Genesis – New Regency – Show of the Week

A young Ferran Adrià arrives at elBulli by chance and, from a remote kitchen on the Costa Brava, sparks a culinary revolution that changes global gastronomy forever.

Genre: Drama/biography

Runtime: 6×45’

Marco Arabit, senior VP and co-head of international distribution at New Regency, explains why Genesis, the story of how Ferran Adrià and elBulli sparked a culinary revolution, is set to resonate with buyers and audiences around the world.

What makes this show unique?

No other person in gastronomy has a story like Ferran Adrià’s. His journey needs to be told on a global stage. When I found out that at the height of its fame elBulli restaurant received two million reservation requests for 8,000 diners per season, I wanted to know why– what made it so special and what made celebrities, politicians, public figures and foodies from around the world fly over to eat there.

Once you jump into it, you’ll see it is an incredible story of a man with no formal training who shook up the rules of traditional cuisine through sheer passion and a drive for innovation, ultimately creating a path for new talent – talent that is now running some of the best restaurants in the world.

With gastronomy at the centre, the series takes a different approach to the concept. Some people think of gastronomy as “the more refined, the better,” but with Genesis the connection with food is deeper and more meaningful. It shows the audience that food is also a form of expression – it brings people together, evokes memories and triggers emotions.

It’s a story of legacy, family trauma, healing, creativity and a lot of heart.

What are the auspices for the show, including key talent, writers, directors and producers?

Genesis is a series from Catalan public broadcaster 3Cat, coproduced with Minoria Absoluta and Fishcorb Media, in collaboration with the government of Catalonia, with support from the Catalan government’s ICEC. Netflix will distribute the series on its platform throughout the rest of Spain, Western Europe, Latin America and the US. International sales are handled by New Regency.

Led by Miquel Fernández (Mirage) as Ferran Adrià, the cast also includes, Ivan Massagué (The Platform), Mónica López (Rapa), Carlos Cuevas (Merlí), Pere Arquillué (La vampira de Barcelona), Mario Gas (Isabel) and Joana Vilapuig (The Red Band Society).

What is your ambition for the show?

Our ambition is to bring this emotionally compelling, character-driven story to a wide international audience. Beyond the extraordinary untold story of elBulli, Genesis explores universal themes of ambition, rivalry, sacrifice and the pursuit of excellence. We want to engage not only fans of premium dramas inspired by true events, but also audiences passionate about food, culture and the remarkable individuals whose creativity and vision have changed the world.

Where would the series ideally sit across markets, channels and platforms?

The series has attributes that many of our partners will value. For example, there are no subjects or themes that fall outside stricter broadcasting censorship rules in most markets, making it a safe choice for TV networks around the world. This means it can easily fit into the programming grids of free-to-air TV, pay TV and all other platforms we may engage with.

Gastronomy and human relationships are intertwined in this series. Both are universal “ingredients” that shape an emotional drama with flair and visually rich scenes, and I am confident many viewers will be left hungry for more.

What else is important to mention in terms of the show?

What makes Genesis truly special is the level of authenticity we’ve brought to the culinary world of elBulli. With the direct involvement of Ferran Adrià and his team, the production teams recreated more than 70 of the restaurant’s iconic dishes, capturing the precision, creativity and artistry that made elBulli legendary. The result is a rare and visually striking portrayal of haute cuisine in scripted drama.

Through this extraordinary culinary journey, Genesis celebrates the limitless power of human creativity – the ability to challenge conventions, break rules and boundaries, and reinvent what is possible. At a time when technology plays an increasingly dominant role in our lives, the series reminds us that human vision, instinct and emotion remain at the heart of true innovation.