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A new era in sports entertainment: LaLiga Studios and Little Spain’s groundbreaking fiction series
The fusion of football and storytelling
In an unprecedented move, LaLiga Studios, a collaboration between Banijay Iberia and Spain’s premier soccer league, has joined forces with Little Spain, the production company helmed by renowned Spanish artist C Tangana. This partnership aims to develop a fiction series set within the La Liga universe, marking the first drama production to receive the official endorsement of a competition of such magnitude.
A glimpse into the project
Little Spain has shared some early insights into the series, emphasizing its unique blend of football, culture, and life. The narrative will be deeply rooted in the world of Spanish professional football, capturing the essence of La Liga teams and their distinctive characteristics. The project promises to deliver a story that bridges the gap between Spain and the United States, with a focus on emotion and cinematic style.
The involvement of actor Josh Hutcherson, a close friend and ally of Little Spain in Los Angeles, adds an extra layer of intrigue to the project. Hutcherson’s participation underscores the transatlantic nature of the series, which aims to resonate with audiences on both sides of the Atlantic.
Little Spain’s meteoric rise
Founded in 2017 as a collective of artists primarily focused on music videos, Little Spain has rapidly expanded its horizons. The company recently garnered three Gold Lions at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity for C Tangana’s anthem for the RC Celta La Liga EA Sports team. Additionally, Little Spain produced the feature documentary “Esta ambición desmedida” (“This Excessive Ambition”), which received a nomination for a 2023 Spanish Academy Goya award. C Tangana’s directorial debut, “La guitarra flamenca de yerai cortés,” is set to compete in the New Directors category at the San Sebastian Festival.
LaLiga Studios’ ambitious vision
LaLiga Studios, led by CEO Chalo Bonifacino Cooke, was established last year as a joint venture between Banijay Iberia and La Liga. The partnership with Little Spain reflects Banijay’s commitment to expanding its sports entertainment portfolio through strategic partnerships, content investment, and mergers and acquisitions. The recent launch of Banijay Sports further underscores this commitment.
Bonifacino expressed his excitement about the project, stating, “We are facing a unique opportunity to produce the first fiction series that can exploit at all levels the IP of La Liga, its clubs, its talent, its stadiums, its fans, to achieve a degree of veracity rarely seen in football-related fiction.”
Expanding the horizons of sports entertainment
Since its inception, LaLiga Studios has produced audiovisual content for La Liga, its clubs, and its primary sponsors, distributing this content to over 100 operators and broadcasting it in more than 190 countries. The company aims to be a pioneer in sports entertainment, and its recent deal with Hollywood’s MTP (formerly Mandalay Sports Media) to develop soccer-related content is a testament to this ambition. The project, led by Mike Tollin, executive producer of Netflix’s global hit documentary “The Last Dance,” promises to bring a fresh perspective to the world of sports storytelling.
A commitment to social causes
In addition to its entertainment ventures, LaLiga Studios has demonstrated a commitment to social causes. Last March, the company, in collaboration with Banijay Iberia and Little Spain, produced the anthem “1voiceVSRACISM,” which was played in all La Liga EA Sports and La Liga Hypermotion stadiums during the week of World Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Reflecting on the future
As LaLiga Studios and Little Spain embark on this groundbreaking project, the fusion of football and storytelling promises to captivate audiences worldwide. The series will not only offer a glimpse into the world of Spanish professional football but also explore the cultural and emotional dimensions that make the sport so compelling.
For those eager to delve deeper into the world of La Liga and its upcoming fiction series, stay tuned for more updates and trailers. This collaboration marks a new chapter in sports entertainment, one that will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on both the football and entertainment industries.
Reflecting on this innovative venture, one can’t help but wonder how this fusion of sports and storytelling will shape the future of entertainment. Will it pave the way for more collaborations between sports leagues and production companies? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the world of sports entertainment is on the brink of a thrilling transformation.
