Skip to main content

Netflix readies new period drama as first original series from Spain

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.

Recommended Videos

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.

Christine Persaud
Christine has decades of experience in trade and consumer journalism. While she started her career writing exclusively about…
Death Valley is one of 3 great Britbox shows you should watch in July 2025
An old man and a young woman look at photos in Death Valley.

If you're tired of American television and the lack of sophistication that stems from many U.S. shows, BritBox might be the answer to your prayers. While it's true that Brits are inherently more sophisticated than their American counterparts, their TV tends to be a bit more refined.

If you have a BritBox subscription but aren't sure exactly what to do with it, we've got you covered. We've pulled together a list of three great shows that are the perfect entry point if you're looking for something great on BritBox:

Read more
Admit it — You still love Stranger Things, and the season 5 teaser trailer is awesome
A group of teens look down as one holds a chainsaw.

It's easy to poke fun at Stranger Things because of how long it's taken to reach the end. When season 5 concludes later this year, the Netflix series will have produced 42 episodes of television in just under 10 years. For comparison, The X-Files released roughly 200 episodes in under nine years. The pandemic and strikes are legitimate reasons for the delays, but the long hiatuses for Stranger Things have been frustrating for fans, to the point where some are questioning if they'll even care about the final season.

After watching the season 5 teaser trailer, all the feelings of resentment have been replaced with excitement. The teaser looks awesome, and I can't wait for the show's final run this fall.

Read more
Inception at 15 — Why the sci-fi thriller is Christopher Nolan’s best film
Bending buildings and the team from Christopher Nolan's film, Inception, in a promotional poster.

On July 16, 2010, writer-director Christopher Nolan released his groundbreaking sci-fi action film, Inception, to theaters around the world. Fresh off the blockbuster success of The Dark Knight, Nolan unleashed the unique story of Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) as he and his team of "extractors" are hired to enter a business heir's (Cillian Murphy) dreams and implant an idea into his subconscious, setting off a high-stakes journey through the dream world.

Inception continues to be one of Nolan's most popular and beloved motion pictures to date. Winning four Academy Awards and receiving nominations for four other Oscars, including the award for Best Picture, this action-packed, mind-bending heist film presented one of the most inventive blockbusters of the 21st century. While Nolan made many other incredible movies throughout his career, specifically Memento, The Dark Knight, Interstellar, Dunkirk, and Oppenheimer, there are many reasons why Inception surpasses them all 15 years after its premiere.

Read more