By Movistar Plus+’s “The Castle” (“El Castillo”) is the Spanish series everyone’s talking about at Mipcom 2026 — and it’s already being hailed in Spain as the Spanish series of the year after a hit debut at the San Sebastián International Film Festival.
The six-part drama, which premiered on Movistar Plus+ on October 8, 2026, marks the series creator debut of Isabel Peña — best known as Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s longtime co-writer on “The Beloved,” “The Beasts” and “The New Years” — alongside Eduardo Villanueva.
“The Castle” (Credits: Movistar Plus+)
A Brutal Look at Spain’s Sex Trafficking Networks
Adapted from “El proxeneta” (“The Pimp”), the non-fiction work by two-time Goya winner Mabel Lozano, the series reconstructs the rise of trafficking and sexual exploitation networks in Spain during the late 1990s. The plot follows young police inspector Gerardo Liesa (Omar Ayuso) and his partner Carmen Osés (Laia Marull) as they investigate brothels and a sprawling prostitution network — with an ambitious kingpin (Raúl Arévalo) at its center.
The show has been described as “Zodiac” with sex clubs: a meticulous criminal investigation shown from both sides — the perpetrator’s and the victim’s — unfolding as a character odyssey against the damning backdrop of how the business still operates, backed by clients, politicians and judges.
San Sebastián Acclaim and Six Taut Episodes
Presented out of competition at the 74th San Sebastián International Film Festival on September 25, 2026, “The Castle” became the festival’s breakout series — echoing how “La Mesías” stole the show three years earlier.
Directed by Elena Martín Gimeno (“Creatura”) and Sandra Romero (“As Silence Passes By”), the series runs six 50-minute episodes. Critics have praised its refusal to sensationalize: Raúl Arévalo, Omar Ayuso and Laia Marull lead a cast reviewers call brilliant, with one review declaring it “a reality check” and “one of the best series of the year.”
Movistar Plus+’s Biggest Mipcom Bet
“The Castle” is the centerpiece of Movistar Plus+’s Mipcom slate alongside “Celeste” Season 2 and the Arte France co-production “Killing a Bear.” The strategy is paying off: Movistar Plus announced in July it would double its original Spanish series output from eight to 16 titles a year, betting that prestige originals drive the most engagement.
Produced by Movistar Plus+ with Caballo Films and Mafalda Entertainment, “The Castle” is exactly the kind of smart, issue-driven genre drama that travels — a crime thriller that never forgets to entertain, but refuses to look away.
Source: Variety — read the full story there.
