James R | On 18, Feb 2019

Netflix has unveiled plans to open a new Mexico City office, alongside 50 new original projects that are either in production or about to enter production.

Netflix has been increasingly investing in talent and productions in the area, with series such as The House of Flowers from Manolo Caro and Oscar contender and BAFTA winner Roma, from Alfonso Cuarón. Ted Sarandos, Netflix Chief Content Officer, met with the creative community to speak to the importance of Mexico in the world of entertainment and their future plans at a special conference called FORO. Diego Luna, Verónica Velasco, Billy Rovzar and Manolo Caro were among the participants of panels.

“The richness of talent in front of and behind the camera in Mexico was key in our decision to begin our local production strategy with Club de Cuervos four years ago. Since then, we have continued to expand our local investment and continue providing a platform for Mexican talent to be recognized around the world,” Sarandos told attendees.

He confirmed four local films in different stages of development that will be added to Netflix’s slate over the next two years. The projects include Como caído del cielo, a musical comedy inspired by the songs of Mexican legend Pedro Infante, starring Omar Chaparro (Overboard, No Manches Frida, La Boda de Valentina) and Ana Claudia Talancón (Perfectos Desconocidos, El Recluso, El crimen del padre Amaro), written and directed by Pepe Bojórquez (Más sabe el diablo por viejo); Fondeados, the directorial and writing debut of Marcos Bucay (Club de Cuervos; Yo, Potro); Se busca papá, a family film produced by Corazón Films; and Ahí te encargo, a modern take on a romantic comedy, written by Tiaré Scanda and Leonardo Zimbrón, and produced by Traziende Films.

Rio Grande, Rio Bravo, a project that includes five documentary shorts executive produced by Gael García Bernal, with producers Elena Fortes and Daniela Alatorre of No Ficción, will feature directors such as Trisha Ziff, Juan Carlos Rulfo and Everardo González, telling human stories that take place on the US-Mexico border. Other documentaries will premiere before the end of the year covering historical events, crime, sports and gastronomy.

Several new projects will also be added to the slate of Mexican original series, among them Los corruptores, based on the novel of the same name by Jorge Zepeda Patterson, and the young adult series Sofía H., both produced by Lemon Films; Bandidos, produced by Leonardo Zimbrón and created by Alejandro Brugués and Esteban Orozco; El Club, which is already in production, produced by Argos Comunicación, created by Camila Ibarra and starring Alejandro Speitzer, Minnie West, Jorge Caballero, Axel Arenas and Arcelia Ramírez; and an untitled thriller, produced by The Immigrant with Camila Jiménez and Silvana Aguirre as executive producers.

Previously-announced projects that will go into production this year also include Selena: the series, based on the life of Selena Quintanilla and produced by Campanario; the second season of The House of Flowers; and American Jesus, based on the graphic novel from Mark Millar and produced by brothers Leopoldo and Everardo Gout. Following the success of their first stand-up comedy specials on Netflix, Franco Escamilla and Daniel Sosa will also return with new specials this year.

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