HBO Europe finds 30 Coins in Spain

HBO Europe has greenlit an original Spanish horror series directed by award-winning filmmaker Álex de la Iglesia.

Álex de la Iglesia

30 Coins will see de la Iglesia team up with long-term writing partner Jorge Guerricaechevarría on an eight-episode series produced in Spain by Pokeepsie Films.

The plot follows Father Vergara, an exorcist, boxer and ex-convict who is exiled by the church to a remote town in Spain where he wants to be forgotten but is soon traced by his enemies.

De la Iglesia is behind some of the biggest Spanish films of recent times, including Perfectos Desconocidos (Perfect Strangers), El bar (The Bar) and Las brujas de Zugarramurdi (Witching & Bitching).

The Basque director’s previous television credits are sci-fi series Pultón BRB Nero and La habitación del hijo, an episode of anthology series Películas para no dormir.

The commission follows HBO’s first Spanish original Patria, which was greenlit in October.

Antony Root, executive VP of programming and production at HBO Europe, said: “Álex creates worlds that are immediately immersive, full of idiosyncratic characters, darkness, humour and fun. We’re incredibly excited and proud to have him join the HBO Europe family – and to add such a brilliant and uniquely imagined genre series to our growing and varied originals slate.”

In other news, across the border HBO has launched HBO Portugal today as an SVoD service offering access to more than 4,500 hours of its content including hit US series such as The Sopranos, The Wire and Sex and the City.