Red Arrow International and leading Spanish indie producer-distributor Vértice360 have taken a co-production stake in real-life inspired series project “Lucio’s Treasure,” set up at Barcelona-based Friki Films.<\/p>\n
Also handling international sales rights, Red Arrow co-produces the project. An English-language shoot is scheduled by 2025.<\/p>\n
The project has been selected to feature at the next edition of MIA’s drama co-production market and pitching forum, which takes place in Rome Oct. 9-13.<\/p>\n
The six-episode, one-hour drama, created by brothers Hugo and Roger Menduiña, is produced by Friki’s CEO Ana Manresa and Alberto Rull, Vertice EVP production and content.<\/p>\n
The U.K.’s Anthony Alleyne (“Sunburn”) has joined the series as co-creator, writer and executive co-producer. <\/p>\n
“This is an ambitious series, both creatively and in terms of budget. We are building a world-class co-production with an international cast and creative team with great appeal for global audiences,” Rull told Variety<\/em>.<\/p>\n “Our references are big international co-productions such as ‘The Night manager’ and ‘The Little Drummer Girl,’ he added.<\/p>\n “Lucio’s Treasure” will tell the true-life story of Lucio Urtubia, a man who nearly bankrupted Citibank of America in the 1980s and got away with it. <\/p>\n A modest Spanish bricklayer living in Paris, under Lucio’s harmless appearance lay the brains behind the largest network of traveller’s check counterfeiters that endangered Citibank’s financial stability.<\/p>\n “When the project came to us, we fell in love with the character, a modern-day Robin Hood who, despite having put the largest bank in the world against the wall, very few people knew his story,” Rull said.<\/p>\n “We understood that it could become a great international series. It has all the necessary elements for it: the action takes place in Paris at the beginning of the ‘80s, the CIA, Scotland Yard and high-profile French personalities participate in the investigation and the protagonist is a Spanish exile and anarchist,” explained.<\/p>\n Once Red Arrow has entered as the series’ co-producer and distributor, the producers are looking for a European or American co-producer to complement project financing, as well as rights’ pre-purchase by platforms and TV networks, Rull added. <\/p>\n Vértice360 is the relaunched content division of Squirrel Media group, a fast-growing Madrid-based conglom, led by Spanish entrepreneur Pablo Pereiro Lage. <\/p>\nRead More About:<\/h4>\n