It is an ‘exciting time’ for Legendary Global (USA) that has been in the international business just over two years and it is building good momentum as well as cultivating robust relationships. The company launches in Cannes the Spanish thriller Tú También Lo Harías(8x’30).
Interviewed by Prensario, Anne Thomopoulos, Partner, Legendary Globalconfirmed that the goal is to ‘continue growing our business by working with strong, distinctive in-territory talent’. You Would Do It Tooor Tú También Lo Haríasis a very stimulating project for the Studio and is the first series produced through its Madrid-based joint venture, ESpotlight for Disney+.
‘ESpotlight Principle, Anxo Rodriguez is an agent and producer and his relationships have helped us jump into the Spanish market with terrific talents like writer Jordi Vallejo(The Innocent) and writer/directorDavid Victori(Sky Rojo) behind the camera and the talent they attract in front of the camera’, added Thomopoulos
Tú También Lo Haríasshows an armed robbery taking place on a bus outside of Barcelona. As a result, there are three dead robbers, one wanted person and six witnesses unable to identify the fugitive. Police officers Fran Garza and his coworker and ex-partner Rebeca Quirós suspect that the witnesses are not telling the truth. They claim not to have seen the murderer’s face, but everything indicates that they have made a pact of silence to protect the fugitive. The case soon goes viral and public opinion is positioned in favor of the fugitive using the hashtag: #YouWouldDoItToo.
The series is starred by Pablo Molinero (Movistar+’s The Plague), Ana Polvorosa (Netflix’s Cable Girls), Michelle Jenner (Atresmedia’ The Cook of Castamar),José Manuel Poga (Netflix’ Money Heist), Paco Tous (Atresmedia’sPaco’s Men), Elena Irureta (HBO’s Patria), and Ana Wagener (El reino), with the special collaboration of Chechu Salgado (The Laws of the Border).
Legendary’s Spanish unit has several other projects gearing up for production, which will be revealed the next year. The executive continued: ‘We are also currently in the market with Vanda(8x’60) Portuguese and Spanish co-pro that we are very pleased with. It’s a thrilling character piece based on an incredible true story and has sold very well to premium streamers, which I think is an indication of the level of talent we were fortunate to work with’.
In Mexico, Legendary is working with talents like Leopoldo and Everardo Gout and companies like Talipot, while it also has a mini-series set up with Globo in Brazil. ‘We are currently focusing on the larger territories and also have a joint venture in the UK with writer/producers Emma Frost and Matthew Graham. In Germany, we have just launched another joint venture with Tobis Films’.
And Thomopoulos concluded: ‘The most important thing for Legendary is that we work with strong in-territory talent so that we enter those markets as authentically and respectfully as possible. We are definitely interested in expanding, but want to do so thoughtfully’.
