the refrain “we need more B+T” is common in comments. As Fehr and Delfino work to secure a series order, they’ve been buoyed by this enthusiasm. “Never underestimate a fandom,” Delfino noted, referring to how fans not only funded the show but also helped solve production hurdles along the way. The media, too, has taken note that an engaged fanbase has essentially willed this project into existence – a noteworthy story in an era of reboots and revivals.
Status Updates and How to Watch/Follow B+T
As of 2025, Baron and Toluca consists of a single pilot episode that is being used as a proof-of-concept to pitch the full series. While it is not yet available on any network or streaming service, Fehr and Delfino have recently made the pilot accessible to the public online. In February 2025, they delighted fans by uploading the Baron and Toluca pilot (in two chapters) to YouTube. This release came via the duo’s own YouTube channel (initially created for their Roswell rewatch content), ensuring that the many fans who couldn’t attend the festival screenings can now finally see the episode. If you’re interested in watching, you can find “Baron and Toluca – Chapter 1” and “Chapter 2” on YouTube for free. The creators have encouraged viewers to share, thumbs-up, and comment on the videos – in hopes that a strong showing online could further demonstrate the demand for a full series.
For those looking to follow the project’s progress or show support, there are several official channels and updates to be aware of. The official Twitter account (X account) is @BaronAndToluca, which has been active since 2016 and continues to share news, fan art, and hopeful hints about the show’s future. Back in the campaign days, this account (along with the #NETFLIXforBandT hashtag) was the hub of fan organizing ew.com, and it remains a great source for real-time updates from the creators. Majandra Delfino and Brendan Fehr’s personal social media pages (Twitter, Instagram) are also worth following, as they frequently post behind-the-scenes photos and candid updates – for example, Fehr posting location scout snapshots, or Delfino sharing new promo stills with messages like “Just a reminder… these two have shtuff coming your way.”
The project had an official Indiegogo page (titled “Baron and Toluca”) which remains available to view, showcasing the synopsis, concept art, and update posts from the campaign. Although the crowdfunding is long closed, the Indiegogo page serves as a historical archive of how B+T was made possible and sometimes the creators post public updates there as well. Additionally, Crashdown.com’s B+T news section is an excellent curated resource – it features interviews, fan event info, and links to major articles (including the EW and HuffPost pieces). Crashdown even runs a newsletter for Baron and Toluca updates, which Indiegogo backers would know from exclusive email “drops” of content.
Looking ahead, Fehr and Delfino are continuing to pitch Baron and Toluca to industry executives. They have expressed openness to any distribution avenue that allows them to make more episodes – be it a streaming platform or a cable network. Their goal is for the pilot to lead to a full first season (they have a roadmap for the story, and even cheeky 90s song-title names planned for each episode). For now, fans can show their support by watching and sharing the pilot, engaging on social media, and perhaps most importantly – by spreading the word. The more people join Jake Baron and Toluca Mendez on their paranormal adventure, the better the chances that this unique project will get the continuation it deserves.
