LOS ANGELES, August 31, 2021 – Legendary Television’s global division announced that production has started on the new crime heist drama series “Vanda.” Inspired by the true story of Dulce Caroço, “Vanda” follows a hair stylist in Lisbon, who, in the middle of the 2008 global financial crisis—finds herself alone, broke, and with two children to raise. She embarks on a string of bank heists using a blonde wig and a toy gun and in the process becomes folk hero as she keeps the public guessing what her next move will be, and how long she can stay out of the police’s grasp.
“Vanda” was created by Patrícia Müller (Madre Paula), and penned by Muller and Carmen Jimenez (Adiós). The series will be directed by Simão Cayatte (A Viagem) with Bartosz Swiniarsky (Apples) serving as director of photography and the special collaboration of Spanish director Elia Urquiza (Next). Gabriela Barros (Al Berto) stars as the titular character, with João Baptista (“Luz Vermelha”), Pedro Casablanc (“Isabel,” “White Lines”), Raúl Prieto (“Velvet Colecciòn,” “Hierro”), and Joana de Verona (“Mysteries of Lisbon”) rounding out the cast.
The eight episode, one-hour series is a Portuguese and Spanish co-production between Legendary Television, SPi, and La Panda Productions. The series will be exhibited by SIC in Portugal, with Legendary Television handling worldwide sales for all other territories.
“Vanda” is filming on location in Portugal.
About Legendary Television:
Legendary Television is a leading global full-service television studio specializing in financing, developing and producing quality genre and character-driven projects for multiple platforms. Championing compelling auteur-driven storytelling featuring renowned talent, Legendary’s Television roster includes: the reboot of the classic family adventure series Lost in Space for Netflix; Carnival Row, a fantasy noir drama starring Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevingne, for Amazon; Pacific Rim: The Black, an original anime series expanding the story of the first two live action movies for Netflix; and Debris, the sci-fi drama from J.H. Wyman and starring Jonathan Tucker and Riann Steele, for NBC. Upcoming projects include: Dune: The Sisterhood, based on one of the most popular science fiction franchises of all time, for HBO Max; Paper Girls, based on Brian K. Vaughan’s best-selling graphic novel, and Lightyears, a one-hour drama series starring Sissy Spacek and J.K. Simmons, for Amazon; and the anime series Skull Island and Tomb Raider, both for Netflix. To learn more visit: www.legendary.com
About SPi, S.A.:
SPi, S.A is an independent production company, dedicated to the development of international projects, and a pioneer in the Portuguese market concerning productions with and for streaming platforms. SPi, S.A. is responsible for the first original Portuguese Netflix series -“Glória”- to be premiered in 2021, which has placed Portuguese audio-visual production next to the best international productions. The production company also has in its curriculum the coproduction of “Auga Seca I” (Dry Water) and “Auga Seca II” (in pos-production), which the first season aired on HBO, RTP (Portugal) and TVG (Spain) as well as the production of a sitcom for Disney, aimed at the Angolan market called “O Bar do Gilmário” (Gilmário´s Bar).
Since 2017 SPi has been developing several fictions series, documentaries and non-scripted content in a coproduction model with Spanish production companies, where we highlight the documentary “A Mais Longa Jornada” (The Longest Voyage), for RTP, TVE and ETB. SPi has recently concluded the series “Chegar a Casa” (Back Home) to be broadcast on RTP and TVG
SPi belongs to Grupo SP Televisão, founded in 2007 by a team and structure of shareholders with over 25 years of experience in the Portuguese audiovisual market. SP Televisão is the reference of independent producers in Portugal, responsible for the greatest successes of Portuguese fiction, recognized nationally and internationally.
About La Panda:
La Panda Productions is a production company with branches in Los Angeles and Pamplona, Spain. Since its inception in 2012, LA Panda has co-produced several feature films, including festival darling 10.000 Km by Carlos Marques-Marcet, or Tribeca-awarded Nobody’s Watching, directed by Julia Solomonoff. Our films have participated in the most prestigious film festivals in the world and received some of the most significant awards in the Spanish and American film industry, including the Special Jury Award at SXSW Film Festival; the Audience Award at the AFI Film Festival; the Biznaga Award for both Best Film and Best Director at the Festival de Málaga; several Gaudi Awards (Catalan Academy Awards) for Best Director, Screenplay, Actor, Actress and Film; and a Goya (Spanish Academy Award) for Best New Director.
La Panda’s most recent titles include The Chambermaid by Lila Avilés and Tu Me Manques by Rodrigo Bellot, both elected by the Film Academies of their respective countries (Mexico and Bolivia) to represent them at the 2020 Academy Awards in the Best International Film category. In 2019, La Panda also co-produced 70 Bin Ladens (70 Big Ones) by Koldo Serra, starring Emma Suárez, Hugo Silva and Bárbara Goenaga. In television, La Panda has done production services for the HBO Spain’s show 30 Monedas (30 Coins) directed by Alex de la Iglesia. Aside from a dozen commercials and multi-awarded short films, La Panda has also produced music videos for international artist such as Coldplay, Rosalia or Bumbury, accumulating over 7 million views in Youtube and counting.