Banijay to launch Mexican, US Hispanic production studio led by Leguizamo

Banijay Americas is launching Banijay Mexico and US Hispanic, a production label led by producer Marie Leguizamo.

Marie Leguizamo

The studio will be based in both Mexico City and at Banijay America’s LA offices. It will focus on original content in English and Spanish for broadcast, cable and streaming in the Mexican and US Hispanic markets.

Leguizamo, who has been an executive producer on multiple unscripted series for the company over the past decade, will be MD of the new entity. In 2019, she signed an overall development and exec producer deal with the firm’s sister Mexico City-based studio Endemol Shine Boomdog.

Endemol Shine Boomdog, which is led by CEO Alejandro Rincon, will continue to operate as before. Its slate includes ¿Quién Es La Mascara (Televisa/Univision), La Casa de los Famosos (Telemundo), Mira Quien Baila (Univision), Subete a Mi Moto (Amazon Prime) and Nicky Jam: El Ganador (Netflix).

Leguizamo has just finished exec producing the third and fourth seasons of Boomdog and Amazon Prime’s Last One Laughing (LOL) and has been the showrunner/exec producer on such Spanish-language series as La Voz Kids, Pequeños Gigantes USA and Mira Quien Baila.

Cris Abrego, chairman of the Americas for Banijay and president and CEO of Endemol Shine, said: “Marie is perfectly suited for this role – she’s one of the most respected producers in this space, she has deep roots in both nations and is entrepreneurial at heart.”