David Farnor | On 26, Mar 2019

Amazon is bringing the FIFA Gate Scandal to our screens with new drama series El Presidente.

Inspired by the true events behind the 2015 FIFA corruption case, the drama series explores the sports scandal that rocked the world through the story of Jadue (Parra), a small‐time Chilean football club president who rose from obscurity to become a key player in a $150MM bribery conspiracy at the hand of the infamous president of the Argentine football association, Julio Grondona.

Produced by Gaumont, the series will be helmed by Academy Award-winning director and screenwriter Armando Bo (Birdman), who will also executive produce the series. In addition to Bo, the series will feature a star-studded cast led by Andrés Parra (Pablo Escobar: El Patrón del Mal), Paulina Gaitán (Diablo Guardian) and Karla Souza (How to Get Away with Murder).

Set against the backdrop of cities across Latin America, the U.S. and Europe, the series is co-produced by Fabula, the Academy Award-winning production company led by Pablo and Juan de Dios Larraín, and Argentina-based production company Kapow.

“Behind the passion that thrilled the masses was a web of corruption and intrigue that seemed impenetrable, until one day, someone let the wrong man into the family,” says Pablo Larraín.

“We are excited to bring El Presidente to Prime Video, a title that strengthens our commitment to producing compelling local stories told by the very best in local talent for our customers around the world,” says Pablo Iacoviello, Head of Latin America Content Acquisition, Amazon Prime Video. “El Presidente presents a story filled with corruption and lies around one of the biggest religions in Latin America: soccer.”

“Gaumont is thrilled to be working with Amazon Prime Video on our first project coming out of our Latin American TV co-production efforts,” comments Vanessa Shapiro, President, Worldwide TV Distribution and Co-Production at Gaumont. “Based on true facts, El Presidente packs massive global appeal and provides an unfiltered, behind the scenes look into the world’s most watched sport, soccer.”

“El Presidente will show the world, with loads of irony, how the most beloved sport of all is in fact a multi-millionaire business run by a ridiculous mob we have never seen before: the Football Mafia,” adds Bo.

El Presidente is among the seven newly greenlit and returning Mexican Prime Original series announced recently by Amazon. The series will join the streaming service’s growing slate of local original productions in Latin America which to date include the critically acclaimed Diablo Guardián and hit series Un Extraño Enemigo, as well as the wildly hilarious LOL: Last One Laughing with Eugenio Derbez.

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