Eugenio Derbez and his 3Pas Studios have signed a first look film and TV deal with Univision Communications for Spanish-language content, all of which will fuel Univision’s upcoming streaming service launching in 2022.
Univision will have the first look at all Spanish-language TV and film projects controlled by 3Pas Studios and Derbez, including movies and series intended for SVOD or for theatrical releases. Univision plans to launch a streamer that combines premium streaming and has an ad-supported tier in 2022. More details on the service will be announced following the close of the Televisa-Univision merger.
3Pas Studios, which Derbez runs along with producing partner Ben Odell, will develop and produce Spanish-language content across different genres and age groups for Univision’s SVOD platform, including projects as possible Derbez-starring vehicles.
Additionally, the Univision streaming platform in its AVOD tier will launch a “Derbez Channel” featuring family-friendly content that will initially launch in Latin America.
“Eugenio is a globally celebrated content creator whose vision and passion for storytelling are unmatched. We’re delighted to partner with him and 3Pas Studios on this first-look deal that will allow Univision to offer even more of the world-class, premium content that global Spanish-language audiences of all ages crave,” Pierluigi Gazzolo, president and chief transformation officer at Univision, said. “This partnership is a testament to how we are doubling down on our commitment to building the best and largest Spanish-language streaming service in the world, one that will be the home to top-level creative Spanish-Language talent.”
“I love Wade Davis’ and Pierluigi Gazzolo’s vision for this platform. It’s about time that our audience has consistent high-quality content to consume in Spanish. I can’t wait to roll up our sleeves and get to work,” Derbez said.
“Eugenio and I have spent the last seven years building a brand that delivers high quality entertainment for multi-generational audiences. With this new platform, we have the wherewithal to ramp up our content output and reach the widest audience possible for our Spanish language business,” Odell added.
3Pas Studios services its Spanish-language business from offices in Los Angeles, Miami and Mexico City. Javier Williams, SVP of Spanish content, oversees 3Pas Studio’s Spanish-language development and also heads 3Pas Studios’ production arm in Mexico, Visceral. Pablo Calasso is director of production in Mexico for Visceral. Williams and Calasso manage a team of production and development executives located in Mexico.
Univision also has rights to shows that made Derbez popular worldwide — including the sitcoms “Al Derecho y al Derbez” and “La Familia P. Luche,” one of the longest-running Spanish-language comedy series in the United States — as well as the movie “Instructions Not Included,” which became the highest-grossing Spanish-language film of all time in the U.S.
Derbez joins a roster of other talent with deals at Univision, including author Maria Dueñas, director Santiago Limon and Nobel Literature Prize winner Mario Vargas Llosa.