Netflix Partners with Salma Hayek’s Ventanarosa, Lemon Studios and Stearns Castle to Produce Latest Original from Mexico, Monarca

Netflix, the world’s leading internet entertainment service, announced today that its latest original series from Mexico, Monarca, will begin production this fall and will launch globally in 2019. The new series starring Irene Azuela (Quemar las Naves, El hotel de los secretos, Las oscuras primaveras) will follow the world of wealthy Mexican elites riddled by corruption, scandal and violence.

Produced by Salma Hayek’s company, Ventanarosa, Lemon Studios and Stearns Castle, Monarca is a high stakes, multi-generational family saga about a tequila-born Mexican business empire, and the battle that ensues when a member of the family decides to fight the dirty system her family helped create.

“I’m extremely excited to partner with Netflix, and to be working with amazing Mexican talent in front of and behind the camera. We are proud to show Mexico as a vibrant, sophisticated and culturally rich nation, fighting to control its own destiny.” said Hayek.

Diego Gutierrez, showrunner and creator, added “This is the definition of a passion project for me. Having been born and raised in Mexico, I’m humbled to have the opportunity to tell this story with Netflix and the incredibly talented team of people we’re assembling, both in The US and Mexico.”

“Mexico is a top priority for us in which to continue to develop series,” Erik Barmack, “and we look forward to bringing the best originals to the world through partnerships with key players such as Ventanarosa and Lemon Studios.”

About the series:

Set in the powerful world of Mexican billionaires, Monarca is a high stakes, multi-generational family saga about a tequila-born Mexican business empire, and the battle that ensues when a member of the family decides to fight the dirty system her family helped create.

Starring Irene Azuela and Juan Manuel Bernal, Monarca is being produced by Ventanarosa, Lemon Studios and Michael McDonald from Stearns Castle. Created by Diego Gutierrez and written by Fernando Rovzar, Julia Denis, Ana Sofia Clerici and Sandra García Velten.

We kindly ask that you link to www.netflix.com/monarca in your coverage.

For more information visit Media.Netflix.com.

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About Netflix

Netflix is the world’s leading internet entertainment service with 125 million memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries and feature films across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on any internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments.

About Ventanarosa

Salma Hayek founded Ventanarosa Productions in 1998. For the last 20 years, she and her partner Jose Tamez have produced numerous TV shows and films, including Frida, which earned her Academy Award, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and BAFTA nominations.

Other titles produced by Ventanarosa include Ugly Betty, (Emmy and a Golden Globe winner); the animated film Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet (Annie Award nomination), The Maldonado Miracle (Emmy winner); El coronel no tiene quien le escriba (Official Cannes Selection); and In the Time of the Butterflies.

About Lemon Studios

Lemon Studios, founded by Billy and Fernando Rovzar, has consolidated itself as one of the most recognized production companies in Mexico. Since their beginnings in 2003, Lemon has produced 15 feature films and 12 television series, enjoying box office success as well as prestigious awards including Un Certain Regard at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival for Después de Lucía and the first International Emmy Award received by a Mexican Production Company for the third season of Sr.Ávila for HBO Latin America.

Other successful titles produced by Lemon Studios include Matando Cabos, Kilometer 31, Saving Private Perez, Paramédicos, La Piloto, La Bella y las Bestias among others.

About Stearns Castle

Stearns Castle was founded in 2013 by former studio executive Michael McDonald. In the five years since, the company has produced the Emmy-Winning ABC series American Crime and also the Showtime limited series Guerrilla, starring Idris Elba and Freida Pinto.