Italian
Disney+ will release its upcoming original Spanish dramedy “Shared Custody,” directed by “Champions” creator Javier Fesser, globally on the platform on Jan. 24.
An accomplished filmmaker, Fesser, who makes his TV debut with “Shared Custody,” is best known for creating the Goya-winning and Oscar-submitted heartwarming comedy “Campeones” (“Champions”), adapted in 2023 as the Woody Harelson starrer “Champions.” In 2007, his short film “Binta y la gran idea” was nominated for the live-action short film Oscar. “Shared Custody” marks his series debut.
Over eight episodes, the series will examine the challenges faced by two parents, Cris and Diego, after their separation. The show delves into the complexities of modern co-parenting as the couple strives to maintain a mature, amicable relationship for the sake of their young daughter.
However, financial difficulties force them to move back in with their respective parents, setting the stage for awkward and often humorous family dynamics. What starts as a civil split soon becomes strained as the couple grapples with the harsh realities of their new living arrangements.
Popular on Variety “Shared Custody” stars Lorena López (“Past Lies”) and Ricard Farré (“Good Manners”) as the leading couple, with supporting performances from Spanish Academy Goya-winner Adriana Ozores (“La hora de los valientes”), Francesc Orella (“Merlí”), Aten Soria (“30 Coins”) and others.
The Disney+ series was created in collaboration with Fremantle-backed producer The Immigrant. It was written and created by Juanjo Moscardó Rius, who created the Goya-nominated “A Shitty Therapy” and María Mínguez (“Live Twice, Love Once”).
The Immigrant has positioned itself as one of Spain’s most exciting up-and-coming production companies to watch. Their Prime Video series “No One Will Miss Us” has been a huge hit with audiences, scoring an 8.3/10 score on IMDB, and 94% of Google users who rated the show did so favorably. The company also recently produced Sofía Auza’s feature “Adolfo,” which won best film at the Berlinale’s Generation 14plus section and was nominated for a pair of Mexican Academy Ariel Awards.
Variety caught up with The Immigrant’s co-founder and CEO Camila Jimenez Villa to talk about “Shared Custody” and the company’s larger goals in both series and feature films.
What was it about this project that made it the right fit for The Immigrant?
“Shared Custody” was a deeply personal story for Juanjo Moscardó Ruiz, one of the show’s creators. He came to us with an idea – a dream, really – of telling a story inspired by his own breakup, one that balanced drama and humor in equal measure. It was an exciting challenge because the premise wasn’t driven by a high concept; the show’s success would hinge entirely on its execution, from scripts to production.
We wholeheartedly believed in the project’s potential and knew its emotional honesty and humor could resonate with audiences around the world. We spent months developing the project alongside Juanjo and María Mínguez, refining the vision to ensure it resonated emotionally and stood out creatively. The next step was finding a way to position the show in the marketplace—to help platforms and buyers see the full potential of what, on the surface, seemed like a simple idea. Bringing Javier Fesser on board was that essential turning point. His involvement elevated the project and allowed us to bring to screen the wonderful characters and world created by Juanjo and María.
The Immigrant’s productions have all had a high-end, cinematic flare to them; is that the case with “Shared Custody,” too?
Absolutely. “Shared Custody” maintains the same high-end cinematic quality that defines The Immigrant’s productions. With Javier at the helm, the series mirrors his approach to cinema, treating every episode as part of a cohesive feature film. Fesser’s signature style shines through: dynamic pacing, striking visual storytelling, and energetic editing. At its heart, though, “Shared Custody” also embraces what makes Javier’s films so memorable: a deep focus on characters and their humanity. It’s a visually captivating series grounded in emotional depth and relatability, qualities that reflect the incredible work done by our creators, Juanjo Moscardó Ruiz and María Mínguez, whose vision and scripts made this collaboration such a perfect fit.
Can you talk briefly about the experience of working with Javier and how he adapted his process to a serialized format?
It was an absolute dream. “Shared Custody” was the first project Javier directed for television, and the first project he directed he did not write himself, which is a testament to the work done by Juanjo and María. The project was a perfect fit for Javier, whose cinema beautifully blends humor and emotion: Fesser’s work often has an uplifting, positive tone, even when tackling challenging subjects. This was the case with our show, and Javier was involved in every decision, from pre-production all the way to delivery and credits: it was incredible to see the attention to detail he put into every step of this production.
