David Farnor | On 17, Jan 2020

Amazon Studios has signed a first look deal with actors and producers Gael García Bernal (Mozart in the Jungle) and Diego Luna (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story).

Diego Luna was introduced to worldwide audiences with his starring role in the award-winning Y Tu Mamá También, alongside Gael García Bernal for director Alfonso Cuarón. Luna currently stars as Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo in Netflix’s Narcos: Mexico which will return for season 2 in February. Luna has directed the feature films Cesar Chavez starring Michael Pena and Mr. Pig starring Danny Glover.
 
Bernal recently gained critical acclaim and a Golden Globe award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series for his role in the Amazon Original series Mozart in the Jungle in 2016. He also appeared in the Academy Award-winning Pixar-animated feature Coco. His latest films include Wasp Network, Pablo Larraín’s EMA, and Chicuartotes, Bernal’s second time directing a feature film.
 
The duo currently serve as executive producers on the upcoming limited series Untitled Cortés and Moctezuma Project, from Amazon Studios and Amblin Television.
 
The four-hour epic drama maps the inexorable march and eventual clash between Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés and Aztec Emperor Moctezuma II, leading to the annihilation of an empire and tragic downfall of a civilization that took centuries to build, but less than two years to destroy. Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men) is set to star and also serve as executive producer. From Amazon Studios and Amblin Television, the limited series is created for television and written by Steven Zaillian (Schindler’s List) and based on the screenplay by Dalton Trumbo (Roman Holiday). Bardem, Bernal and Luna executive produce alongside Zaillian, Kirk Douglas (Spartacus), Grant Hill (The Tree of Life), and co-Presidents of Amblin Television Darryl Frank (The Americans) and Justin Falvey (The Americans).
 
Luna and Bernal recently announced their new production house in Mexico, La Corriente del Golfo, an independent company for cinematic, theatrical, and television productions and a variety of community-oriented projects. As part of the deal with Amazon, Bernal and Luna will create and produce content to premiere on Amazon Prime Video. 
 
“We are delighted and grateful at La Corriente del Golfo for our first look deal with Amazon Studios,” says Bernal. “This provides an opportunity for us and for talent in Latin America to create ambitious and interesting projects.”
 
Luna adds: “This is an important moment for everyone at La Corriente del Golfo. We are very excited to work hand in hand with Amazon, as this will allow us to reach new audiences and to tell stories that represent us and reflect our realities.”
 
“We are incredibly excited to expand Amazon Studios’ relationship with the multitalented team of Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna,” comments Vernon Sanders, Co-Head of Television, Amazon Studios. “Their talent, creativity, and global perspective will undoubtedly result in even more compelling content for our Amazon Prime Video customers.”

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