Red Arrow International and leading Spanish indie producer-distributor Vértice360 have taken a co-production stake in real-life inspired series project “Lucio’s Treasure,” set up at Barcelona-based Friki Films.
Also handling international sales rights, Red Arrow co-produces the project. An English-language shoot is scheduled by 2025.
The project has been selected to feature at the next edition of MIA’s drama co-production market and pitching forum, which takes place in Rome Oct. 9-13.
The six-episode, one-hour drama, created by brothers Hugo and Roger Menduiña, is produced by Friki’s CEO Ana Manresa and Alberto Rull, Vertice EVP production and content.
The U.K.’s Anthony Alleyne (“Sunburn”) has joined the series as co-creator, writer and executive co-producer.
“This is an ambitious series, both creatively and in terms of budget. We are building a world-class co-production with an international cast and creative team with great appeal for global audiences,” Rull told Variety.
“Our references are big international co-productions such as ‘The Night manager’ and ‘The Little Drummer Girl,’ he added.
“Lucio’s Treasure” will tell the true-life story of Lucio Urtubia, a man who nearly bankrupted Citibank of America in the 1980s and got away with it.
A modest Spanish bricklayer living in Paris, under Lucio’s harmless appearance lay the brains behind the largest network of traveller’s check counterfeiters that endangered Citibank’s financial stability.
“When the project came to us, we fell in love with the character, a modern-day Robin Hood who, despite having put the largest bank in the world against the wall, very few people knew his story,” Rull said.
“We understood that it could become a great international series. It has all the necessary elements for it: the action takes place in Paris at the beginning of the ‘80s, the CIA, Scotland Yard and high-profile French personalities participate in the investigation and the protagonist is a Spanish exile and anarchist,” explained.
Once Red Arrow has entered as the series’ co-producer and distributor, the producers are looking for a European or American co-producer to complement project financing, as well as rights’ pre-purchase by platforms and TV networks, Rull added.
Vértice360 is the relaunched content division of Squirrel Media group, a fast-growing Madrid-based conglom, led by Spanish entrepreneur Pablo Pereiro Lage.
