EXCLUSIVE: Disney+ has boarded Shared Custody, the comedy-drama series that marks Champions maker Javier Fesser‘s first directing gig in TV.
We can reveal that the streamer will launch Shared Custody in January 2025, with filmmaker Fesser (Campeonex, Camino, La Gran Aventura de Mortadelo y Filemón) directing the eight-episode series, which was announced over two years ago and explores what happens when parents separate. Fremantle-backed producer The Immigrant is making the show, which is written and created by Juanjo Moscardó Rius, who created the Goya-nominated A Shitty Therapy, and María Mínguez (Vivir dos Veces).
In Shared Custody, parents Cris and Diego have just separated by mutual agreement. Their intention is to be mature, responsible and friendly adults for the sake of their five-year-old daughter, but neither of them can afford to live alone and take care of her. Cris’ work is very absorbing and Diego does not have a fixed salary, so both are forced to move back to their respective parents’ houses. The grandparents are excited that their children and granddaughter are back in their lives, but things deteriorate rapidly. What began as an amicable separation soon takes a turn when they run into harsh reality.
Lorena López (The Long Shadows, The House) and Ricard Farré (Good Manners, Polònia) play the couple. Also cast are Adriana Ozores (Los Pequeños Amores, Invisibles), Francesc Orella (Merlí, Santa Evita), Aten Soria (Venus), Fernando Sansegundo (Historias Lamentables), Lucía de Gracia, Cristina Alcázar (Galgos, Cardo), Clara de Ramón (Citas Barcelona), Víctor de la Fuente (Reyes de la Noche, Las Noches de Tefía) and Edu Soto (Nacho, Mortadelo y Filemón. Mission: Save the Earth).
Fesser has won seven Goya awards, including Best Film for Champions (Campeones) and for Camino, a film for which he also received Best Director and Best Screenplay gongs. He was also Oscar-nominated for an Oscar for short film Binta and the Big Idea, along with winning a host of other awards.
Fesser said the characters in Shared Custody had attracted him to the TV project. “I saw myself reflected perfectly in their greatness and in their miseries,” he added. “I was moved by their conflicts and laughed out loud with all of them, and I was very attracted to the tone of the proposal. I did not imagine that such a real drama could finally be so funny. How wonderful to do comedy without jokes.”
Sofía Fábregas, Vice President of Original Production at Disney+ Spain, said: “Fesser has a special ability to extract humor from the most unexpected situations and move the audience with his humanity and tenderness. Also, the scripts are brilliant. We have really laughed a lot making it.”
The series marks the first out of Spain for The Immigrant, which is behind films such as the Crystal Bear-winning Adolfo and ViX series Ella Camina Sola and Todo lo que Fuimos, which we first told you about last year. In total, the Latinx producer is in post-production on three series that will premiere this year and next.
“We are very excited that our first series in Spain has the vision of a director like Javier, the authenticity of the pen of Juanjo and María, and the collaboration of the fantastic team at Disney,” said Camila Jiménez and Silvana Aguirre, founders of The Immigrant and producers of the series, in a statement. “The series reflects what we seek as a company: To tell deeply human and universal stories.”