Starz Greenlights Original Series Vida from Showrunner Tanya Saracho
Veronica Osorio and Melissa Barrera Cast in Lead Roles with Alonso
Ruizpalacios Directing First Episode
Lionsgate
Retains all Domestic and International Rights
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Starz President and CEO Chris Albrecht announced today that the
development project “Vida” (formerly titled “Pour Vida”) has been
greenlit to series.
Tanya Saracho (“How to Get Away With Murder,” “Looking,” “Girls”) will
serve as showrunner with Alonso Ruizpalacios (Gueros, Verde)
directing the first episode. Big Beach TV will produce the series with
executive producers Marc Turtletaub, Peter Saraf and Robin Schwartz.
Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B) will retain all domestic and
international multiplatform rights, including broadcast, home
entertainment and digital for the series.
“Vida” is a half-hour drama series focusing on two Mexican-American
sisters from the Eastside of Los Angeles who couldn’t be more different
or distanced from each other. Circumstances force them to return to
their old neighborhood, where they are confronted by the past and
shocking truth about their mother’s identity.
“Tanya explores identity, culture, gender and sexuality through the lens
of a Latinix family and their community. It’s a deeply personal and
relatable series about coming back home and finally growing up,” said
Albrecht. “‘Vida’ reflects the intersecting worlds of Latin and American
descendants of all genders and sexualities and speaks to the heart of
Starz’s programming commitment to present compelling stories for
traditionally underserved audiences. We are very proud to work with
Tanya and help bring her vision to life.”
Veronica Osorio (Hail, Caesar!, “The Carmichael Show,”
“Girlboss”) has been cast in the role of Emma; and Melissa Barrera
(“Club de Cuervos,” “La Mujer de Judas”) will play her sister, Lyn.
Veronica Osorio is a Venezuelan improviser and actress who moved to New
York City to perform at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in 2008.
She has since relocated to Los Angeles and starred in the Coen Bros
feature Hail, Caesar!, the upcoming Soderbergh project “Mosaic,”
and several television projects including a guest star role on NBC’s
“The Carmichael Show” and Netflix’s “Girlboss.” She also co-created and
stars in the Broadway Video digital series “Diego + Valentina” with
Julio Torres. Osorio co-hosts the new podcast with Alice Wetterlund,
“Treks and the City,” an episode by episode dissection of “Star Trek:
The Next Generation” from a feminist perspective.
Melissa Barrera can be seen in the upcoming third season of “Club de
Cuervos” on Netflix. She started her career in Mexico in the popular
singing reality show “La Academia.” After the success of “La Academia,”
Barrera went on to star in the TV Azteca soap operas “La Mujer de Judas”
and “La Otra Cara del Alma” after which she landed her first leading
role in the renowned “Siempre Tuya Acapulco” and consequently “Tanto
Amor.” Her musical theater training at New York University allowed her
to land the leading roles in “Spring Awakening,” “Young Frankenstein,”
and the Spanish pop-rock musical “Hoy No Me Puedo Levantar” at the
Teatro Aldama in Mexico City. Her past film credits include Manual de
Principiantes para ser Presidente and El Hotel. She leads in Prima
and Sacúdete Las Penas, which premiere in 2018.
Currently based in Mexico City, director Alonso Ruizpalacios is a
graduate of the London School of Dramatic Arts. Alonso is in
post-production on his new film Museo which stars Gael Garcia
Bernal. He is also currently in production on the new Gael Garcia Bernal
series “Aqui en La Tierra” for Fox International. His feature film Gueros
swept the 2015 Ariels (Mexican Oscars®) – winning Best
Picture, Best First Feature, and Best Direction. The film is also the
recipient of the Golden Tomato Award for Best Reviewed Film of 2015.
Senior Vice President of Original Programming Marta Fernandez and
Manager of Original Programming Kathleen Clifford are the Starz
executives in charge of “Vida.”
About Starz
Starz (www.starz.com),
a Lionsgate company (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B), is a leading global media and
entertainment company that provides premium subscription video
programming on domestic U.S. pay television networks and produces and
distributes content for worldwide audiences, including its investment in
the STARZ PLAY Arabia OTT service. Starz is home to the flagship STARZ®
brand and STARZ ENCORE channels and provides high-quality, entertaining
premium subscription video programming with 17 premium pay TV channels
and associated on-demand and online services, including the STARZ app.
Sold through U.S. multichannel video distributors, including cable
operators, satellite television providers, telecommunications companies,
and other online and digital platforms, Starz offers subscribers more
than 5,000 distinct premium television episodes and feature films every
year and up to 1,500 every month, including STARZ Original series,
first-run movies and other popular movie and television programming.
About Big Beach
Founded in 2004 by Marc Turtletaub and Peter Saraf, Big Beach produces
and finances independent films, television and theater. In the decade
since the company’s founding Big Beach has produced over a dozen
acclaimed independent films including Academy Award nominated Little
Miss Sunshine, Everything Is Illuminated adapted from
the novel by Jonathan Safran Foer, Jesse Peretz’s Our Idiot Brother,
Philip Seymour Hoffman’s directorial debut, Jack Goes Boating,
Colin Trevorrow’s Safety Not Guaranteed and Jordan Vogt-Roberts The
Kings Of Summer. Most recent films include About Ray starring
Naomi Watts, Elle Fanning and Susan Sarandon, and Loving,
directed by Jeff Nichols. Loving follows Richard and
Mildred Loving, the couple behind the seminal 1967 civil rights case,
Loving vs. Virginia.
Contacts
Starz
Theano Apostolou, 424-204-4052
theano@starz.com
or
Michelle
Portillo, 720-852-4063
michelle.portillo@starz.com
