During its TCA presentation today, Starz announced the production of three new shows, released key art from THE DRESSER and announced the premiere date for THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE.
Starz’ diverse programming strategy continues with the development of SANTERIA. Cuban writer and director Alejandro Brugues (“From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series,” Juan of the Dead) and Eduardo Sanchez (The Blair Witch Project, “From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series”) will executive produce and direct for the supernatural series. “Cuba, its doors finally open to the world. But a secret war brews there, a clash between opposing sects of Santeria, the ancient religion born on the island. Two undercover agents investigating a bizarre murder are pulled into this supernatural conflict and discover it’s more dangerous and far-reaching than anything they could have imagined.”
Starz also announced the development of POUR VIDA, a series inspired by a short story by Richard Villegas, Jr. “POUR VIDA follows twin sisters, Brook and Lyn Hernandez, who inherit an East LA building from their recently deceased aunt who raised them. They open Pour Vida, a new wine and tapas bar, in a building in Boyle Heights which houses a failing lesbian bar below and a village-like collection of Eastside denizens in three units above. Pour Vida is the sisters’ attempt to put the “gente” in the “gentefication” of the historic barrio. They find themselves the only thing protecting the tenants from displacement, their aunt’s legacy from erasure, and their neighborhood from the Great White Bridge about to bring jalapeño chicken hummus wraps to the ‘hood. Brook and Lyn discover upon returning to East LA that they didn’t just inherit a building – they inherited a pueblo. For Life.”
Finally, Starz is developing MALEFICIA. The Starz and Televisa USA co-production is based on the popular Mexican production “El Maleficio,” which originally aired in 1983-84 with 320 episodes to become one of the most successful telenovelas of all time. The new supernatural thriller will center on Don Enrique De Martino, a powerful Mexican businessman who has made a deadly pact with the Devil. Writer and Producer Mauricio Katz (THE BRIDGE) will serve as showrunner.
Meanwhile, THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE, starring Riley Keough (MAGIC MIKE), is a reimagining of Steven Soderbergh’s 2009 movie of the same name. Soderbergh executive produces, along with Philip Fleishman, Lodge Kerrigan, Amy Seimetz, Gary Marcus and Jeff Cuban. THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE will premiere on STARZ on Sunday, April 10th at 8 pm ET/PT. All 13 half-hour episodes will also be made available simultaneously for STARZ subscribers on STARZ PLAY and STARZ ON DEMAND, in the U.S.
Starz has also released key art from the original movie THE DRESSER, premiering in Summer 2016. The film stars Ian McKellan and Anthony Hopkins, who are appearing on film together for the first time.
