Mediapro’s fledgling North American studio unveiled a raft of new movies, series, docs and formats in a news-packed MIPCOM keynote this morning. John Turturro delivered a video address and spoke about his adaptation of Is There No Place on Earth for Me? as the Spanish media giant made a series of statement announcements.
Having unveiled Mediapro North America six months ago, CEO Laura Espeso introduced the session. JC Acosta, Head of the Mediapro Studio U.S. & Canada, proceeded to unveil the LA, New York and Miami-based North American division of the Spanish company.
For Espeso, the move is more than just a push into another market. “It has the potential to resonate globally, influencing cultures and trends worldwide,” she told Deadline’s Stewart Clarke on stage at MIPCOM. “There is no way we will miss this opportunity. We have been working on this for the past 10 years.”
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Acosta said Mediapro is “writing a new chapter in the U.S. and Canada, doubling down on English language content.”
“This expansion is not just about a new office, It’s a strategic move to establish, plant roots, a permanent presence, in the U.S. and global entertainment industry,” he said.
Starry projects
Turturro sent a pre-recorded message to talk about Is There No Place on Earth for Me?, an adaption of Susan Sheehan’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book that he writes, stars in and directs. The project dives deep into the brilliant mind of Sylvia Frumkin, played by Shira Haas, a woman trapped in the grip of schizophrenia as her family struggles to navigate the mental health system during a New York City blackout.
In his message, Turturro, whose brother had schizophrenia, said he has “resisted doing these films but once I read the book I was enthused.” He described it as a “black comic rollercoaster adventure, full of hopes, dreams and a yearning for home.”
On the features front, Melissa Leo (The Fighter) stars in and produces Mother Wolf, about a retired grandmother who unexpectedly becomes the caretaker of her ragtag brood of grandchildren. Suzi Yoonessi directs. Matt Walsh (Veep), Arian Moyaed (Succession), Kat Cunning (Marry Me, The Deuce) and Mary Stuart Masterson (Five Nights at Freddy’s, Fried Green Tomatoes) also star. “We stand on the shoulders of Mediapro history,” said Acosta. “We love an iconic female lead.”
Evan Katz (24) was on hand to talk about Witness 36, the cat and mouse thriller he wrote. Witness 36 was developed by Yosi, the Regretful Spy creator Daniel Burman and follows a woman who creates identities for an international witness protection program. “It’s a fantastic premise,” said Katz. “It’s rare in that it feels like it’s something we’ve never seen before.”
Juan José Campanella – an Academy Award Winner for The Secret in Their Eyes – was also on stage to talk about the English language series adaptation of his critically acclaimed Argentine film Son of the Bride, which was Oscar-nominated for Best Foreign Language Feature. He will write and direct. “The kind of human comedy I like to watch is very scarce,” Campanella said.
Another series is Screaming Ball of Chaos. Billed as a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde, it centers on a chaos-loving woman with a dark past, who enlists a male stripper for a bank robbing spree. It is the latest scripted series from Juliet McDaniel, whose last book, Mr. and Mrs. American Pie became the Apple TV+ hit, Palm Royale.
There was also half-hour comedy I Love the Prime Minister, following Amanda, a single female Canadian Prime Minister, as she juggles the pressures of leadership with the challenges of modern dating. Created by Ran Tellem and Matt Hastings (The Handmaid’s Tale, Shadowhunters) is showrunner and the writer is Tina Hastings (Fallen).
It wasn’t all fiction for Mediapro. True crime doc Hollywood Homicide: Robert Blake explores the life and controversies surrounding the famed actor of the title, who went from starring in iconic films and TV including In Cold Blood and Barreta, to being accused of the 2001 murder of his wife Bonny Lee Bakley.
On the unscripted side, the new studio said it will bring long-running Spanish gameshow format Catch Me If You Can to the Spanish market. More than 10,000 eps of the show have aired in Spain and unscripted boss Pam Healey will now take it out to U.S. buyers. Anthony Carbone, executive producer and showrunner of global hit game show The Floor will adapt the format for the U.S.
It was fitting that Mediapro went big with Spain named the MIPCOM country of honor at this week’s Cannes confab. Others to have addressed proceedings include Sony Pictures Entertainment’s Tony Vinciquerra and