Mediapro, Sony in drama deal first

Spanish media giant Mediapro has struck a co-development and coproduction agreement with Sony Pictures Television (SPT), with the first project already lined up.

Mediapro Studio and SPT will work together on the series Implacables – Mexico (13×60′), which is based on a project titled 35 Years & Counting and was created by Ran Tellem (Homeland), the Spanish company’s head of international content, and Mariano Baselga.

Production is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2019 in Mexico City, with SPT taking distribution rights in the US, Latin America and Canada. Mediapro will take rights in the rest of the world.

Implacables – Mexico tells the story of four detectives from different generations who combine their experience to capture a serial rapist who has evaded the law for 35 years. However, after his arrest, they uncover a huge human trafficking network.

The deal is the first such arrangement between SPT and Mediapro and comes as the latter has been expanding its international network rapidly in recent years, including striking a deal with Mexican broadcaster Televisa in January.

In March, Mediapro unveiled plans to spend €200m (US$225m) to bolster its international operations and expand its global production slate as part of its Mediapro Studio initiative.

The Barcelona-based studio division, made up of 10 creative offices around the world, will use the money to strengthen its content output across all genres, including drama. It already produces around 5,000 hours of programming, including formats such as El Intermedio and Los Reyes de la Comedia for Netflix, as well as Amazon doc All or Nothing: Manchester City.

On Friday, SPT announced a similar deal with Brazilian broadcaster Globo to work on English-language drama in Latin America.