Universal Int’l Studios partners Buendía Estudios on Spanish-language series

Australian psychological thriller Safe Harbour

Universal International Studios (UIS) has forged a partnership with Spanish production company Buendía Estudios to co-develop and coproduce Spanish-language series.

Under the deal, the companies will cultivate a slate of original programming, in addition to adapting NBCUniversal formats for the Spanish market.

The first project being produced through the alliance is a Spanish adaptation of the Australian psychological thriller Safe Harbour, which was originally produced by UIS’s Matchbox Pictures.

The SBS original series, released in 2018, follows a group of friends who set sail on a yachting trip and later come to the aid of a broken-down boat with asylum seekers on board.

Madrid-based Buendía Estudios was formed in 2020 through a partnership between Spanish telecoms operator Telefonica and broadcaster Atresmedia, with both companies owning 50%. The company’s credits include Cardo and Veneno.

“Working with the best-in-class storytellers and talent at Buendía Estudios will enable us to deliver on our commitment to create more local-language programming that promises to captivate and entertain audiences worldwide,” said Beatrice Springborn, who was recently named as president of UIS on a permanent basis.

UK-based UIS (formerly NBCUniversal International Studios) sits under Universal Studio Group, headquartered in the US.

Ignacio Corrales, CEO of Buendía Estudios, said the deal with UIS is a “fundamental step in Buendía Estudios’ strategy to create and produce premium Spanish-language content for global audiences.”

Sonia Martínez, editorial director of Buendía Estudios, added: “In an increasingly globalised world in which real events cross borders, we have the chance of translating this reality into fiction that, without losing its universal interest, reaches the viewer with a unique and differential local flavour.”

The deal builds on UIS’s slate of local-language originals and format adaptations, including the recently announced Supertitlán, a Spanish-language adaptation of NBC’s workplace comedy Superstore.