Spanish horror icon Álex de la Iglesia, known for The Day of the Beast and The Last Circus, is partnering with Carolina Bang’s production company, Pokeepsie Films, alongside Atresmedia TV to adapt the dystopian sci-fi podcast Sanctuary into a thrilling eight-episode television series. The show is expected to captivate audiences with its chilling take on a post-apocalyptic world.
Directed by 30 Coins collaborators Ruiz-Gallardón and Zoe Berriatúa, the series unfolds in a future ravaged by climate disaster. In this bleak world, pregnant women live within the Sanctuary, a protective dome shielded from the deadly pollution outside. Although they are told they live in peace, Pilar’s arrival uncovers the grim truths hidden beneath the surface.
Lucía Guerrero stars as Pilar, with Aura Garrido portraying Valle, the engineer responsible for caring for the women. The supporting cast includes Alba Ribas, Songa Park, Anna Canepa, Jaime Ordoñez, and Melina Matthews, among others.
The original Sanctuary podcast, created by Manuel Bartual and Carmen Pacheco, has already made waves with its exploration of dystopian themes. Pacheco emphasized the relevance of the story in today’s climate crisis, stating, “The problem with dystopian tales is that they have often been consumed without reflection, romanticizing post-apocalyptic worlds. It’s time to stop watching these stories and start asking, ‘What can we do now to prevent this from happening?’”
Executive producers Montse García and Rodrigo Ruiz-Gallardón join Bang and de la Iglesia as producers on the project. Sanctuary is poised to be featured at the prestigious Berlinale Series Market Selects, further generating buzz for its upcoming release.
Meanwhile, de la Iglesia remains focused on completing his beloved series 30 Coins, despite HBO’s decision not to renew the show for a third season. In an update to fans, he reaffirmed his commitment to finishing the series, stating, “The episodes of the final season have already been written. 30 Monedas is part of my life. I’m going to do everything possible to finish it.”
As Sanctuary builds anticipation for its premiere, all eyes are now on the upcoming release and the future of de la Iglesia’s creative projects.
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