Netflix is attempting to replicate the success of its global hit “Money Heist” with a new series, “Billionaires’ Bunker”, being produced at its state-of-the-art studio in Tres Cantos, Spain. The dystopian series, set to be released on Friday, follows a group of characters living in a luxurious underground bunker.
The production is part of Netflix’s significant investment in Spanish content, with over 1,000 movies and series filmed in the country since 2017. According to co-chief executive Ted Sarandos, Spanish titles generated more than five billion hours of viewing in 2024 alone.
Netflix’s Spanish Production Hub
Netflix inaugurated its first studio outside the United States in Madrid’s northern outskirts in 2019, establishing Spain as a major European production hub. The Tres Cantos studio spans almost 22,000 square meters and features a mix of traditional physical sets and cutting-edge technology, including digital plateaus.
The studio’s visual artistic director, Migue Amoedo, described the facility as having “a little bit of everything” to produce high-quality content. The use of digital technology is expected to help bridge the gap between Spanish and European cinema and the United States.
Key to Success: Local Storytelling with Global Appeal
Spanish screenwriters Alex Pina and Esther Martinez Lobato have been instrumental in creating successful Netflix series, including “Money Heist”, its spin-off “Berlin”, and “Sky Rojo”. Pina attributed the success of these shows to their unique blend of local settings and universal themes, stating that they did not need to be adapted for a global audience.
Victor Marti, head of production at Netflix, echoed this sentiment, saying that the company is “very happy to work from this narrow angle in the world… and offer our local storytelling to a global audience.” The success of these series has been driven by their ability to balance local flavor with global appeal.
Investment in Spanish Productions
In June, Netflix announced a significant investment of over one billion euros in its Spanish productions through to 2029. This investment is expected to further solidify Spain’s position as a major player in the global audiovisual production industry.
As Netflix continues to produce high-quality content in Spain, the country is likely to remain a key location for the company’s global productions. With “Billionaires’ Bunker” set to be released on Friday, viewers will be able to experience the latest offering from Netflix’s Spanish production hub.
Looking ahead, Netflix’s continued investment in Spanish productions is expected to drive growth in the country’s audiovisual industry. The success of future productions will depend on the company’s ability to balance local storytelling with global appeal, a challenge that has been met with success in the past.
