- Upcoming series Los Enviados and Outlaw are the first projects under a deal between Viacom and 100 Bares, Campanella’s label;
- The news comes right after Viacom and Colombia’s Dynamo announced a partnership to develop content for global audiences;
- Viacom CBS is stepping up its presence in the region also by bringing its free streaming platform Pluto TV.
Argentine Academy Award winner director Juan José Campanella partnered with ViacomCBS International Studios (VIS) to direct two upcoming series, Los Enviados and Outlaw. Both shows, announced during a press event held virtually this Friday, are the first projects under a deal by which VIS and 100 Bares, Campanella’s label, are producing content together. No launch dates have been revealed yet.
Outlaw is the second in line, but its synopsis is really enticing: it will be a reboot of Zorro’s story. “Zorro is the hero of my life, as he must be for almost all Latin Americans. But few people know that the character is based on a real person, Joaquín Murrieta, who was probably considered the first terrorist in the United States,” Campanella said.
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The idea for Outlaw is to tell Murrieta’s story, which coincides with the annexation of California, previously a Mexican territory, by the U.S. in the 1850s, in a realistic way and stick it to real facts.
Already in production, Los Enviados follows the story of two priests on a mission to verify alleged miracles. Their lives, as well as their faith, are pushed to the limit when they discover a psychiatric community on the outskirts of a small town in the Yucatan peninsula, in Mexico, who are hiding secrets about a missing healer.
Oscar-nominated and awarded
Campanella’s credits include the 2001 comedy Son of the Bride, nominated for a best foreign-language Oscar, which Campanella would eventually win in 2010 with The Secret in Their Eyes. He also directed worldwide hits such as episodes of House, Colony and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, as well as produced the animated series Mini Beat Power Rockers.
“Every year, there is an increasing demand for original content on a global scale, and our studio has become one of the leading producers, teaming up with the best strategic partners,” said Federico Cuervo, senior vice president and head of VIS Americas. “We are very excited to announce the development of this series, our first project with the renowned Juan Jose Campanella.”
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Eyes on Latin America
The news comes a few days after Viacom CBS and Colombia’s Dynamo announced a partnership to develop and produce original content for global audiences. Viacom CBS has been increasing its presence in Latin America lately. After buying Argentinian network Telefe and Brazilian comedy production firm Porta dos Fundos in 2017, the media giant brought Pluto TV, its free ad-based streaming platform to 17 Latin American countries last April. Brazil will also receive the service later this year.
