Álvaro Díaz Lorenzo’s “La lista de los deseos” Getting an English-Language Remake

Álvaro Díaz Lorenzo’s hit film is getting an English-language remake.

Abby Kohn and Marc Silverstein will write and direct Big Pink, a re-do of the 46-year-old Spanish filmmaker’s Spanish dramedy La lista de los deseos for Monarch Media.

 

Like the original 2020 film written and directed by Díaz Lorenzo, the remake will be a heartwarming and funny tale about a group of women from different generations who, after completing treatment for breast cancer, go on a road trip adventure and learn to live life to the fullest.

Steve Barnett and Alan Powell will produce through their Monarch Media shingle, with their Monarch partner Vicky Patel exec producing.

“I’ve known Abby and Marc personally for a very long time and could not be more excited to be working with them on ‘Big Pink,’” said Barnett. “As filmmakers, their ability to balance sophisticated humor with a depth of emotions is the perfect fit for the film’s special subject matter.”

María León, Silvia Alonso and Victoria Abril star in the original film.

Nacho Vigalondo’s Superhero Comedy Series “El Vecino” Among Five New Netflix Spanish Originals

Nacho Vigalondo is neighboring his way onto a new Netflixproject…

The 41-year-old Spanish filmmaker will direct the Spanish superhero comedy series El Vecino, based on the graphic novels by Santiago Garcia and Pepo Perez

Nacho Vigalondo

It’s one of five new projects announced by Netflix, as the company continues its investment in Spanish originals.

The five new projects which will launch on the service worldwide in 2020. 

El Vecino

Elite‘s co-creator, Carlos Montero, has a new project in the works for NetflixEl Desorden Que Dejas is a psychological drama based on Montero’s own award-winning novel.

There are two female-centered series to come including dramedy Valeria based on the novels by Elísabet Benavent, and Días De Navidad starring Fortitude‘s Verónica EcheguiLas Chicas Del Cable‘s Anna Molinerand High Heels‘ Victoria Abril.

The fifth project is an anime adaptation of the best-selling novel Memorias De Idhun by Laura Gallego and produced by Endemol Shine’s Zeppelin

Netflix’s Vice President Original Series, Francisco Ramos, noted the “meaningful investment in the Spanish market” via the new projects and said the plan is to continue not only with series, but also movies, documentaries and unscripted.

In addition, Netflix is also in production on new seasons for hits La Casa De PapelLas Chicas Del Cable and Elite as well as new shows HacheAlta Marand Criminal.

Here’s a closer look at the new Spanish originals:

– El Vecino: Javier’s life is not going well. The last thing he needs is for an alien to land on him and transfer its powers before dying. Now Javier is a superhero, but it turns out super powers are useless when you get fired from your job or your girlfriend decides she wants to take a break. Fortunately, Javier’s friend and neighbor José will teach him to use his powers for good and hide his secret identity, especially from his girlfriend who’s now investigating Titan, the mysterious superhero.

Director: Nacho Vigalondo; Showrunners: Carlos de Pando, Sara Antuña; Writers: Miguel Esteban and Raúl Navarro; Executive producers: Nahikari Ipiña, Eneko Gutiérrez; Production company: Zeta Audiovisual; Main cast: Quim Gutiérrez, Clara Lago, Catalina Sopelana and Adrián Pino

– El Desorden Que Dejas: Aiming to give her marriage a second chance, young literature teacher Raquel accepts a position in the town where her husband grew up. She soon learns that another teacher committed suicide, possibly bullied by her very own students, and begins a quest to find the truth in a place where everybody seems to have secrets.

Writer/Creator: Carlos Montero, based on his novel published by Planeta

– Días de Navidad: Showcases the Christmas celebration of four sisters in their family home through three different time periods, which are also three key moments in their lives. Family dynamics, secrets and personal confrontations will be seen from different perspectives through the lens of time.

Creator/Director: Pau Freixas; Writers: Pau Freixas, Clara Esparrach; Production company: Filmax (Arca Audiovisual); Main cast: Verónica Echegui, Anna Moliner, Nerea Barros, Victoria Abril, Verónica Forqué, Charo López, Ángela Molina and Elena Anaya

– Valeria: Valeria is a writer in crisis, both with her novels and her emotionally distant husband. But she finds solace in her three best friends who support her through her journey.

Writers: María López Castaño, Aurora Gracià, Almudena Ocaña, Fernanda Eguiarte; Creator: María López Castaño based on the novels by Elísabet Benavent; Creative consultant: Elísabet Benavent; Production company: Plano a Plano

– Memorias De Idhún: On the day of the astral conjunction of three suns and moons in Idhun, Ashran the Necromancer gathered all the power and began the kingdom of terror of the winged snakes. On Earth, Jack and Victoria fight a battle for Idhun’s freedom. But the heroes still don’t know the design of a prophecy that will intertwine their fates.

Director: Maite Ruiz de Austri; Executive producers: Pilar Blasco, Alexis Barroso; Writers: Laura Gallego, Andrés Carrión; Production company: Zeppelin

Almodóvar to Serve as Jury President at This Year’s Cannes Film Festival

Pedro Almodóvar is taking a special role at this year’s Cannes Film Festival

The 67-year-old Spanish film director, screenwriter, producer has been named the next President of the Jury for the 70th edition of the festival in May.

Pedro Almodovar

“I am very happy to be able to celebrate Cannes Film Festival[‘s] 70th anniversary from such a privileged position,” said Almodóvar in a statement. “I am grateful, honoured and bit overwhelmed. I am aware of the responsibility that entails being the president of the jury and I hope to be up to the job. I can only tell that I’ll devote myself, body and soul to this task, that it is both a privilege and a pleasure.”

Almodóvar has a film career that spans across 35 years and his 20 films range from From Pepi, Luci, Born to La Mancha to last year’s Julieta

He’s worked with a range of actors including Penélope Cruz, Marisa Paredes, Antonio Banderas, Rossy de Palma, Javier Bardem, Javier Cámara, Carmen Maura and Victoria Abril.

Five of his films – All About My Mother, Volver, Broken EmbracesThe Skin I Live In and Julieta – have been selected In Competition in Cannes. Bad Education opened the fest in 2004 while the director himself featured on the poster of the 60th festival.

“For its 70th edition, the Festival de Cannes is delighted to welcome a unique and hugely popular artist,” said the President of the Festival, Pierre Lescure and Delegate-General Thierry Frémaux. “A long and loyal friendship binds Pedor Almodóvar to the festival, where he was member of the jury under the presidency of Gérard Depardieu.”

The Cannes Film Festival runs May 17-28.