Spain, Mexico Build Production Ties as Onza Americas, BH5 Studios Close TV Series Alliance (EXCLUSIVE)

Spain’s Onza Americas, behind “Isla Brava,” a hit on TelevisaUnivision streamer ViX, and Mexico’s BH5 Studios, behind a brace of Mexican blockbuster movies, have closed a TV series development-production agreement.

The strategic alliance rolls off Onza Americas, BH5 Studios’ and Rodrigo Trujillo’s collaboration on production of mystery series “Isla Brava,” which bowed on ViX in May, becoming its most-watched series during its first few weeks.

The partners are now working on a second season of “Isla Brava” for ViX. The larger strategic deal was reached during its filming, Onza and BH5 Group said Wednesday. 

The companies are now co-developing a second series, “an exciting drama that explores the complex world of addictions,” they said in a press statement. 

They are also adapting for the Spanish market the script of “Ya veremos,” a 2018 comedic melodrama which proved one of BH5 Studios’ biggest box office hits in Mexico. One of the country’s top movie producers, BH5 also produced 2017’s “Do It Like an Hombre,” which ranks like “Ya veremos” in Mexico’s Top 5 highest-grossing films in history. 

At a time when comedies provide Spain with its biggest box office hits, BH5’s credits also take in further crowd-pleasing laffers such as “El Mesero,” “A Woman With No Filter” and “Dulce Familia.”

Announced out of NATPE in 2021, Onza Americas targets Latin America and U.S. Hispanic markets. “Isla Brava” is its first TV series. Directed by Pitipol Ybarra, who also helmed “Ya veremos,” it turns on psychological and domestic abuse and their consequences in an upper-class Mexican family. 

“Our first experience working with Onza on the series ‘Isla Brava’ for the VIX platform was exceptional. Their professionalism, values, and commitment to the audiovisual industry align perfectly with our vision,” said Rodrigo Trujillo, founder of BH5 Studios. 

“Consolidating this strategic alliance with professionals like Onza strengthens our ability to create and produce quality television series, while also expanding our borders to the Spanish market,” Trujillo added.

“It is a great pleasure to reach this agreement with Rodrigo and BH5 Studios. Harvey Grisalez and I worked with Rodrigo on the executive production of ‘Isla Brava,’ and he is undoubtedly one of the most outstanding producers in Mexico. His vision, creativity and commitment to projects are remarkable, as well as his knowledge of the Mexican market overall,” said Onza CEO Gonzalo Sagardía.

Spain and Mexico currently rate as the most vibrant TV markets in the Spanish-speaking world. Scripted orders in Spain from all types of commissioners, not just streamers, stood at 71, first half 2024, according to Ampere Analysis. Though output has tumbled notably in recent years, Mexico has consistently ranked second in terms of scripted series orders, which reached 29 first half 2024.

“The internationalization of production kicked off by the streamers has seen production focus increasingly shift outside the U.S., with Latin America and Europe key regions for new first run production,” said Ampere Analysis’ Guy Bisson. 

“With that content now regularly finding global appeal, the huge footprint of Spanish as a spoken language and that fact that Spain and Mexico are already the largest producers of Spanish scripted content means that increasing collaboration between the two countries makes perfect sense,” Bisson added.