Spanish pay TV and streaming leader Movistar Plus is pushing forward with a refreshed slate of original series, focusing on millennial comedies, socially charged thrillers, and co-productions. Under chief executive officer Alfonso Gómez Palacio and contents director Juan Andrés García Romero, the platform is actively building out programming aimed at younger viewers while continuing its partnerships with established local creators.
The push comes after the company announced plans in early July to double its yearly Spanish original series output from eight to 16 productions. Movistar Plus credited the strategic decision to user metrics, noting that its proprietary original shows generate higher customer acquisition and stronger audience engagement.
Featured Movistar Plus Original Titles
| Series Title | Key Creative Talent | Genre / Focus | Production Partner / Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Many People Need to Die | Victoria Martín | Millennial comedy | Renewed for Season 2 |
| Killing a Bear | Jorge and Alberto Sánchez-Cabezudo; stars Eduard Fernández | High Pyrenees social conflict mystery | Arte France co-production |
| The Castle | Isabel Peña | Fact-inspired police procedural | New series debut |
| Celeste | Diego San José | Tax fraud inspector drama | Season 2 with The Mediapro Studio |
Appealing to Younger Demographics With Millennial Comedy
A centerpiece of the platform's young-adult programming strategy is "Many People Need to Die," a series debut created by YouTube and podcast comedian Victoria Martín. The show, which takes a sharp, satirical look at millennial angst, has quickly established itself as a major driver for new subscribers and overall viewership.
Following its reception, contents director García Romero confirmed that Movistar Plus has already commissioned a second season. The early renewal highlights the platform's intention to tap directly into digital-native creators to bring fresh comedic voices to standard subscription television.
Expanding Prestige Co-Productions and Crime Thrillers
Beyond comedy, Movistar Plus is continuing its collaboration with international broadcast partners. Among its prominent titles featured at Mipcom is "Killing a Bear," an investigative drama starring Eduard Fernández and shot in Catalonia's Aran Valley. Created by Jorge and Alberto Sánchez-Cabezudo ("Crematorium," "The Zone"), the series examines real-life social tensions in the high Pyrenees through the lens of a wild bear murder mystery. The procedural marks the fourth direct co-production between Movistar Plus and Arte France.
Other notable drama projects include the television debut of Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s frequent writing collaborator Isabel Peña as a series co-creator on "The Castle." Inspired by actual events, "The Castle" centers on a young police inspector who spends years investigating and attempting to bring down a prostitution kingpin. Peña's new drama joins a broader thematic thread alongside "Killing a Bear" and the returning series "Celeste," subverting conventional procedural tropes while keeping genre tension intact.
Creative Freedom and International Industry Momentum
The broadcaster's creative strategy has been closely tied to giving Spanish writers and directors significant leeway. Diego San José, creator of "Celeste"—which is returning for a Season 2 co-produced with The Mediapro Studio—noted that the platform avoided turning the series into a gag-heavy, broad comedy, instead encouraging a more nuanced approach with light and shade.
This auteur-driven model has coincided with consistent critical recognition on the global circuit. Since 2025, Movistar Plus original series "Querer" and "Celeste" secured the top two prizes at the Series Mania festival. The company's originals have also made an impact in the awards space, including two Oscar nominations for "Sirāt," festival recognition for Cannes title "La Bola Negra," and recent International Emmy nominations for Alberto Rodríguez's "The Anatomy of a Moment" and actor Javier Cámara for "Jakarta."
As Movistar Plus integrates new series like "The Castle" and "Killing a Bear" into its production pipeline, the company continues balancing mainstream entertainment with serious social issues ahead of its planned output expansion.
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Source: Variety
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