ZDF Enterprises announced that the shooting of the new international thriller series “Ana. The Game” started today. The 6-hour series is the TV adaptation of Roberto Santiago’s novel, set in the world of gambling.
Writer, screenwriter and film director Roberto Santiago also created and co-wrote the series, while Salvador García Ruiz and Gracia Querejeta will direct it. “Ana. The Game” is produced by RTVE, Tornasol and DeAPlaneta, in co-production with ZDF Enterprises, who will also be handling the worldwide distribution outside of Spain and Latin America.
The high-caliber cast includes stars Maribel Verdú, Israel Elejalde, Natalia Verbeke, Unax Ugalde, Luis Bermejo, Ismael Martínez, Juanma Cifuentes, and many others. Shooting will take the crew to various locations from Madrid to Pamplona during the next few weeks.
The thriller tells the story of Ana Tramel, a brilliant criminal lawyer going through a rough patch. A call from her long-lost brother Alejandro launches her back into action. He’s been accused of killing the Gran Castilla casino manager. Supported by a close team of trusted friends, Ana finds herself taking on a huge gambling corporation.
“I entered gambling’s many infernos myself to be able to write this series. I spent three years researching casinos and illegal gambling across Europe. I spoke to and lived with professional players and I witnessed up close how so many people ruin themselves and lose everything. ‘Ana. The Game’ is fiction, but absolutely everything in it is inspired by real events. This gripping legal thriller tugs directly on audiences’ awareness of an increasingly pressing social problem. I really hope ‘Ana. The Game’ finds a permanent home in viewers’ hearts,” said series creator Roberto Santiago.
“We worked on Roberto Santiago’s first films. ‘Ana. The Game’ knocked on our door while we were looking for the next opportunity to work together. Together with DeAPlaneta, we are delighted to embark on this new journey, co-written by Angela Armero. Co-producing with RTVE and ZDF Enterprises is a dream come true. We hope this will be the first of many adventures,” noted producer Mariela Besuievsky, from Tornasol.
Lastly, Robert Franke, VP ZDFE.drama at ZDF Enterprises, commented: “We have been part of this project from the very beginning and are very proud to now see it coming to life. It covers the problem of compulsive gambling, which is present worldwide, in a particularly captivating manner. ‘Ana. The Game’ is also our first co-production with our long-standing Spanish partners RTVE, Tornasol and DeAPlaneta. We are convinced that this production will only be the kick-off for many new projects of the same team”.