WildSheep Content Prepares Film Adaptation of The Death of Artemio Cruz by Mexican Author Carlos Fuentes

This year, WildSheep Content is focusing on projects with more agile financing structures—such as films.

Jimena Rodríguez, Head of Latin America at WildSheep Content, told PRODU that this doesn’t mean “we’re no longer exploring projects under the original streaming/IP model. That’s still very interesting to us—it’s just that right now, in terms of volume, we’re producing more under different financing and production schemes,” she explained.

Rodríguez highlighted three films currently in development: a horror film, the co-production No Me Sigas with a major U.S. company; a comedy (title still under wraps) slated for 2026; and the major project The Death of Artemio Cruz, directed and adapted by Sebastián del Amo. Rodríguez also mentioned the Chilean miniseries Raza Brava, directed by Hernán Caffiero. “In the Latin American division, we’re working on very diverse projects this year and next, in various genres,” she noted.

NO ME SIGAS

The horror film No Me Sigas, set to premiere in Mexican theaters later this year and distributed by Cinépolis, is produced by Jonathan Davis (The Edge Films), Javier Sepúlveda (Maligno), and Eduardo García Lecuona. Sepúlveda and García were also executive producers on Huesera: The Bone Woman.

Rodríguez explained that No Me Sigas is the first feature film co-directed by siblings Ximena García Lecuona and Eduardo. The film follows Carla, a young woman desperate to fit in socially who becomes an influencer and tries to gain followers by moving into a haunted apartment. She pretends to see ghosts—until she actually summons a malevolent spirit that takes over her life.

“We’re really enjoying the horror space and are in talks with other directors, creators, and producers in the genre to explore future projects. We hope No Me Sigas will be the first of many horror films of this kind. We’re thrilled to collaborate with first-time directors—it’s been a wonderful and fun experience,” she said.

THE DEATH OF ARTEMIO CRUZ

One of WildSheep Content’s highest-profile projects is the film adaptation of The Death of Artemio Cruz, based on the literary masterpiece by Carlos Fuentes.

“I don’t think you can aim much higher when it comes to Latin American IP. For me, Carlos Fuentes is arguably the most significant novelist in Mexican literature and one of the leading figures of the Latin American Boom. This adaptation was a major challenge. The script was adapted by Sebastián del Amo, who is also directing. He accomplished what very few could: he transformed a complex literary work into something accessible to a wide audience, without losing the intelligence and humor of the original material. Unlike No Me Sigas, which is directed by newcomers, The Death of Artemio Cruz is being helmed by one of Mexico’s most established filmmakers,” Rodríguez said enthusiastically.

She noted that for Sebastián del Amo—who directed Cantinflas (2014), “one of the most successful Spanish-language films in the U.S.” and Mexico’s submission to the Oscars that year—The Death of Artemio Cruz will be his fourth film as director and third as screenwriter.

“Sebastián is a seasoned director with a brilliant mind, and this is a very ambitious project. We’re assembling the best creative team Mexico has to offer—from the cast to the technical crew,” she emphasized.

Rodríguez explained that when she considered adapting The Death of Artemio Cruz, she knew only a few people would have the vision and sensitivity to adapt such a literary novel and make it accessible to all of Mexico. “Sebastián was the only person I would trust with it. I didn’t know him personally, but I sought him out because I was familiar with his work. When I mentioned The Death of Artemio Cruz, within a week he had already developed a wonderful, brilliant adaptation approach,” she said.

She added that they just completed the adaptation script. “It took a long time to secure the rights, as this is such an important work for Mexico and Latin America, culturally and literarily—it was quite a process. But we now have a draft we consider ready for filming,” she said.

MEXICAN INCENTIVES

Rodríguez emphasized the importance of Mexican production incentives, especially for The Death of Artemio Cruz.

“I’m a firm believer in incentives—they truly help keep the industry alive in Mexico. For The Death of Artemio Cruz, we’re definitely planning to apply for incentives. For example, the state of Durango has already offered us various forms of support at the state level, and we’ll also be seeking federal incentives,” she explained.

She added that Mexican incentives are highly competitive due to the volume of projects. “Thankfully, there’s so much creativity, so many people eager to create—that’s why it’s competitive. But the programs are excellent. I think Eficine and Foprocine are very important,” she added.

MINISERIES ABOUT CHILE’S COLO COLO TEAM

Outside Mexico, WildSheep Content is working with acclaimed Chilean director Hernán Caffiero, an International Emmy winner for a documentary he made a few years ago. The project is a miniseries titled Raza Brava, “set in the underworld of football and centered on Garra Blanca, the fan base of Colo Colo,” Rodríguez explained.

Raza Brava is set during the Pinochet dictatorship in Chile and follows the friendship of two neighborhood boys over the years as they discover in football a form of rebellion and liberation against the oppressive regime. “It’s a very powerful and moving story about friendship, loyalty, and survival,” she said.

The series is nearly ready. “Working with a mind like Hernán Caffiero’s—with his creativity and the seriousness with which he approaches his work—has been incredibly rewarding. We’re very excited to bring this series to the world. It’s Hernán’s project—he’s been working on it for years. His university thesis documentary was also called Raza Brava. It’s his passion,” she shared.

She noted that they are already negotiating with the streaming platform where it will premiere. “We have the pilot and second episode ready and are finalizing the rest,” she said. The series will air on Chilean television as a second window.