Prime Video has announced that its limited series adaptation of Isabel Allende's debut novel, 'The House of the Spirits,' will premiere worldwide on April 29. The eight-part series, described as the streaming platform's most ambitious Latin American original to date, will be available in over 240 countries and territories.
Speaking at the Berlin Film Festival, Javiera Balmaceda, head of local originals for Latin America, Canada and Australia at Prime Video, said: 'This is our most ambitious Latin American original to date and it embodies our unwavering investment in elevating storytelling on the global stage.' She added that the series represents the company's commitment to empowering visionary creators to tell culturally authentic stories.
The series spans half a century, following three generations of women—Clara, Blanca and Alba—as they navigate life in a conservative South American nation marked by class conflict, political turmoil and touches of magical realism. Showrunners Francisca Alegría and Fernanda Urrejola co-wrote the pilot and insisted the series be shot in Chile, the novel's setting, despite it not being the obvious choice initially.
Chilean director Andrés Wood, known for films such as 'Machuca,' joined the project later, directing four episodes and serving as co-showrunner. He noted that the entire leadership team was made up of women, with him being the only male voice in the room. 'It was a new experience for me—much more collaborative than what I was used to,' he said.
Urrejola, who also plays Blanca in the series, described the experience as life-changing. 'The story covers very universal and profound themes. So right from the start, having to delve into those topics changes you,' she said. Casting proved the greatest challenge, as the production needed actors who could convincingly portray the same characters at different life stages.
