Singer Aitana Ocana makes her first strides as an actress with the premiere of La última on Friday, December 2. The series pairs her with partner Miguel Bernardeau, a timing that feels almost fated as life mirrors fiction. Disney+ introduced the original Spanish TV project as its latest domestic production, signaling the platform’s continued investment in homegrown storytelling. The shift underscores a global trend where streaming platforms win big with local drama, a move that benefits Madrid’s film community and reaches viewers far beyond its borders, including islands and coastal towns alike.
La última delivers the familiar Disney magic: hopeful dreams, loyal friendships, and a strong ensemble. It’s a solid debut meant to draw in existing subscribers and captivate new ones, according to Disney+ Spain’s voice on the project. The promise is clear: a show that feels right at home on the platform while extending its appeal beyond the early adopter crowd.
In parallel, Disney+ is cultivating momentum with another large project, Balenciaga. Filming for that series began before La última, and it carried early optimism about becoming the first Disney+ fiction, though Aitana’s series quickly accelerated the broader storyline surrounding one of fashion history’s most influential designers.
Alberto San Juan as Balenciaga
Alberto San Juan leads the cast in a portrayal that reimagines Cristóbal Balenciaga. The project, rooted in the legacy of Loreak, Handia, and La trenchera infinita, features creators Jose Mari Goegana, Jon Garaño, and Aitor Arregi, with Lourdes Iglesias and others shaping the series. Spanning more than six episodes, the biography traces the designer’s life from the Spanish Civil War era to the early 1970s. The production team includes costume designer Bina Daigeler, an Oscar nominee for Mulan, alongside Belén Cuesta and Josean Bengoetxea among the cast.
The recent legislative move on temporary taxes targeting banks and energy firms, approved in November, holds potential for the audiovisual sector. The reform brings tax incentives worth millions to support film productions, scripted series, animation, and documentaries on platforms like Netflix, HBO, or Amazon. These incentives aim to accelerate project starts and expand domestic productions in Spain’s streaming ecosystem.
+
December promises a crowded slate of Spanish dramas hitting streaming services. Easy, directed by Anna R. Costa and drawing from Cristina Morales’s acclaimed work, centers on four young women with mental health challenges and debuts on Movistar Plus+ on the first day of December. The platform is also rolling out well-known titles and new projects, including Riot Control, Hierro, Apagón, La unidad, El Inmortal, and more. Preparations continue for fresh series like El otro lado, Berto’s blend of comedy and horror, and Javises’s La Mesías, a family thriller about five sisters who form a Christian pop group.
Netflix is rolling out its own slate, including Smiley, a gay love story in its seventh season with Carlos Cuevas and Miki Esparbé, and Alpha Males from the creators of La que se avecina. The streaming giant has hosted several high-profile Spanish premieres this year, such as Intimidad and Las de la última fila, with more Spanish-made projects on the horizon. The lineup includes a spin-off of La casa de papel featuring Berlin, The body is on fire, a crime drama starring Úrsula Corberó and Quim Gutiérrez, Mano de hierro about drug trafficking in Barcelona featuring Chino Darín and Jaime Lorente, and the thriller adaptation La chica de nieve starring Milena Smit and José Coronado, arriving in January 2023.
Primary Video
Amazon Prime Video continues to offer a catalog that includes El Cid, Stories to Not Sleep, A Private Affair, Operation Black Wave, Boarding School: Las Cumbres, and Better Days, with new seasons confirmed. The editorial slate also teases Red Queen’s near completion, the adaptation of Juan Gómez Jurado’s bestsellers featuring Vicky Luengo and Hovik Keuchkerian, and Los Farad, a Marbella-based look at arms trafficking from the 1980s, with contributions from Miguel Herranz and Susana Abaitua.
HBO Max
On HBO Max, the fresh premiere of García! marks a punchy entry as Franco’s cryogenized super-agent unlocks a 21st-century arc, complemented by Patria, 30 coins, Vota Juan, and other Spanish-language fiction. ATresplayer Premium also showcases series like La ruta, La novia gitana, Veneno, Cardo, and other upcoming installments. December brings UPA Next, a continuation of A Step Forward, with more episodes slated for 2023. A notable case is Nacho, a portrayal of Nacho Vidal, premiering on Lionsgate+ (formerly Starzplay) this December as it contemplates a new home beyond Spain’s borders. 2023 will likely see more fiction looking for fresh outlets.
Filming
The actor’s path continues with another acting credit after Doctor Portuondo, along with Joana and Mireia Vilapuig preparing a sisters’ autobiographical arc, and a third installment titled Selftape expected in 2023.