Starzplay, the premium international streaming service from Starz, announced its first slate of International Original series including four local language productions originating in Spain and Mexico. These exciting new series, which range from thriller crime dramas to addictive period pieces and deep character explorations, will allow for an even more bespoke content offering for global subscribers. Starzplay will make these titles available across the service’s footprint in Latin America with a plan to debut select titles in Spain and in the U.S. on Starz and Pantaya.
“As Starz continues to expand its global presence through the Starzplay platform and international direct-to-consumer app, creating International Originals through co-production opportunities is the next step in curating our offering for our subscriber base,” said Superna Kalle, Executive Vice President, International Digital Networks, Starz. “Through our innovative producing partnerships and cooperation with our sister company PANTAYA, we have the opportunity to create unique and defining series that will resonate with Spanish-language audiences worldwide.”
The Spanish series will be "Nacho Vidal, an Industry XXXL", a chronicle of the life of the most famous porn star in Spain, and "Express", a suspense thriller from The Mediapro Studio by screenwriter Iván Escobar.
“Nacho Vidal, an Industry XXXL” is an exploration inside “the other film industry” that moves more than 500 million euros per year in Spain, through the extraordinary life of legendary Spanish porn star Nacho Vidal. Proving his talents reach far beyond his most infamous 25 cm, Nacho changed the rules of the game in the 1990s when he became an international superstar… and that is just where the story begins. The series is produced in collaboration with Bambu Producciones and La Claqueta PC.
“Express” is a crime thriller produced by The Mediapro Studio, the global production company of Mediapro Group focused on creation, development of fiction and non-fiction high quality content and distribution. From acclaimed writer Ivan Escobar (“Locked Up”), who will serve as showrunner, “Express” tells a story where there is only one type of crime that has increased 100% in the last year: Express Kidnapping. Everything is a countdown from the moment when you pick up the phone... Laura Fdez. Espeso, Javier Mendez, Javier Pons and Escobar are the executive producers from The Mediapro Studio.
The Mexican productions will be "Señorita México" (working title), which narrates the world of Miss Mexico from the '80s from within, and the dramatic suspense thriller "Toda la Sangre". “Señorita Mexico” (working title), the delicious period drama set in the dark glamour of 1980s Mexico following the contestants training for the country’s Miss Mexico pageant as they vie not only to win– but to make it out to the final contest alive. The series will be helmed by showrunner Lucia Puenzo and co-produced by Fremantle and the award-winning Chilean production company Fabula. Fremantle will handle global distribution.
“Toda La Sangre,” the Spanish-language crime thriller based on a popular series of crime novels written by bestselling Mexican author Bernardo Esquinca and tells the story of a crime journalist, Casasola, who is determined to solve every crime that haunts Mexico City but runs into a series of murders that resemble Aztec sacrifices and defy the laws of nature. The series is co-produced in partnership with the premium Spanish-language streaming service Pantaya — a joint venture between Lionsgate and Hemisphere Media Group — along with executive producer Zasha Robles from Spiral International, a subsidiary of Etcetera Group. “Toda La Sangre” will be available on Starzplay in Latin America. The show is also co-produced by Fremantle Mexico and distributed by Fremantle.
Starzplay’s rapid expansion into 50 countries and success to date has been driven by a programming line-up featuring the “best of global SVOD,” including STARZ Original series such as “Power” and its hotly-anticipated new series expansions including “Power Book II: Ghost” and “Power Book III: Kanan,” this summer’s new hit series “Hightown” and “P-Valley” and fan-favorite “The Spanish Princess” launching day-and-date, combined with exclusive premium acquisitions including “The Great,” “Normal People,” “The Name of the Rose” and “The Act,” as well as a vast library of acclaimed feature films.