Jack the Ripper Series, Transplanted to America and Starring Demián Bichir, Shooting for ViX, Larrain Brothers, Movistar Plus+ (EXCLUSIVE)

Anna Marie de la Fuente

The infamous serial killer Jack the Ripper has been transplanted to America in ViX Original Series “El Dentista” (“The Dentist”) (working title) with Oscar-nominated Demián Bichir (“A Better Life”) in the titular role. Behind-the-scenes pics of the series, now shooting in Mexico, have been exclusively shared with Variety. 

Based on the novel ‘The Foreign Visitor’ by prominent Chilean scribe Julio Rojas, creator of podcast sensation “Caso 63” and a co-writer on Pablo Fendrik’s “El Refugio,” the period thriller series is produced by Oscar-winning brothers Pablo and Juan de Dios Larrain (“A Fantastic Woman,” “Jackie,” “Spencer”) and their powerhouse shingle, Fabula, along with the top Spanish pay TV/SVOD service Movistar Plus+, which will also handle international sales.

More from Variety

This is possibly the second time that Fabula handling a mythical figure after Pablo Larrain’s horror satire “The Count,” which world premiered at the Venice Film Festival and is now streaming on Netflix. However, in “The Count,” Larrain reimagines Chilean military tyrant Augusto Pinochet as a vampire.

“El Dentista” follows Nolasco Black, a forensic dentist investigating a gruesome murder. His personal tragedy fuels his determination to catch the killer, who turns out to be Jack the Ripper, bent on pursuing his murderous rampage in America. Nolasco, with the help of the secretive Flammarion society, sets out to stop Jack, aided by Sofia, a brilliant chemist. As they collaborate to solve the case, Black and Sofia fall for each other. Jack becomes aware of their pursuit, sparking a deadly showdown.

“’El Dentista’ is a series that brings together a true dream team of talent both in front and behind the camera. Our first project with Fabula, in a great partnership with the Larrain brothers, is an intelligent and passionate thriller created and written by the renowned screenwriters Julio Rojas and Israel Adrian Caetano, and starring the Academy Award nominee Demián Bichir. The gripping pace of the plot and the elegance of the staging make this series a show that will not leave ViX viewers indifferent,” said Rodrigo Mazón, ViX chief content officer for TelevisaUnivision.

The series is executive produced by Bichir, and Fabula execs Ángela Poblete and Mariano Carranco.

Mexico’s Hari Sama (“This is Not Berlin”) and Argentina’s Israel Adrián Caetano (“El Marginal”), also serving as executive producer and writer, direct the series.

Bichir leads a strong cast that includes Dagoberto Gama, Ianis Guerrero, Roberto Sosa, Claudia Ramírez, Carlos Aragón, Lisa Owen and Natasha Dupeyrón.

The Dentist
The Dentist

“It is an immense joy for me to be part of this formidable group of actors and production team led by ViX and Fabula. Julio Rojas’ story is such a powerful material that we are all enjoying enormously,” said Bichir, adding “We hope people will love it too when they watch it.”

“Working alongside such brilliant teams as ViX and Fábula on a suspenseful thriller is an honor for us. We are sure that this series is going to delight us with the huge international run it has ahead of it,” said María Valenzuela, Movistar Plus+ International general manager.

According to Fabula CEO Juan de Dios Larraín, principal photography of the series is mainly taking place at Veracruz’s historic harbor until the end of the year.

Pablo Larrain has been shooting his latest film based on another legendary figure, “Maria” with Angelina Jolie playing one of the world’s greatest opera singers, Maria Callas.

Since its launch by TelevisaUnivision in early 2022, ViX, which offers more than 75,000 hours of on-demand content and more than 100 streaming channels in Spanish, has been revving up its original content for both its subscription and ad-supported tiers by striking production deals with some of the most prominent content creators in the Spanish-speaking world.

These include Salma Hayek Pinault’s Ventanarosa Prods., Manolo and Juancho Cardona’s banner 11:11 Films & TV; Mexico’s Argos Contenido, Lemon Films, Alazraki and Edge Films, Argentina’s FAM Contenidos, Spain’s Morena Films, as well as Miami-based BTF Media and W Studios.

“El Dentista” marks the second high-profile new original series for Movistar Plus+ in the space of two days after it announced on Wednesday “The New Year’s Eves,” from Spain’s Rodrigo Sorogoyen, behind “Riot Police” and an episode of “Offworld,” both for the Spanish operator.

Almost all Movistar Plus+ series have been set in Spain. “El Dentista” marks a three way alliance which it will find immensely attractive, bowing the bullish ViX and an array of talents including not only the Larrain’s but Hari Sama, whose “This is Not Berlin” was selected for Sundance and Israel Adrian Caetano, a leading light of the New Argentine Cinema.

‘The Foreign Visitor’ (‘El Visitante Extranjero’) is published by Penguin Randomhouse.

John Hopewell contributed to this article.      

Best of Variety

Sign up for Variety’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.

Advertisement