Manolo Caro Signs First-Look Deal with Onyx Collective 

Manolo Caro has a new first-look deal…

Onyx Collective has signed the 39-year-old Mexican director and The House of Flowers creator and Woo Films’ co-founders Rafael Ley and Maria Jose Cordova to a multiyear first-look deal.

Manolo CaroUnder the deal, Caro, Ley and Cordova will develop new projects for Onyx Collective.

“Manolo Caro is in a rare class of storytellers who blend heart and humor to reveal the essence of what makes us all human,” said Tara Duncan, president, Onyx Collective. “He is a proven hitmaker, and we’re excited to bring his universal stories to the Hulu audience.”

“Joining the creative voices at Onyx is not only a commitment to my artistic mission but a critical reflection of my own identity,” says Caro. “I want to tell stories through my particular vision and pop lens and create content that allows me to share with the world what my culture is and what has driven me all the way here.”

Caro and Woo Films join an extensive roster of creatives with deals with Onyx including Ryan Coogler, Destin Daniel Cretton, Jason Kim, Joseph Patel, Prentice Penny, Natasha Rothwell, Yara Shahidi and Erika Green Swafford.

Caro’s background spans writing, producing and directing for film and theater.

Among his film credits, which made him the first Mexican director in the top 10 of the Mexican box office for three consecutive years, are titles like Perfectos Desconocidos and La Vida Inmoral de la Pareja Ideal.

His debut feature was a film adaptation of I Don’t Know Whether to Slit My Wrists or Leave Them Long, which he initially wrote and directed for the theater. He followed that up with titles like Elvira I Will Give You My Life But I’m Using It and Tales of an Immoral Couple.

For television, Caro as a Latin American showrunner, was behind the Netflix release The House of Flowers. While under a development deal at Netflix, he created the miniseries Alguien Tiene que Morir and the streamer’s first Spanish-speaking musical series, Sebastián Yatra: Érase una vez.

The first season of his latest release, Sagrada Familia, starring Najwa Nimri and Alba Flores, debuted on Netflix’s top 10 in over 56 countries.

Sasha Cócola to Star in Prime Video’s Spanish Supernatural Horror Series “Romancero”

Sasha Cócola is embracing the supernatural…

The Spanish actor is set to star in Prime Video’s latest Spanish original, the supernatural horror series Romancero.

Sasha CócolaWritten by author and screenwriter Fernando Navarro and directed by Tomás Peña, the series hails from The Mediapro Studio-owned producer 100 Balas.

In addition to Cócola, known for Food & Shelter and Paco’s Men, the film will also star Serbian-born actress Elena Matic, making her debut in a dramatic series in Spain, Ricardo GómezGuillermo ToledoBelén Cuesta and Julieta Cardinali. It includes a special guest role for Alba Flores.

Romancero follows Cornelia and Jordan, as they flee “the force of law, powerful supernatural creatures and themselves,” framed within “within the backdrop of a desert-like and cruel Andalusia, as real as it is mythical, during a nightmarish night plagued with demons, witches and those who drink blood.”

Navarro and Peña said they have drawn inspiration from comics, Gothic literature, tales of witches, ghosts and creatures, the poetry of Federico García Lorca and esotericism to inform the show.

The series will run to six half-hour episodes with the action taking place throughout one single night. Filming is underway on location at several settings in Almería, while interiors will be shot in Madrid. The Mediapro Studio CEO Laura Fdz. Espeso producing, with Javier Méndez, Fernando NavarroAlejandro Florez and Maya Maidagan the executive producers.

Romancero is one of the most ambitious 100 Balas productions, a fantastic genre tale, which will entail a very significant level of post-production and special effects, as well as some incredible locations in Almería”, said Alejandro Florez, General Manager of 100 Balas.

Romancero is an excellent example of how we create our international originals; featuring the very best emerging talent both in front of and behind the camera, with a clearly local story narrated by a creative team at its best,” said James Farrell, Head of International Originals, Amazon Studios.

Alba Flores to Star in the Sci-Fi Thriller “Ulterior”

Alba Flores has an ulterior motive…

The 36-year-old Spanish actress and Money Heist star will star in and executive-produce Ulterior, a sci-fi thriller film from Matt Brodlie and Jonathan Kier’s Upgrade Productions and Spain’s Morena Films.

Alba FloresCreated by Money Heist director Alex Rodrigo and Vida Perfecta’s Manuel Burque, the film follows a young singer and influencer who wakes up in a life that she does not recognize in a world where humans are given the opportunity to virtually connect to a simulation of their own lives. Protagonist Ada must play along with the game in order to return to her real life and, with the help of a mysterious stranger, unravel the puzzle of her new existence.

Flores is best known for playing Nairobi in Netflix Spanish smash hit Money Heist. No broadcaster is attached as of yet.

Brodlie and Kier called Ulterior a “chilling and complex science fiction story,” adding: “Manuel Burque and Alex Rodrigo have crafted a visionary and timely thriller and we’re excited to bring their distinct and authentic voices forward.”

Netflix’s Ursula Corbero Starrer “La Casa del Papel” Sets New Viewership Record

Ursula Corberohas 34 million reasons to celebrate…

Netflix’s Spanish-language smash La Casa de Papel, aka Money Heist, starring the 29-year-old Spanish actress, has set a new record for the streamer. 

la-casa-de-papel

With more than 34.3M households tuning in for Part 3, this is the largest first-week global household turnout for a non-English-language Netflix series. More than 70% finished the entire season in the initial seven days.

The third installment of the Alex Pina-created phenomenon launched on July 19. Evidenced by the massive viewing numbers, fans of the series are legion around the world — and not only in Spanish-speaking markets, but extending to countries like France, Italy and India. 

In the first week, La Casa de PapelPart 3 was the most-watched title in Spain, Italy, France, Portugal, Brazil, Chile and Argentina, among others, according to Netflix.

Already last year, Netflix said the series, produced by Vancouver Media, was its most watched non-English show ever on the service. It scooped an International Emmyfor Best Drama last November.

Alvaro Mortestars in the thriller as El Professor, a mysterious criminal mastermind who recruits a group of thieves for an epic heist as he manipulates the police to carry out his plan. Part 3 sees him develop new heists with even higher stakes.

Ursula CorberoJamie LorenteMiguel HerránDarko PericItziar Ituno,Paco TousAlba FloresEsther Acebo,Itziar ItuñoEnrique ArceKiti Mánver,Juan Fernándezand Mario de la Rosaalso star.

Pina in 2018 secured a global exclusive overall dealwith the streaming giant. In June, production began on 10-part UK/Spanish crime drama White Lines, which Pina wrote and is showrunning.

Álex Pina’s “La casa de papel” Wins International Emmy Award for Best Drama

Álex Pina is feeling the Emmy love…

The winners of the 46th annual International Emmy Awards have been revealed, with the 48-year-old Spanish television producer/writer’s La casa de papel (Money Heist), taking home the prize for Best Drama.

Alex Pina

The hit Spanish heist television series, created by Pina, revolves about a long-prepared, multiple-day assault on the Royal Mint of Spain.

The series, which premiered in May 2017 on Spanish network Antena 3, was initially intended as a limited series. Antena 3 distributed the first two parts of the series in Spain, before the series was acquired by Netflix in late 2017, who edited and re-released the two parts worldwide, and will release a new, third part in 2019.

La casa de papel

La casa de papel stars Úrsula CorberóItziar Ituño, Álvaro MortePaco Tous, Pedro Alonso, and Alba Flores.

The Best Non-English U.S. Primetime Program prize went to NBC Universo’s El Vato. The second season of the series was produced byNBC Universo, Endemol Shine Boomdog and NBCU Telemundo.

The series centers on Regional Mexican singer El Vato (portrayed by El Dasa)and his friends as they struggle to succeed in the enticing but deceptive music world in Los Angeles, California.

This year, there were 44 nominees across 11 categories and 20 countries including Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Germany, India, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom & the United States.

The International Emmy Awards were hosted by comedian and The Problem with Apu producer Hari Kondabolu at the New York Hilton.

Here’s the complete list of winners:

BEST ARTS PROGRAMMING
Etgar Keret, gebaseerd op een waar verhaal
Produced by Baldr Films, Omroep NTR

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR
Lars Mikkelsen, Herrens Veje (Ride Upon the Storm)
Produced by DR, ARTE France, SAM le Français

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS
Anna Schudt Ein Schnupfen hätte auch gereicht
Produced by Zeitsprung Pictures / RTL Television

BEST COMEDY
Nevsu
Produced by Endemol Shine Israel, Reshet13, Gesher Multicultural Film Fund

BEST DOCUMENTARY
Goodbye Aleppo
Produced by BBC Arabic

BEST DRAMA SERIES
Money Heist (La casa de papel)
Produced by antena 3, Vancouver Media 

BEST NON-ENGLISH U.S. PRIMETIME PROGRAM
El Vato – Season 2
Produced by NBC Universo, Endemol Shine Boomdog, NBCU Telemundo 

BEST NON-SCRIPTED ENTERTAINMENT
Did You Get The Message?
Produced by SHELTER

BEST SHORT-FORM SERIES
Una Historia Necesaria

BEST TELENOVELA
Ouro Verde (The Payback)
Produced by TVI

BEST TV MOVIE/MINISERIES
Man in an Orange Shirt
Produced by Kudos TV BBC, Masterpiece