In a busy police station, two plainclothes officers discuss the case: the murder of two prominent businessmen, a married couple in the quiet town of Tarragona. One of the agents stands out as more than a typical officer, celebrated for saving lives during the 2017 Cambrils attack while in disguise as the actor Miguel Bernardeau. The scene belongs to the Terra Alta series, produced by Movistar Plus+ and adapted from Javier Cercas’s novel of the same name, winner of the Planeta Award.
The project began as a crime thriller created by Eligio R. Montero, known for a notable film. It is scheduled to debut in 2025. Montero contributed to the records of EL PERIÓDICO. As in Cercas’s body of work, Soldiers of Salamis, the narrative hides more secrets than a single killer.
Director Edward Cortés explains that the series probes pain, revenge and the forces that generate violence. The story moves across two timelines: the present, with the lead as a police officer in Terra Alta, and flashbacks that reveal a complicated past.
spent in prison
Melchor Marin is the central character who spent years on the streets and in prison over a drug trafficking case. There he finds a cathartic moment while reading Les Misérables, learns that his mother was murdered, and resolves to become a police officer to track her killer, a pursuit that has lingered without resolution. The Cambrils attack constitutes another turning point in his life.
After that trauma a new phase unfolds in Terra Alta, where he builds a life with a partner older than him, Martha Etura, bonded through their shared love of books. When a fresh murder surfaces, the case returns to haunt him. The actor notes that the character gains greater empathy on screen; in the book Melchor keeps quiet, and early drafts reflected that, but audiences found it hard to connect with him.
The series also reshapes parts of Cercas’s novel. The director notes that the adaptation complements the book well, acknowledging that changes are inevitable. Some elements may surprise both readers and first time viewers.
The core of the novel remains, including the backstories of the main characters, even as the audiovisual language and storytelling approach differ, requiring changes to suit the screen.
Attack of the Cambrils
One scene remains central the Cambrils attack. The production presents a dramatic reconstruction rather than a literal transcript of real events. The cinematography keeps a bright exterior while the male characters often move in shadows, and everyone harbors a hidden motive.
Filming took place in a mix of places including Barcelona, Sant Just Desvern, Sant Esteve Sesrovires, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Gandesa, Corbera d’Ebre and Tenerife with Sequoia Studios handling production. Although the plot and setting are largely depicted with Catalan sensibilities, the dialogue is in Spanish to reach a wider audience.
An all Catalan cast
The core cast around Bernardeau and Etura includes Catalan talents such as Goya Toledo, Ivan Massagué, Bea Segura, Pere Ponce, Pablo Derqui, Manel Barceló and Jordi Martínez with a special collaboration by Francis Orella. The director describes a very enigmatic figure who ties the ensemble together.
The project could grow further as Cercas’s book was designed as part of a trilogy that later includes Independence and Bluebeard’s Castle, leaving many threads to explore. The producer expressed optimism for more seasons if the show succeeds.