Sony Pictures Television (SPT) has found its Carlota.
Belinda, the Spanish-born Mexican Latin pop star is poised to topline as the titular “Carlota,” the Empress of Mexico, in SPT’s most ambitious Latin American series to date.
The high-concept project is among the hot picks in the studio’s presentation to LA Screenings attendees on Tuesday, May 20.
Set to start production later in the year, the 10 x 45’ dramatic series is inspired by the true story of Carlota of Habsburg, Mexico’s first and only Empress.
It reimagines a visionary royal ahead of her time, following Carlota’s arrival in Mexico full of idealism and determined to change the world. But as political unrest deepens and cultural tensions rise, she finds herself entangled in a far more complex reality, including a love story that defies fairy-tale expectations. As Carlota and her husband Maximilian attempt to build a new empire, they are drawn into a dangerous web of ambition, loyalty and betrayal.
“To be filmed across Mexico, Colombia and Spain, ‘Carlota’ is a powerful milestone in our journey to establish Sony Pictures Television as a leading entertainment producer in Latin America,” said SPT’s John Rossiter, executive VP, Distribution, Networks & Production, Latin America, adding: “This project underscores our dedication to crafting top tier stories that connect with audiences not only in Latin America but across the globe.”
“It’s a truly international series in scope,” Rossiter told Variety, who conceded that SPT Latin America was spurred by the growing number of large-scale local series currently streaming on the platforms. The company will be tapping the incentives of each territory.
Miguel Angel Silvestre, Mabel Cadena
Courtesy of SPT
Belinda (“Killer Women”) leads a stellar Spanish and Latin American cast that includes Jaime Lorente (“Money Heist”) as Maximiliano , Miguel Ángel Silvestre (“Sense8”) as Alfred Van Der Smissen and Mexico’s Mabel Cadena (“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”) as Josefa.
“Money Heist” director Alejandro Bazzano and Ana Lorena Pérez Ríos (HBO Max’s “Like Water for Chocolate”) are attached to direct the series.
“In addition to the talent and high production values, at its core ‘Carlota’ has an emotional and authentic story which we believe will resonate with Mexican audiences and also have great global appeal,” Rossiter remarked,noting that historical costume dramas tend to do well on streamers.
SPT Latin America’s most recent venture into larger scale production is “Yo No Soy Mendoza,” which debuted last month on Netflix and landed on the streaming giant’s Top 10 Non-English TV Shows list globally and is among the Top 10 in 14 countries across Latin America.
“Yo No Soy Mendoza” follows Julian Garcia, a smooth-talking debt collector who is kidnapped and forced to pose as corrupt casino owner Esteban Mendoza and marry the businessman’s fiancé. Thrust into Mendoza’s dangerous world, Julian must dodge deadly enemies while juggling his old life and new identity. He soon discovers that beneath the chaos, the fight worth having is for something far more personal.
“Our development pipeline is exploding, the challenge is to decide which ones to do first,” said Rossiter, who added that this included unscripted shows.
The “Carlota” production team is led by Coty Cagliolo, SPT’s senior VP & managing director, production, Latin & U.S. Hispanic and Carlos Quintanilla Sakar, VP & head of content and production, LatAm and USH, who serves as executive producer and showrunner, alongside executive producers Alejandro García and Madelaine Contreras.
