Spain’s Zeta Studios and Brazil’s Conspiração Team Up to Adapt Globo Hit Series ‘Under Pressure’

As a movie enthusiast with a penchant for international dramas that delve deep into societal issues, I am thrilled about the upcoming Spanish remake of “Under Pressure.” Having had the pleasure of watching various global productions, I can attest to the power of storytelling in bridging cultural gaps and resonating with diverse audiences.

In partnership with top-tier Brazilian independent studio Conspiração, Spain’s Zeta Studios, known for the popular Netflix series “Elite,” is producing a Spanish adaptation titled “Bajo Presión” of the successful Brazilian TV drama “Sob Pressão” (“Under Pressure”).

Located within a bustling public hospital’s emergency room, the Brazilian medical thriller “Under Pressure” struck a perfect balance, combining high-stakes suspense regarding patient outcomes and an enduring romantic relationship with a raw, unflinching portrayal of social reality. The narrative centers around a surgeon (Julio Andrade) and a doctor (Marjorie Estiano), who find themselves struggling not just with their relationship but also against the dire scarcity of hospital resources. As they traverse this tough terrain, their ethical principles, resourcefulness, and escalating desperation clash.

The popular five-season series on Brazil’s Globo network was created by the team consisting of Claudio Torres, Jorge Furtado, Renato Fagundes, and Luiz Noronha, with scriptwriting by Lucas Paraízo.

The series is influenced by Andrucha Waddington’s film “Me You Them,” sharing the same title and stemming from an idea by Mini Kerti. It also finds roots in Dr. Marcio Maranhão’s book “Sob Pressão – A rotina de guerra de um médico brasileiro.” Notably, Dr. Maranhão also provided medical consultation for the initial series, while Waddington took on a co-showrunner role.

Throughout its five seasons, “Under Pressure” (Portuguese: “Sob Pressão”) garnered global acclaim, ranking among Globo’s highest-selling series. Praised by both viewers and critics, this medical drama achieved international fame following showcases at festivals such as the Berlinale and TIFF, and it even earned a nomination for an International Emmy Award in the Best Actress category.

In 2019, the show debuted on Telefe in Argentina and quickly became one of the most popular shows on free television there. While airing on TV Globo, “Sob Pressão” attracted a weekly audience of 40 million viewers, which led to its distribution in over 70 countries such as Italy, UAE, Qatar, Egypt, and Ecuador. Today, it ranks among TV Globo’s top-selling series due to this global success.

The Spanish version of the show is set to be created in Mexico, with Conspiração’s Waddington and Renata Brandão, along with Marcelo Tamburri from Zeta, taking on the roles of executive producers.

Zeta Studios is thrilled to share top-tier audiovisual content from Brazil, famed for its high-quality productions, with a fresh audience. By partnering with Conspiração, one of the leading production companies, we’re adapting one of the most successful free-to-air television shows ever, ‘Sob Pressão,'” stated Antonio Asensio. He further added: “We are optimistic that the Spanish adaptation will mirror its success. This is a significant undertaking for us, yet we’re ready to take it on with an elite group of professionals from our Mexican production company.

Tamburri, head of international content at Zeta Studios, agreed: “Brazil has fantastic intellectual properties, and with Conspiração, adapting a successful and high-quality show like ‘Under Pressure‘ makes us extremely joyful and proud! At Zeta Studios, we aim to engage and enthrall the Mexican and Spanish-speaking audience globally, just as we did in Brazil.

Renata Brandão, head of the series at Conspiração and its CEO, emphasized that their collaboration with Zeta Studios demonstrates their unwavering dedication to creating top-tier content in various languages and expanding globally.

Transforming the series for Spanish-speaking viewers focuses on the universal themes and deep human drama that drive the show,” said Andrucha Waddington, noting: “It won’t be just a straightforward remake; it provides a chance to engage with new viewers by highlighting common experiences and fresh emotional narratives. I anticipate it will leave an impression for multiple seasons, similar to how ‘Sob Pressão’ did.

2024-10-01 09:18

Spain’s Zeta Studios and Brazil’s Conspiração Team Up to Adapt Globo Hit Series ‘Under Pressure’

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