It is the first scripted series as part of the strategic alliance between TelevisaUnivision and The Mediapro Studio to develop content.
ViX+ and The Mediapro Studio today released the first look at Las Pelotaris 1926, a drama inspired by the story of Spain’s first female professional athletes and the challenges they faced to stand out in an era and world dominated by men.
Las Pelotaris 1926 is the first scripted series as part of the strategic alliance between TelevisaUnivision and The Mediapro Studio to develop content and one of the most anticipated original productions ahead of its exclusive premiere on ViX+ in 2023.
The international cast of Las Pelotaris 1926 is led by the Mexican actress Zuria Vega (Mi marido tiene familia [My Husband Got a Family], La venganza de las Juanas [The Revenge of the Juanas], ¿Y cómo es él? [And How Is He?], El refugio [The Refuge]) and the Spanish actresses Claudia Salas (La ruta [The Route], Élite, La peste [The Plague], Cerdita [Piggy]) and María de Nati (El buen patrón [The Good Boss], El reino [The Kingdom], Que Dios nos perdone [May God Forgive Us], Entrevías [Wrong Side of The Tracks], and La víctima número 8 [Victim Number 8]). The main cast also features the Argentine actor David Chocarro (La casa de al lado [The House Next Door], El rostro de la venganza [Facing Destiny], En otra piel [Part of Me], La Doña [The Lady] and the Mexican actors Marco de la O(Rambo: Last Blood, El Chapo, Falsa identidad [False Identity]), Vicente Tamayo (Luis Miguel, la serie), Héctor Kotsifakis (Me gusta…pero me asusta [I Like It but It Scares Me], Gringo: se busca vivo o muerto [Gringo: Wanted Dead or Alive]; Narcos: México and Enemigo íntimo [Close Enemy]) and Antonio Gaona (Palabra de ladrón [Thief’s Word], Educando a Nina [Raising Nina], Rosario Tijeras).
Filmed in Mexico and Spain, the original production was created by Marc Cistaré (Vis a Vis, El barco [The Boat], La víctima número 8) and is executive produced by Laura Fernández Espeso, Javier Pons and Cistaré, on behalf of The Mediapro Studio. Marc Cistaré also leads the screenwriting team comprised of Adriana Rivas (Vis a Vis, Estoy vivo [I’m Alive], Águila Roja [Red Eagle]), Javier Naya (El barco [The Boat], Rabia [Rage]) and Anaí López(XY, Bienvenida realidad [Welcome Reality], Infames [Infamous]). Jesús Rodrigo (Vis a Vis, El internado [The Boarding School], Estoy vivo [I’m Alive], Un paso adelante [One Step Ahead]) directs the eight episodes, with Chechu Graf (Toc, Toc, Campeones [Champions], La víctima número 8 [Victim Number 8] as director of photography and Fernando González (La casa de papel [Money Heist], Águila Roja [Red Eagle] as art director. The female cast also includes the Colombian actress Viviana Serna (Narcos: Mexico, El señor de los cielos [El señor de los cielos]) and the Spanish actors Alex Onieva (Alta mar [High Seas], Presunto culpable [Presumed Guilty], El secreto de puente viejo [The Old Bridge Secret], Krista Aroca (HIT) and Eva Rubio (El buen patrón [The Good Boss]).
In the teaser, we see the main characters Chelo, Idoia and Itzi, struggling to achieve their dreams in the 1920s, in a male-dominated society. The three of them are famous Basque pelota players and successful sportswomen who fill the stadiums but assume the consequences of breaking the mold in a world where ambition and sexual freedom were denied to women.
After shooting in Mexico, the crew of Las Pelotaris 1926 moved to Spain to film on locations in Madrid, Guadalajara and the Basque Country. The production selected the most diverse locations in the Basque Country, the birthplace of the Basque pelota game, including the Hotel Londres and La Concha Beach in San Sebastian, the Plaza Berri court in Biarritz and the streets of towns like Artikutza and Pasaia. Also noteworthy are the locations in Mexico, such as the iconic Zócalo in the capital and the Gran Hotel Ciudad de México, the magical town of Tepoztlán and the paradisiacal enclave of Las Estacas.
Las Pelotaris 1926 will premiere exclusively on ViX+, the premium subscription tier of the ViX streaming service that offers subscribers more than 10,000 hours of premium content, including more than 70 original series and movies, to be released in the first year.
