RTL Hungary boarded the broadcaster line-up for the premium thriller, led by Plano a Plano in co-production with Dopamine.
The official poster and the first-look trailer for the highly anticipated drama series, Scar, the adaptation of Juan Gómez-Jurado’s bestseller, written by the screenwriters of La Casa de Papel, Vis a Vis and Toy Boy, were revealed today at Series Mania (Lille).
The event was attended by the stars of the series: Serbian actress Milena Radulovic (Besa, Superdeep) and Spanish actor Juanlu González (Valeria, La Caza, Guadiana).
The showcase, sponsored by ICEX, was attended by Álvaro Benítez (Partner and Executive Producer, Plano a Plano), María García-Castrillón (Chief of Co-productions, Dopamine), Aleksandra Martinovic (Director of Multimedia Division, Telekom Srbija), Marina Williams (Chief Content Officer, Asacha Media Group) and Marija Vicic (Executive Director of Adrenalin), who discussed the process of making this ambitious co-production which is currently in post-production.
Confirmed broadcasters already include RTVE, Prime Video in Spain, Telekom Srbija and Canal+ Poland and it was also announced today that a new broadcast partner, CLT-UFA S.A. Hungarian Broadcasting Division, has also boarded the project thanks to Plano’s project partner Asacha Media Group.
The conversation, led by journalist Rodrigo Ros (Editor-in-Chief de TTVNews), focused on the uniqueness of this co-production, which transcends borders and establishes a pioneering collaboration between Spain, Serbia, Poland and Hungary. Attendees had the opportunity to immerse themselves in the ins and outs of how the adaptation of this successful IP was conceived, addressing the challenges overcome and the key aspects that have made it possible to bring to the screen a story capable of connecting with audiences in such diverse territories.
Álvaro Benítez, Partner and Executive Producer at Plano a Plano said: “for us, this project shows that a great story can cross borders and allows us to build unique co-production models with territories never before explored for Spanish fiction”. The executive added that “it has also been enriching to work with the different commissioners to bring the story even closer to their audiences, in addition to having a great combination of Spanish, Serbian and Polish talent in front of and behind the cameras”.
María García-Castrillón, Chief of Co-Productions of Dopamine, told “It is very gratifying to see the result of years of work on the screen. This has been a project that has gone through many twists and turns until finding the correct formula that has made it a reality, and I believe that without the teamwork of so many fellow travelers, it would have been impossible. I hope that now the public enjoys it as much as we have done in its creation”.
Scar has been supported in the search for funding for the project by the pan-European production studio Asacha Media Group. Marina Williams, Chief Content Officer, defined Scar as “a unique project illustrating how diversity of nationalities and talent can come together and bring excellent quality narrative to screen. CLT-UFA S.A. Hungarian Broadcasting Division deal further illustrates the demand for this type of shows by both linear TV and streamers”.
Marija Vicic, Executive Director of Adrenalin, the Serbian production company behind titles such as Besa, which was responsible for the production service of Scar in Serbia, explained the changes made to the script from the original novel to bring the series closer to the Balkan audience: “After initial discussion with Plano a Plano and Asacha, reading the exciting novel from Jurado, that is also popular in Serbia, we found a natural and compelling way to adapt one important part of a storyline and place it in Serbia. Scar is a hero’s journey of two different characters and for “Irina” one important moment on her journey are the events that take place in Serbia. Therefore, filming in Serbia became a pivotal stop in Irina’s narrative, adding depth and authenticity to her character’s development”.
This ground-breaking production paves the way for other similar collaborations in the future and highlights the need for such pan-European co-productions to continue to find new creative and business formulas.
In the words of Esther Agraso, director of the International Area of Plano a Plano: “It’s been months of hard work, adjusting to the needs of all the partners involved in this production and we trust that the reception by all the markets in which we will present Scar will not leave the public indifferent. Our next step will now be to present the series at Iberseries and at Mipcom.”
Aleksandra Martinovic, Director of Multimedia Division of Telekom Srbija, has stated: “Serbia as a filming destination and Telekom Srbija as a company are leaders in the CEE region when it comes to film production. Telekom Srbija started a new wave with a clear vision and plan, investing in content and completely reviving the industry, bringing Serbia into focus. I am confident that Scar will give the rest of the world a better understanding of the numerous possibilities available to filmmakers while partnering with Telekom Srbija. For us, this collaboration represents what we can achieve when we join our strengths with great partners such as TVE and Amazon Prime”.
Milena Raludovic, leading actress of the series, has emphasized that “the experience in Spain was inspiring and important. A new world opened up to me, which is very exciting.
People welcomed me with open arms, full of confidence and faith in my work. And that is crucial for a new beginning”.
Her partner in the series, Juanlu González said: “The shooting of Cicatriz has meant a before and after in my career for many reasons: for having the responsibility of a leading role in such a famous adaptation, for learning to pivot between different languages on a set and for having the opportunity to play a character so different from myself.
The series, shot in Bilbao and Serbia, is created by Fernando Sancristóbal, Pablo Roa and Verónica Marzá. Produced by César Benítez, Emilio Amaré, Álvaro Benítez and Fidela Navarro, is directed by Miguel Ángel Vivas, Manuel Carballo and Alejandro Bazzano. The script team is made up of Fernando Sancristóbal, Pablo Roa, Verónica Marzá, Laura Belloso, Fran Carballal, Ramón Tarrés and Pablo Manchado. César Benítez, Emilio Amaré, Emilio A. Pina, Álvaro Benítez, Fernando Sancristóbal, Esther Agraso, Fidela Navarro, Benjamin Salinas and María García-Castrillón are executive producers.
The thriller (8×50) is created by Plano a Plano, produced by Cicatriz A.I.E. and Dopamine, in association with RTVE, Prime Video in Spain, Telekom Srbija, Canal+ Poland and CLT UFA S.A. Hungarian Broadcasting Division, with the collaboration of Asacha Media Group and Adrenalin. The series is due to premiere in the last quarter of 2024.
