Eugenio Derbez, a celebrated Mexican multihyphenate and co-founder of 3Pas Studios, made a significant mark at the Iberseries & Platino Industria in Madrid by headlining three notable events, showcasing his impact on the global entertainment landscape.
During his keynote address on Thursday, Derbez reflected on his extensive 30-year career, discussed his breakthrough in Hollywood with his directorial debut, “No Instructions Included,” and shared insights on how his company intends to adapt to the rapidly evolving audience preferences.
Partnering with Ben Odell at 3Pas Studios, Derbez indicated a strategic pivot towards embracing new digital formats. This move is not only aimed at sustaining the company’s operations but also at continuing the production of innovative features and series, he told Variety.
Looking ahead, Derbez is considering directing two new English-language projects and expressed his inclination towards crafting a dramedy, emphasizing the inseparable nature of comedy and drama.
Following “Instructions Not Included,” Derbez recently directed the pilot and finale of 3Pas’ International Emmy-nominated series “They Came in at Night” (“Y llegaron de noche”), which has enjoyed considerable success on TelevisaUnivision’s streaming platform, ViX.
At his keynote, he candidly shared how he learned the hard way that his unique brand of humor did not always transcend Mexican borders.
“With the advent of streaming platforms that have a global reach, it’s essential to create stories that possess broader universal appeal,” Derbez remarked. He noted that local narratives can still thrive emotionally, referencing the global hits “Squid Game,” “Roma,” and “Parasite.”
His journey through Hollywood required significant reinvention to avoid being typecast into comedic roles. By establishing his production company, he was able to realize projects like “Radical,” often sidelined for a decade until his performance in “Coda” earned an Oscar for Best Picture, paving the way for more dramatic opportunities.
“Comedy may be more challenging to produce, yet it often goes unrecognized,” he stated, drawing parallels with iconic comedians like Robin Williams, who ventured into dramatic roles to gain critical acclaim.
Derbez noted, “I began receiving more respect after I made ‘Radical,’ which remains Mexico’s highest-grossing drama to date.”
Reflecting on the role of AI in filmmaking, he acknowledged its potential benefits but warned that it could lack the essential soul that human creativity imbues into productions. “While AI can simplify the implementation of costly VFX, these automated creations may miss the human touch,” he cautioned.
At Iberseries, he introduced a dramatic series produced by 3Pas titled “El Juicio” (translated as “The Trial”), which is currently in post-production and expected to stream on Prime Video next year. The eight-episode series stars Derbez alongside “Money Heist” lead Pedro Alonso and is based on a real-life sexual abuse case reported by investigative journalist Leon Krauze.
Additionally, he presented Season 5 of “Derbez Family Vacation” (“De Viaje con los Derbez”), confirming it will not be concluding soon. “Season 1 almost caused a rift in our family,” he shared with Variety, adding, “We initially struggled to navigate this genre, but now we’ve established boundaries and that has vastly improved our experience.”
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