HBO Max has obtained an exclusive premiere TV agreement with Domingo Corral, the acclaimed Spanish television executive whose exit from Movistar Plus+ last year prompted an unprecedented show of sector backing. The deal, announced this week at the Series Mania festival in France, marks a substantial endorsement in Corral’s creative direction at a time when Spanish television is experiencing unprecedented international recognition. The deal grants HBO Max exclusive rights to develop original TV content with Corral in Spain, with the inaugural project already approved: a series examining the case of El Nani, a young criminal who vanished in police custody during Spain’s shift towards democracy in 1983.
A New Beginning for Spanish Television’s Creative Leader
Corral’s exit from Movistar Plus+ in May 2025 caused upheaval through Spain’s entertainment industry. The announcement sparked an remarkable collective letter endorsed by close to 150 prominent figures, among them Pedro and Agustín Almodóvar, Javier Bardem, and Penélope Cruz, conveying thanks for his leadership and concern for the service’s prospects. Their combined message underscored the considerable effect Corral had exerted on Spanish broadcasting’s artistic development and worldwide profile during his tenure at the country’s biggest subscription television provider.
Under Corral’s creative direction, Movistar Plus+ achieved remarkable success on the worldwide market. In 2025 alone, the platform’s output secured the principal honour at Series Mania for Alauda Ruíz de Azúa’s “Querer,” whilst Oliver Laxe’s “Sirāt” claimed the Jury accolade at Cannes and later earned two Oscar nominations. These accolades demonstrated that Spanish television could compete at the top tier globally, positioning the nation as a serious creative force in premium content production.
- HBO Max Chief Content Officer Sarah Aubrey revealed the exclusive first-look deal
- El Nani series represents the first project within the new partnership agreement
- Alberto Rodríguez and Rafael Cobos will write and direct the El Nani series
- Corral maintains practice of backing Spain’s most creative storytellers and filmmakers
The El Nani Project and Corral’s Signature Style
The first project under Corral’s HBO Max deal demonstrates his distinctive approach to producing television that illuminates pivotal moments in Spanish history. The El Nani series examines the puzzling loss of a small-time criminal in police custody during 1983, a case that served as a symbol of Spain’s fraught transition to democracy. Rather than approaching it as a straightforward crime narrative, the project casts the following trial as a testing ground for testing the nation’s fledgling democratic institutions. This thematic depth—recasting a solitary incident into a broader examination of systemic accountability—represents the defining characteristic of Corral’s curatorial vision.
The creative team brought together for El Nani underscores this commitment to excellence. Alberto Rodríguez, alongside Rafael Cobos, will pen and helm the series, contributing substantial credentials to the project. The pair are also competing in Series Mania’s primary competition this week with “The Anatomy of a Moment,” another Movistar Plus+ production from the Corral era. Their involvement indicates that HBO Max is backing proven creators capable of producing the sophisticated, character-driven storytelling that has become associated with prestige Spanish television.
A Tried and Tested Partnership Comes Back
The working relationship between Corral and Rodríguez-Cobos is not without precedent; their previous work together under Movistar Plus+ established a creative rapport founded on shared creative vision. This sustained partnership benefits for both parties. For HBO Max, it guarantees that Corral brings proven collaborators into the fold, professionals already attuned to his editorial sensibilities and equipped to producing work that meets worldwide expectations. For Corral himself, preserving these connections provides sustained creative energy as he manages his move from platform executive to independent producer.
Sarah Aubrey’s comments at Series Mania underscored HBO Max’s commitment to supporting creators rather than constraining them. “The answer always is the best stories from the best creators,” she stated when asked about the streamer’s commissioning philosophy. This approach appears well-suited for Corral, whose body of work demonstrates an unwavering dedication to identifying and nurturing Spain’s leading creative voices. By offering him a first-look deal with editorial freedom, HBO Max signals its readiness to back his artistic vision and editorial sensibilities.
Spain’s Television Renaissance Under Corral’s Direction
Domingo Corral’s tenure as head of drama and entertainment at Movistar Plus+ significantly altered Spain’s standing within the global TV sector. Under his leadership, the platform progressed from a regional pay-TV service into a creative force capable of competing with Europe’s top-tier networks. His editorial approach prioritised artistic ambition over profit-driven concerns, resulting in a collection of programmes that garnered recognition at the continent’s most esteemed festivals and awards ceremonies. This strategic commitment to quality over quantity cemented Movistar Plus+ as a platform for sophisticated audiences and a beacon for top-tier creative talent.
The acknowledgement afforded to Corral by Spain’s creative institutions underscores the importance of his achievements. In May 2025, approximately 150 luminaries from Spain’s entertainment world—including Pedro and Agustín Almodóvar, Javier Bardem, Penélope Cruz, and Alejandro Amenábar—released an joint statement articulating their gratitude for Corral’s contributions and airing concerns about Movistar Plus+’s strategic path following his exit. This unprecedented display of unity from the nation’s creative elite demonstrated the deep effect Corral had exercised on Spanish television production and its global standing.
| Series Title | Key Achievement |
|---|---|
| “Querer” | Series Mania top prize (2025), directed by Alauda Ruíz de Azúa |
| “Sirāt” | Cannes Jury Prize (2025), two Oscar nominations |
| “Sundays” | San Sebastián top prize (September 2025), from Alauda Ruíz de Azúa |
| “The Anatomy of a Moment” | Series Mania main competition entry (2026), written and directed by Alberto Rodríguez and Rafael Cobos |
| Movistar Plus+ slate | Elevated Spain’s international television profile and established platform as European creative destination |
The scope and standard of these successes illustrate that Corral’s achievements was neither accidental nor isolated. His talent for spotting compelling narratives and match them with visionary creators delivered a regular supply of award-winning content that connected with viewers worldwide. This body of work affords HBO Max with considerable confidence as it enters into its collaboration with Corral, indicating that his forthcoming projects will maintain the creative excellence and cultural importance that defined his Movistar Plus+ output.
The Direction of Auteur-Focused TV
The HBO Max deal marks a pivotal moment for visionary television in the digital age. By offering Corral an first-look exclusive deal for Spanish-language productions, the American streaming giant is actively supporting a creative philosophy that emphasises artistic credibility and cultural value over standardised content created solely for algorithmic engagement. This move demonstrates HBO Max’s fresh dedication to competing beyond on viewer counts but on the quality and status of its original programming. Corral’s appointment underscores a broader industry understanding that acclaimed storytelling, especially from non-Anglophone regions, forms a crucial competitive edge in an highly competitive digital marketplace.
The opening project under this arrangement—a show centred on El Nani, a petty offender whose disappearance in police custody during 1983 epitomised Spain’s challenging shift to democratic rule—exemplifies the standard of material Corral tends to favour. Led by celebrated film-makers Alberto Rodríguez and Rafael Cobos, the series promises to merge historical weight with current significance, examining themes of state accountability and justice that extend well beyond Spanish borders. This focus on substantial content suggests that HBO Max aims to leverage Corral’s expertise to develop content with genuine artistic ambition, positioning Spanish television as a foundation of its global approach.
Uncertainties Surrounding the Streaming Landscape
Despite the confidence encompassing Corral’s appointment, considerable concerns remain regarding the sustainability of quality TV output within the streaming ecosystem. Whilst HBO Max has demonstrated commitment to quality programming under Sarah Aubrey’s leadership, the broader streaming industry continues grappling with financial difficulties and changing audience demands. The budgetary constraints confronting streaming platforms occasionally conflict with the extended production timelines and significant investment needed for truly compelling creator-led productions. Whether HBO Max can sustain its investment in culturally important Spanish-language programming amid wider sector consolidation and economic uncertainty stands as an open question that will substantially influence the platform’s trajectory.
Furthermore, Corral’s move from Movistar Plus+—Spain’s dominant subscription television platform with deep institutional knowledge and national market reach—to HBO Max raises questions about artistic independence and resource allocation. Whilst Aubrey’s stated commitment to “the best stories from the best creators” indicates a supportive environment, the practical demands of operating across a vast multinational enterprise stand in sharp contrast to stewarding a national platform. The extent to which HBO Max will afford Corral the creative latitude and financial flexibility he benefited from at Movistar Plus+ is yet to be determined, particularly as streaming services navigate tightening financial constraints and competing strategic priorities across multiple territories and content verticals.
- Will HBO Max maintain funding in prestige Spanish content amid economic pressures?
- Can Corral uphold his artistic approach within a multinational corporate structure?
- How will this deal shape European creators’ ties with streaming providers?
