Comedian and Writer Adrián Manzano Seeks Buyer for His Bilingual Sitcom Comedia del Adri

Adrián Manzano, comedian and writer, is presenting the pilot of his sitcom, Comedia del Adri, at several festivals, including the Indiewood Film Festival on Saturday, Sept. 12, at the TCL Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Blvd. in Los Angeles, and the FilmGate Festival in Miami on Saturday, Sept. 26.

The 30-minute pilot, produced by his company Gran Manzana Films in Mexico City, is designed as the first episode of a nine-episode series following Adri, a middle-aged Mexican-Colombian comedian rebuilding his life and career in Mexico City. His relationship with Bella, a young German woman, raises questions about family, identity and cultural differences.

The 30-minute pilot, produced by his company Gran Manzana Films in Mexico City, is designed as the first episode of a nine-episode series

“It’s a classic American sitcom, but we’re making it bilingual, half English and half Spanish. It’s a group of international friends. We have Colombians, Mexicans, Koreans and a German in the cast. It’s a modern, international and multilingual story,” Manzano told PRODU.

He said his goal is to secure a buyer for the project, with plans to produce the remaining eight episodes this year and have the series begin distribution and streaming next year.

He highlighted the series as an elevated comedy that is simple to produce and for which all the scripts and cast are already in place. He added that they are open to celebrity cameos and stunt casting. He estimates the production budget at US$40,000 per episode. He plans to attend the Guadalajara Film Festival and the Ventana Azul market.

Manzano emphasized that there are not many elevated sitcoms in the multilingual and multicultural market like Comedia del Adri.

“It’s a style of comedy that is low-budget. We can launch it next year and it can run for many years because Adri, the main character, was designed in the style of Seinfeld. Adri is at the center of the core group, but the other crazy characters around him are the ones who will drive the story. I hope my character can step back and simply narrate through the comedy, while the other characters carry the story,” he said.

Adrián Manzano

He noted that each season could take place in a different city. The first season is set in Mexico City, but subsequent seasons could take place in New York or Madrid.

He explained that the first season is set in Mexico because the story explores gentrification in the city.

Comedia del Adri stars Adrián Manzano as Adri, opposite Dilara Foscht as Bella, Alejandra Herrera as María, Byungsun Kim as Ramón, and Mabel de la Luz, who also stars. Chase Bradburn is the director, and Samira Mekibes Meza is the producer.