Amazon Prime Video Spain names fiction head, orders original films, dramas

Amazon Prime Video in Spain has unveiled a new head of fiction series, commissioned its first two feature films and greenlit a pair of drama series, including an adaptation of the Reina Roja (Red Queen) literary trilogy.

Juan Gómez-Jurado (photo: Porter3492 via CC)

José María Caro has been named as Prime Video’s head of fiction series in Spain. Joining from local prodco Buendía Estudios, he brings experience of international markets from his time at Spanish multimedia company Mediapro.

Caro’s appointment was revealed during a presentation in Madrid, which Prime Video Spain also used to unveil new films and series.

Its first Spanish feature film is Mañana Es Hoy, a comedy by Nacho G Velilla, on which filming has just ended. Produced by Felicitas, it stars Carmen Machi and Javier Gutiérrez alongside Sílvia Abril, Asier Ricarte, Carla Díaz, Antonia San Juan, Pepon Nieto and Marta Fernández Muro.

The film, which will premiere on Prime Video this year, mixes comedy with science fiction. The plot follows a family who are on holiday in 1991 when their teenage daughter decides to elope with her boyfriend. His parents travel forward in time to 2022 and see how much Spain has changed in three decades.

The second original film is Awareness, which comes from Spanish filmmaker Daniel Benmayor (Xtremo). Federation Entertainment Spain will produce the feature, which Amazon says is powerful IP with the capacity to become a franchise.

Awareness is currently in pre-production, with filming scheduled to begin in a few weeks. Blending action, sci-fi and teen drama, it centres on a young man with superpowers..

Turning to series, Prime Video Spain has commissioned a drama based on Reina Roja, the literary trilogy by Juan Gómez Jurado, who signed a first-look agreement with Amazon less than a year ago.

Jurado has been working on the adaptation with Amaya Muruzábal, chief of content at producer Dopamine, for the past three years. The story revolves around a woman with extraordinary intelligence.

The other new drama commission is Los Farad (working title). The show is the latest collaboration between Mariano Barroso and Alejandro Hernández, following Movistar+ titles El día de Mañana and La línea invisible, both by Movistar +.

Set in the Marbella in the 1980s and inspired by real events, it follows a boy who dreams of setting up a gym and ends up entering the fascinating world of the Costa del Sol.

The greenlights come as Prime Video prepares to launch fellow series Asunto Privado (A Private Matter), from Bambú Producciones, and Sin Huellas (Without Footprints), from Zeta Studio.

In addition, Amazon said it plans to acquire further Spanish productions under its Amazon Exclusive strategy. In the coming months, series such as Operación Marea Negra, El Internado Las Cumbres, Madres and Desaparecidos are set to be released.

The company also said it will continue bet on other genres such as entertainment and documentaries, especially after hits such as GEO, Beyond the Limit and Celebrity Bake Off. Forthcoming examples include the next instalment of documentary El Desafío, focusing on the 2004 Madrid train bombings.

This story was first published in Spanish on AudioVisual451.com