Playz comedy-drama looks back to 90s

Spanish broadcaster TVE’s fledgling digital platform Playz has ordered a six-part comedy-drama about former child and teen stars.

Colegas (Colleagues) looks at how a group of Spanish actors have fared since they were famous in the 1990s, with some enjoying continued fame and fortune while others have found life did not turn out so well.

Some of the actors involved will play themselves, with storylines drawing on their real lives, while others will be fictional. Manuel Feijoo, the show’s creator and star, said the aim is to keep viewers guessing.

The series has the biggest budget of any original Playz series since the platform launched last year, according to producer Hill Valley.

It will be Playz’s first series shot in 4K and will also be available on TVE’s red button interactive service, as well as Playz.

“We have deliberately set out to make a series that connects with those who grew up in the 1990s watching the much-loved series that these actors all starred in,” said Alberto Fernandez, TVE’s assistant director of content and transmedia.

Hill Valley is part of iZen Producciones Spain, the production group that was formed in July 2017 by the merger of Zebra Producciones and the Veralia Contenidos TV production businesses.

The merged group consists of four production companies: Zebra, Europroducciones, Boca Boca and Hill Valley.