TIS Studios Joins Gaumont USA’s Sci-Fi Thriller ‘Futuro Desierto’ With A-List Latin Cast

by

As a film enthusiast, I’m excited to share that TIS Studios, based in Colombia and Mexico, has joined the production of “Futuro Desierto,” a six-episode, near-future psychological thriller and family drama produced by Gaumont USA. This thought-provoking series, created by Lucía Puenzo and Nicolás Puenzo, delves into profound questions about Artificial Intelligence that are sure to captivate audiences.

Additionally, she appears to excel at something similar: Infusing a compelling narrative drive to explore deeply pertinent personal issues, in this case through a family drama, offering insights into contemporary society.

TIS Studios is handling international distribution on the series.  

Hailing from Gaumont USA for Paramount Television International Studios (PTIS), the highly anticipated series “Futuro Desierto,” a significant production emerging from Latin America, features a distinguished ensemble led by José María Yapik, Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey, Andres Parra, and Karla Souza.

Or, in a more conversational tone:

The popular series “Futuro Desierto,” made by Gaumont USA for Paramount Television International Studios (PTIS), is one of the most significant productions to come out of Latin America. It’s got an amazing cast that includes José María Yapik, Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey, Andres Parra, and Karla Souza.

The title ‘Future Desert’ is one of several notable and frequently prominent productions that TIS Studios will present to potential buyers at Content Americas. Notably, the Paramount-owned studio, previously known as TeleColombia and FoxTeleColombia, is making a comeback in international distribution. Its offerings encompass both its acclaimed collection of 5,000 episodes and new, high-profile series and films such as ‘Cecilia’, ‘Los Enviados’, ‘Amor es Amor’ and ‘Celia’.

“Futuro Desierto”: The Details

Under the guidance of Lucía Puenzo, a highly sought-after director from Latin America, and Nicolás Puenzo, an accomplished cinematographer known for “The German Doctor” making his directorial debut with “Señorita 89”, the film “Futuro Desierto” is inspired by the creative minds of Leonel D’Agostino, a prominent writer on “La Jauría,” and César Sodero, who has worked on “Emilia”.

Intriguingly captured judging from the photos, Alex – a psychiatrist who has moved with his family at the behest of a leading tech firm, Fuzhipin, situated in the heart of Silicon Valley – now resides in a secluded town within Mexico’s Chiapas region.

Fuzhipin is nearing its most significant milestone in artificial intelligence, completing the final phases of Test Life trials on Intelligent Non-Biological Entities (INBEs) – humanoid robots that can’t be told apart from people. These INBEs are being deployed in chosen homes and workplaces for research purposes to observe human responses.

In the narrative, scientist Alex, who’s leading the Test Life experiments, relocates to Mexico with his android companion, María, and his two children. María was created by Sara, a genius in robotics and Alex’s late wife, as one of her final acts of love during her struggle against terminal cancer. However, it appears that Alex is oblivious to the fact that he is caught up in an intricate plot masterminded by the tech corporation he serves.

In the series “Narcos” and “Narcos Mexico,” Yazpik portrays the character Alex, while French-Spanish actress Bergès-Frisbey, known for films like “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” and “L’Autre,” plays María. As María’s programming begins to develop independently, it stirs up intriguing dilemmas about autonomy, humanity, and power.

President Parra assumes the position of Fuzhipin, department head. Known for her role as Lucía Puenzo’s “The Fall” character, Karla Souza portrays Sara – a prodigious robotics expert who transfers her consciousness into an android to continue her family involvement.

Speaking as a film enthusiast, I must say that ‘Futuro Desierto’ promises to be an engaging and pulse-pounding tale centered around characters, tackling one of the most pressing issues humankind currently faces: What will be the transformation of our family, work, and societal structures when we share existence with artificial intelligence? As a Senior Vice President at Gaumont USA overseeing Latin America, Spain, and US-Latino, Christian Gabela’s insightful perspective on this thought-provoking film is truly captivating.

Lucía and Nicolás Puenzo skillfully guide viewers on an emotional rollercoaster ride through their compelling storytelling and striking visuals, creating an experience that is sure to both captivate and touch the hearts of many.

Additionally, the cast also features Ilse Salas (from “The Good Girls”), Flavio Medina, Natasha Dupeyrón, Natalia Solián, Horacio García Rojas, Vincent Webb, Isabella Arroyo, and Matías Coronado.

The film ‘Future Desert’ is penned by Lucía Puenzo, D’Agostino, and César Sodero. The executive producers are Lucía Puenzo, Nicolás Puenzo, Sidonie Dumas, Nicolas Atlan, Gabela, Darío Turovelzky, José “Fidji” Viggiano, and Rafael Aladjem. ‘Future Desert’ was captured on film in Mexico City, Chiapas, and Oaxaca.

Nicolas Atlan, president of Gaumont USA, expressed great pride in creating a gripping and thought-provoking thriller. He also praised the outstanding on-screen and behind-the-scenes talent that dared to break visual and storytelling barriers to bring such an amazing tale to reality,” said Nicolas Atlan.

Samuel Duque, president of TIS Studios, expressed his immense pride in releasing ‘Futuro Desierto’ to audiences. This project highlights some of the top Latin American talent, both acting and directing. It’s a gripping, modern drama with an engaging narrative and stunning visuals that explore uncharted territories in Mexico. The impressive production investment is evident on screen.

TIS Studios Re-Entry Into International Distribution

Since the studio was sold to Paramount Global in 2021, the distribution of TIS Studios’ content has been managed by Paramount Global Content Distribution. To prepare for its return to distribution, TIS Studios recently appointed Alejandro Toro, a former executive at RCN, as Vice President of Distribution. The catalog includes popular titles like “El capo,” “La mariposa,” “Celia,” “Lynch,” and “Alias el mexicano.

Of new titles, “Cecilia” is created by Daniel Burman and produced by The Mediapro Studio. 

The film titled “Amor es amor” serves as the Spanish-speaking directorial premiere for Rob Schneider, who also takes on a starring role. This production is brought to you by El Estudio and Infinity Hill.

The religious miracle thriller “Los Enviados,” crafted and steered by Academy Award winner Juan José Campanella, features Miguel Angel Silvestre and Luis Gerardo Mendez in lead roles as Papal investigators. This show is one of Paramount+’s top-performing Spanish-language series in the U.S. The telenovela “Celia,” which is inspired by the life of the legendary singer Celia Cruz, is another notable production.

The second season of “Cecilia” and “Amor es Amor” have yet to be released. 

Duque expressed enthusiasm as TIS Studios resumes global distribution. He’s proud to reintroduce products that have historical significance while also adding a diverse range of new content, such as movies, series, and teleseries, to their collection. He looks forward to collaborating with partners globally and sharing these captivating tales with audiences around the world.

Read More

2025-01-21 18:21