Tag Archives: Banijay Rights

Eva Longoria to Host CNN’s Latest “Searching for” Series, “Searching for Spain”

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Eva Longoria is sill searching…

The 49-year-old Mexican American actress, producer, director and business woman is returning to CNN for a revival of the Searching For franchise, with the latest installment focused on Spain.

Eva LongoriaEva Longoria: Searching for Spain was announced during the Warner Bros. Discovery upfront in New York, with plans for a premiere in 2025.

Per CNN, the series will feature “a gastronomic pilgrimage across the rich tapestry of Spanish cuisine.” Longoria “will enjoy some of Spain’s most iconic traditional dishes and explore how innovative Spanish cuisine is propelling the future of fine dining.”

Longoria previously partnered with CNN on Searching for Mexico. The series order is a signal that the network, after announcing a cutback in original series and films from outside suppliers, is returning to an emphasis on such longform projects under new CEO Mark Thompson. 

Searching for Spain comes from Hyphenate Media Group.

Longoria, Cris Abrego, Rachelle Mendez and Shauna Minoprio are executive producers for Hyphenate Media Group. Amy Entelis and Lyle Gamm are the executive producers for CNN Original Series. Banijay Rights will handle international distribution of the series.

Episodes of Searching for Mexico are available on Max.

Banijay Developing ‘Reconciliation’ Documentary Project Featuring Pablo Escobar’s Son & Rodrigo Lara’s Son

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Pablo Escobar’s son’s reconciliation story is headed to the small screen…

Banijay is developing a documentary project about Escobar’s son’s extraordinary reconciliation with Colombian politician Rodrigo Lara’s son Jorge, whose father’s death was ordered by the drug kingpin.

Lara vs EscobarLara vs. Escobar is being produced by Banijay Benelux JV Scenery and distributed by Banijay Rights.

BAFTA-winning director Mags Gavan said she dedicated over a decade to get access for the feature, which delves into Rodrigo Lara’s Escobar-backed murder and the incredible fallout. Upon learning of his father’s death, Jorge Lara was initially out for revenge but a twist of fate reconciled him with the son of Escobar, one of the most notorious criminals of all time, as he realized that they had more in common than he thought. The docuseries will be told via double narrative, weaving between past and present.

Escobar has long been a subject of fascination and the story of his attempted assassination was told in recent BBC doc Killing Escobar.

“Our expansion into the premium feature documentary space is led by this extraordinary modern-day story and with no hesitation we decided to take this gripping project to market,” said Simon Cox, Banijay Rights EVP Content Acquisitions.

“Lara vs. Escobar is a reconciliation tale like no other, bringing two of the unlikeliest of friends together to find common ground, with a plot as powerful of some of the world’s best dramas.”

Gavan added: “I started the most inspiring journey which also took me through the worst tragedy whilst developing this film. It’s going to take the audience on the same emotional rollercoaster but hopefully leave them in better, more hopeful place”.