Netflix went global this year, switching on in over 190 countries in total, and now it’s getting ready to start production on its first original series filmed and produced entirely in Spain.
Hailing from the directors and producers of popular Spanish series Velvet and Gran Hotel, Carlos Sedes, Ramon Campos, and Teresa Fernandez Valdes, the yet-to-be-titled drama will start production in Madrid this year and debut on Netflix worldwide some time in 2017. The series will be a period piece set in the 1920s, following the lives of four very different women with very different backgrounds from across Spain, each hired to work as a switchboard operator for the only telephone company in the country. It promises to deliver jealousy, envy, and betrayal as the four women try to work toward success and progress at the forefront of the communications revolution.
The series was co-created by Gema Neira, along with producer Campos. Campos says the team are “enthusiastic fans” of Netflix original series, and feel honored to be part of this project. Fernandez Valdes adds that Netflix is “revolutionizing the television industry worldwide.”
Netflix brass are fans of both Gran Hotel and Velvet, both of which stream through the service, adds Erik Barmack, Vice President of International Original Series at Netflix calls the series “epic romances that have been embraced by our members around the world.”
“We’re certain,” he adds, “that our members will love this unique and engaging drama created by some of the best storytellers in Spain.”
There will be 16 episodes in the first season, each of which will run about 50 minutes. A specific shooting date hasn’t been confirmed, but Netflix confirms that it will commence some time “later this year.”
Netflix is developing original series in various locations around the world, including Suburra in Italy, which will also premiere in 2017, and 3%, which is being shot entirely in Brazil in 4K Ultra HD resolution and is listed as “coming soon” on the site.
