Portugal’s Caracol Studios, Spain’s TV ON Join Forces on Thriller Project ‘Past Waters,’ Pitching at Iberseries (EXCLUSIVE)

Portugal’s Caracol Studios has partnered with Spain’s TV ON Producciones to co-produce an exciting new crime drama titled “Águas Passadas” (“Past Waters”). This gripping series is crafted by Bruno Gascon and draws inspiration from a bestselling novel penned by esteemed Portuguese author and screenwriter, João Tordo.

The project is set to be presented on Wednesday, October 1, at the Iberseries & Platino Industria’s Co-Production and Financing Forum in Madrid.

Spanning eight episodes, the thriller revolves around Lisbon detective Pilar Benamor, who is tasked with unraveling the mystery behind the murders of two teenagers while grappling with her own inner demons. As she navigates the rain-drenched streets of Lisbon, Pilar is aided by a reclusive Spanish figure, Cícero Guzmán, and defies her superiors in a relentless pursuit of a dangerous psychopath.

Prominent Portuguese actress Helena Caldeira, known for her role in “Turn of the Tide,” headlines the cast. Gascon will take the director’s seat, working from a script he co-authored with Tordo and Spain’s María Mínguez, famed for her work on “Custodia compartida.”

Filming is slated to begin in 2026, utilizing picturesque locations across Valencia, Spain, as well as Cascais and Lisbon in Portugal. The project has garnered support from the Portuguese public broadcaster RTP, received cash rebates from Pic Portugal, and backing from Spain’s Instituto Valenciano de Cultura.

“Past Waters” was initially unveiled at Conecta Fiction 2024 and has since been chosen for Serielizados’ Mind the Gap, generating substantial excitement in the industry as it heads into Iberseries.

Joana Domingues, a producer at Caracol Studios, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “We’re excited to bring ‘Past Waters’ to life with RTP and TV ON, especially with the creative forces of João Tordo, Bruno Gascon, and María Mínguez involved. This captivating thriller is rich with complex characters and a narrative that has universal resonance, bridging top-tier talent from both Portugal and Spain.”

Paloma Mora, CEO of TV ON, highlighted the series’ potential for expansion: “This first season adapts the inaugural novel of João Tordo’s trilogy, and there’s a real possibility of developing further installments. Showcasing the series at Iberseries presents a fantastic opportunity to finalize financing and bolster our international positioning.”

Gascon, acclaimed for his Portuguese features like “Carga” and “Sombra,” along with the series “Irreversível,” described “Past Waters” as transcending typical procedural dramas. He called it “a psychological thriller that intertwines crime investigation with a profound portrayal of resilience and strength amidst adversity.”

João Tordo continues to expand his impressive portfolio, which includes notable RTP dramas such as “O Segredo de Miguel Zuzarte,” “Filhos do Rock,” and “País Irmão,” alongside Netflix Portugal’s breakout success “Turn of the Tide,” also known as “Rabo de Peixe.”