Buendía Estudios Drives Into Latin America, Confirms More Details on Laura Esquivel’s ‘Swift as Desire’ (EXCLUSIVE)
John Hopewell Chief International CorrespondentThe biggest product in Spain of the M&A boom which looks set to power much future entertainment growth in Europe, Buendía Estudios, a joint venture of Telefonica’s Movistar Plus and Atresmedia, is fast driving into second-phase expansion in Latin America.In one move last November, Buendía tapped former Telemundo Global Studios exec Ana Paula Valdovinos as director of production and development for Latin America and U.S. Hispanic.Valdovinos will be based out of Mexico, Latin America’s “nerve and talent center,” she said, as the country also accounts for approximately 70% of the 70 million Latinx population in the U.S.In another development, Buendía has confirmed to Variety further details on its first Latin America project, “Swift as Desire,” Billed as a fantasy romantic drama, the series “Swift as Desire” is structured as a six-part, 50-minute adaptation of a hallmark novel by Mexico’s Laura Esquivel, published in 2001.Head writers are Esquivel herself and Marcela Fuentes Beraín (“El diario de Daniela”).Buendía Estudios’ editorial director of series Sonia Martínez – an executive producer on “Money Heist,” “Veneno” and now “Cardo” – also serves as executive producer on “Swift as Desire.”Narrated in two timelines, the series tells the life of Júbilo, born with a special gift of communication.