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‘La Bola Negra’ Producer Movistar Plus Unveils Projects from ‘The Good Boss’ Director Fernando León, J.A. Bayona, Los Moriarti
Confirmed
In Short: The Spanish streaming giant announced plans to release one new Spanish film each week in 2027, alongside high-profile projects from directors like Fernando León de Aranoa and J.A. Bayona.
At the San Sebastián Film Festival, Movistar Plus unveiled its ambitious content slate for 2027, including plans to release one new Spanish film every week throughout the year.
The announcement was made by Movistar Plus CEO Alfonso Gómez Palacio, who emphasized the company's commitment to supporting the Spanish film industry.
Among the projects highlighted were two new films executive-produced by J.A. Bayona and a comedy series from Fernando León de Aranoa, the director of 'The Good Boss.
In addition to these films, Movistar Plus also announced a series titled 'La Náufraga,' created, written, and directed by Fernando León de Aranoa.
The company also revealed plans to produce a series from the Moriartis, with Anna Castillo, Pol López, and Eduard Fernández attached to star.
These announcements come on the heels of the success of 'La Bola Negra,' a gay epic by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, which won the People's Choice award at the Toronto Film Festival.
Gómez Palacio stated, 'We want Movistar Plus to be the most relevant platform for our clients and Spain’s audiovisual industry.
Juan Andrés García Romero, Movistar Plus director of contents, added, 'The Spanish film industry is experiencing an extraordinary moment, and we believe Movistar Plus has a responsibility to contribute to its continued growth.
What this adds
Movistar Plus previously announced plans to double its annual number of Spanish original series from eight to 16.
The company's new slate marks the first under new CEO Alfonso Gómez Palacio, who took office in May.
Background
La bola negra, also known as The Black Ball, is a 2026 drama film directed by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, from a screenplay they co-wrote with Alberto Conejero.
The Good Boss is a 2021 Spanish black comedy-drama film directed and written by Fernando León de Aranoa and starring Javier Bardem. A corporate satire, the plot tracks a charismatic and manipulative factory owner (Bardem) meddling in the lives of his employees.
What's confirmed
- “The Spanish film industry is experiencing an extraordinary moment, and we believe Movistar Plus has a responsibility to contribute to its continued growth,” Ropero said.
What's still developing
- Other standout projects announced by the streamer today include A Family Visit, directed by Sandra Romero ( As Silence Passes By ), 250 Meters, directed by Daniel Monzón ( Outlaws ), and a series from the Moriartis, produced by Carles Porta, with Anna Castillo, Pol López, and Eduard Fernández attached to star.
- Last year, “Hamnet” filmmaker Chloé Zhao became the first director to win the award twice.
- “She died doing something she loved. She was filming when she was hit,” the director said, fighting back tears.
- La Bola Negra became the subject of a competitive bidding war following its world premiere in Cannes, where Los Javis were awarded the fest’s best director prize for the film in a tie with Paweł Pawlikowski for Fatherland.
- The first runner-up is The Spiral, from director Paolo Strippoli, and the second runner-up is Sabu’s Arrested Memory.
- The first runner-up in the category is James Marcus Haney’s Black Sunflowers, and the second runner-up is The Ultra Runner from director Mila Aung-Thwin.
- Elsewhere, the competitive Platform prize went to director Theja Rio for Angh, set in a deserted Nagaland village in remote India and in the early 1960s, and the best Canadian feature film prize was picked up by Serville Poblete for Sunburn, a hang-out movie set in St.
- Added to an earlier announcement in July, where Movistar Plus committed to doubling its annual number of Spanish original series from eight to 16, the new strategy unveil reconfirms its aim to step up and broaden Spanish film-TV production, co-production and acquisitions.
- Ir stars Belén Cuesta, just seen at San Sebastián in “5 More Minutes.” *JA Bayona will executive produce two new non-fiction projects.
- *Daniel Monzón is set to direct “250 Metros,” a Movistar Plus original film produced with Edmon Roch’s Ikiru Films and Basoilarraren, starring Luis Tosar and written by longtime Monzón and Alex de la Iglesia co-scribe Jorge Guerricaechevarría.
- *Another Movistar Plus original, the movie “Una visita familiar,” is set to be produced by Mammut, Icónica Producciones and Bteam Prods, and directed by Sandra Romero, also a helmer on “Many People Need to Die,” Movistar Plus’ biggest Spanish series of 2026.
- *Co-creator, co-writer, director and star of “Arde Madrid,” one of the biggest breakouts in Movistar Plus’ now 10 years of productions, Paco León, famed for his performances in “Aida” and “The House of Flowers,” is described as having “a project” set up in development at Movistar Plus.