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Netflix orders second Spanish original

Netflix has ordered its second Spanish original, a show described as an “effervescent, uninhibited and sensual drama” from the producers of 2010 feature Three Steps Above Heaven.

Netflix’s first original was 1920s drama Chicas del Cable (Cable Girls)

Élite has been created by Spanish writers Carlos Montero (The Time in Between) and Darío Madrona (The Protected) and will be executive produced by Zeta Audiovisual.

The first eight-part season will be shot entirely in 4K and recorded in Spanish, with Netflix scheduling the show to debut globally in 2019.

The drama centres on Las Encinas, an exclusive school in Spain where the elite send their children to study. The story follows three working-class kids who are admitted to the school, where a murder subsequently occurs.

Erik Barmack, VP of international original series at Netflix, said the “edgy, young thriller” would “resonate with a global audience.”

Zeta is part of Spanish multimedia conglomerate Grupo Zeta and is behind movies such as Alberto Rodriguez’s Smoke & Mirrors. It has also produced TV series including El Síndrome de Ulises and Cazadores de Hombres.

Netflix ordered its first original series from Spain, 1920s-set drama Las Chicas del Cable (Cable Girls), from Velvet and Gran Hotel director Carlos Sedes, in 2016. It has also backed Spanish drama La Catedral del Mar (Cathedral of the Sea), which is due to be released soon.

Spain’s drama market has become highly competitive over recent years following Netflix’s arrival in October 2015.

HBO launched its VoD service in the country in January, while Spanish telco giant Telefónica committed €70m (US$75m) to original series earlier this year, with a target of producing 14 by the end of next year.

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