New Spanish Fictions Maintain the Industry's Momentum
Reina Roja Dopamine Focus
Although major platforms are slowing their global investment in original content, their commitment to Spain remains firm
Last year, several Spanish productions reached top positions on the charts of major streaming platforms. Expectations remain very high for the 2023 releases. Spanish industry maintains momentum.
The titles arriving in 2023 span a wide variety of genres, including thrillers (Mano de hierro, from Netflix), comedies (El otro lado, from Movistar Plus), dramas (Vestidas de azul, from AtresPlayer Premium) and horror (Romancero, from Prime Video). There are also literary adaptations (TVE's Los pacientes del Doctor García), biographical TV shows (AtresPlayer Premium's Camilo Superstar) and even animation for adults (HBO Max's Pobre Diablo).
Despite the fact that the major platforms have slowed their global investment in original content due to falling revenues, their commitment to Spain remains firm. Free-to-air television operators maintain their commitment to national fiction, and there is also a growing presence of co-productions – including Prime Video's premieres Zorro and Reina Roja – a model that allows for more ambitious projects.
The following is a selection of eagerly anticipated Spanish fiction (in alphabetical order) that will be released this year:
Balenciaga
The first Disney Plus original fiction show in Spain, it tells the life story of the influential and world famous designer Cristóbal Balenciaga, played by Alberto San Juan. Scripted and directed by award-winning filmmakers Aitor Arregi, Jon Garaño, and Jose Mari Goenaga, this six-episode drama is produced by Xabi Berzosa for Moriarti and Irusoin.
Berlin
Spin-off of La casa de papel (Money Heist), Spain’s great global TV success on Netflix. Its creators, Esther Martínez Lobato and Álex Pina (Vancouver Media) focus this time on the hedonistic and cunning character of Berlin, played by actor Pedro Alonso. Filming began in October in Paris.
Camilo Superstar
AtresPlayer Premium original mini-series produced by Atresmedia TV in collaboration with Buendía Estudios. It portrays the moment in the life of singer Camilo Sesto when he took the risk of bringing the international musical Jesus Christ Superstar to Spain in the 1970s. Years after his death, Sesto – played here by Alejandro Jato – continues to be enormously popular in both Spain and Latin America.
El hijo zurdo
Original Movistar Plus production in collaboration with Atípica Films, created by Rafael Cobos (La Peste). Based on the novel of the same name by Rosario Izquierdo, this is an emotional thriller starring María León, winner of a Goya Award and the Silver Shell at San Sebastián. The series was filmed entirely in Seville and is distributed internationally by Movistar Plus International.
El silencio
Psychological thriller created for Netflix by Aitor Gabilondo (Patria) through his production company Alea Media, owned by Mediaset. Starring Aron Piper (Élite).
La Mesías
Movistar Plus original series in collaboration with Suma Content, written, directed, and produced by Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo, creators of Veneno and producers of Cardo, two of the most acclaimed Spanish TV shows in recent years. Movistar Plus International handles international sales of this family thriller about a man traumatized by his mother's messianic fanaticism.
Pobre Diablo
First animated series commissioned by HBO Max in Spain, produced by Buendía Estudios. Created by Miguel Esteban, Joaquín Reyes, and Ernesto Sevilla, the animation work has been done by the Granada-based studio Rokyn Animation. It will be released on February 17.
Reina Roja
Co-production of the Mexican studio Dopamine and Barcelona-based company Focus, which adapts the first installment of the successful trilogy by Juan Gómez-Jurado. Starring Vicky Luengo (Antidisturbios) and Hovik Keuchkerian (Money Heist) and directed by Koldo Serra (Sin huellas), the series will premiere exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories around the world.
Vestidas de azul
AtresPlayer Premium original series produced by Atresmedia TV in collaboration with Suma Content, it is a continuation of Veneno, considered by critics to be the best series of 2020, in addition to being acquired by HBO Max for the United States and Latin America. Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, founders of Suma Content, are the show's producers.
Zorro
Prime Video will offer the TV remake of this iconic IP, produced by Secuoya Studios, Zorro Productions, KC Global Media, and NoStatusQuo Studio. Miguel Bernardeau, known for his role in the worldwide hit Élite, is the lead actor. Mediawan Rights distributes the series in the international market.
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