Enrique Urbizu to Direct Max’s Thriller “When Nobody Sees Us,” The Streamer’s First Series Order in Spain

Enrique Urbizu will be living to the Max 

Max has made its first series order in Spain, with the 60-year-old Spanish film director and screenwriter attached to direct the project.

Enrique UrbizuLast year, Max owner Warner Bros Discovery pulled out of production for Max predecessor HBO Max in much of Europe and underwent a period of painful cuts, but Spain was one of the few countries in Europe to avoid the cull.

Max has now greenlit the start of production on When Nobody Sees Us, an eight-part thriller from Zeta Studios and based on the Sergio Sarria novel of the same name.

This also marks the first Spanish production since HBO Max was combined with Discovery+ to create Max.

Daniel Corpas leads the writing team, with the collaboration of Arturo Ruiz and Isa Sanchez.

Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Spanish Holy Week celebrations, the series is a thriller led by two policewomen trying to solve a series of crimes in the Andalusian town of Morón de la Frontera, in the political and cultural region of Seville’s so-called ‘deep Spain,’ which is home to one of the biggest international U.S. military bases.

Lucía Gutiérrez is a sergeant of the Spanish Civil Guard investigating the bizarre suicide of a neighbor and strange events that have taken place during the first Holy Week float processions. Magaly Castillo is a Special Agent of the Military Police of the United States Army sent to find out the whereabouts of a missing American soldier who seems to be linked to the shady business of Colonel Douglas Hoopen, head of the Air Force Base, and an underhanded marine, Lieutenant Andrew Taylor. They soon discover that the two investigations are connected.

“Throughout my professional career I have made several thrillers with different intensity and themes. When Nobody Sees Us is for me a first and exciting incursion into the television serial of detectives and pure investigation,” said director Urbizu, “With two women as our protagonists, Lucia and Magaly, one from the Spanish Civil Guard and the other from the American Military Police, together they share mysteries, dangers and confidences. Both in tone and rhythm, this is a new adventure for me.”

When Nobody Sees Us is a bet for the purest thriller, in which the limits of different frontiers in themes and narrative are explored,” added Executive Producer Miguel Salvat for WBD. “Of course, there is the border between good and evil, but also the clashes between two ways of life, between countries and cultures, and the weight of tradition. We believe that Enrique Urbizu has all the tools to tell this story that will surprise and engage us all, no matter which side of the border we find ourselves on.”

Urbizu to Direct the Pablo Escobar-Themed “Silver or Lead”

It’s silver or lead time for Enrique Urbizu

The 50-year-old Spanish filmmaker will direct the Pablo Escobar-themed film Silver or Lead after Relativity Media acquired the script for the project.

Enrique Urbizu

Silver or Lead centers on the the manhunt for the notorious drug lord. It centers on the private war between Escobar and General Hugo Martinez, whose life rights are part of the deal. In addition, Relativity’s deal includes the life rights to Joe Toft, the former chief of the Bogota office of the Drug Enforcement Agency who was directly involved in the pursuit, capture and death of Escobar.

The film’s name comes from a famous Escobar phrase, “Plata o Plomo.” It’s the choice Escobar reportedly offered the people he encounters: take riches or take a bullet. It’s the choice Martinez faces when he refuses a $6 million bribe by Escobar to call off the manhunt.

Pablo Escobar

Source material for the film comes from author Simon Strong’s award-winning book Whitewash: Pablo Escobar and The Cocaine Wars, which was also acquired by Relativity.

Urbizu,’s previous project, 2011’s crime thriller No Rest For The Wicked, swept the last year’s Goya Awards with a record 14 wins.

Urbizu’s “No Rest for the Wicked” to be Released in the U.S.

Enrique Urbizu is experiencing a triumphant return to moviemaking…

Enrique Urbizu

Tribeca Film has acquired North American rights to the 50-year-old Spanish filmmaker’s award-winning thriller No Rest for the Wicked (No habra paz para los malvados), his first outing behind the camera after an eight-year absence.

Urbizu’s film, which is screening as part of Fantastic Fest in Austin this weekend, was the big winner at this year’s Goya Awards —the Spanish equivalent of the Oscars—capturing six trophies, including Best Film.

No Rest for the Wicked Poster

No Rest for the Wicked centers on a police inspector, Santos Trinidad, who gets involved in a triple murder.  But there’s a witness that manages to escape and could incriminate him. So antos begins an investigation to find and eliminate him. Meanwhile, Judge Chacon, who is investigating the triple murder, goes on looking for the murderer but what seems a simple case of drugs actually is something far more dangerous.

Tribeca Film plans a December release for the film. The release will span multiple platforms, including availability on demand in more than 40 million homes through a variety of video-on-demand offerings, as well as iTunes, Amazon Watch Instantly, VUDU and Xbox.