Christ and the King: An In-Depth Look at the New Atresplayer Premium Series
Atresplayer Premium opens 2023 with a highly anticipated title, the Atresmedia-produced series Christ and the King. The program, detailing the life of Ángel Cristo and Bárbara Rey, is slated for release in mid-January and will join the platform’s catalog on January 15. Following its debut, the show will also air in prime time on Antena 3 for viewers who prefer to watch on television outside the streaming environment.
Jaime Lorente and Belén Cuesta headline the drama, stepping into the shoes of the well-known couple who became a defining image of 1980s Spanish society. The production notes indicate a swift, magnetic flirtation between the famous bullfighter and the celebrated vedette, followed by a marriage that unfolds with all its light and shadow. The narrative structure mirrors the tension and contradictions that defined their public lives.
Cast members include King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía, portrayed with particular attention by Cristóbal Suárez and Salome Jiménez. Additional roles feature Chelo García-Cortés brought to life by Adriana Torrebejano, the character Payasito played by Artur Busquets, and Paco Ostos portrayed by David Lorente. The ensemble is completed by a cast that includes José Milán in the role of Blasco, Chema Adeva as Cristóforo, Belén Ponce de León as Margarita, Vicente Vergara as Andrés, Diana Peñalver as Salvadora, Secun de la Rosa as Richardi, Ana Carrasco as Hortensia, Mirela Balic as Cata, Antonio Buil as Mancuso, and Elvira Cuadrupani as Patri Veracruz.
Summary of ‘Christ and the King’
The story unfolds in Madrid in 1979 with Ángel Cristo renowned as the best trainer in the world and Bárbara Rey, an actress and the muse of a public spectacle, as Spain’s most desired woman. Their meeting quickly leads to an engagement, followed by the wedding of the year that adorns the covers of magazines everywhere. The couple’s public life becomes a flamboyant showcase—a million-dollar enterprise marked by glamour, luxury, and the circus world that surrounds them.
Wealth, fame, and opulence define the nine-year romance, during which Ángel Cristo and Bárbara Rey celebrate the birth of their children, Angelito and Sofia, and acquire luxury assets including sports cars, jewelry, and an extravagant villa in La Moraleja. Beneath the glitter, however, the relationship is shadowed by rising issues: drug dependence, gambling, infidelity, and mistreatment emerge. Against this backdrop, the series hints at the influence of a powerful statesman on Bárbara Rey’s life, adding a political dimension to the personal saga.
Drama Team
The show is produced by Montse García and Daniel Ecija under Series Atresmedia, with Daniel Écija serving as the creator and director of Christ and the King. The production management team includes David Molina and Salvador Gomez, while Ana Sainz-Trápaga and Patricia Álvarez de Miranda oversee casting. The writing team features Daniel Écija, Andrés Martín Soto, and Patricia Trueba as coordinators, along with César Mendizábal, Iñaki San Román, and Ángel Gasco-Coloma. The arts administration is led by Coldo Valleys, with Tommie Ferreras serving as cinematographer and Loles Garcia handling costume design.