Carlos Quintanilla from SPT: “With Carlota We Want To Tell A Modern And Entertaining Story”

Sony Pictures Television (SPT) presented one of its most ambitious projects, the international series Carlota: La Emperatriz que Cruza Fronteras (Carlota: The Empress Who Crosses Borders), during Iberseries & Platino Industria.

The panel, titled Carlota: The Empress Who Crosses Borders — Content Still Reigns at Sony Pictures Television, featured Spanish actor Miguel Ángel Silvestre and Carlos Quintanilla, VP & Head of Content and Production Latam/USH at Sony Pictures Television Latin America. The session was moderated by Adriana Castillo, general coordinator of Platino Industria.

The panel Carlota: The Empress Who Crosses Borders — Content Still Reigns at Sony Pictures Television, featured Spanish actor Miguel Ángel Silvestre and Carlos Quintanilla, SPT Latam

During the presentation, Quintanilla offered in-depth insight into the origin and motivation behind the series, whose development dates back to 2012, when he and screenwriter Adriana Pelusi began writing it. Quintanilla noted that the project emerged at a key time “when biographical series became trendy,” although it remained “in a drawer” (shelved) for some time until its recent and successful revival.

According to Quintanilla, the team’s main motivation is “to do justice to Carlota” and deeply explore her complex personality. Historically, Carlota “has been labeled as crazy,” but the series aims to portray her as a woman who was “very modern for her time.”

“This is a project that has matured over time, and we are convinced of its international potential. Carlota’s story is fascinating, complex, and global, and we are committed to telling it with the production quality that characterizes Sony Pictures Television,” said Quintanilla.

TELLING AN ENTERTAINING STORY

Quintanilla explained to PRODU that they do not aim to make a strictly factual story, but rather “to tell an entertaining story about something very particular that happened in Mexico in the 1860s,” he said.

He explained that when one looks into the couple’s story, “thousands of rumors appear that are fascinating for our work, which involves drama, comedy, and tragedy—because ultimately, it’s a tragic love story. We didn’t want to focus only on the tragedy that happened to these two human beings, but also on their love story—to move audiences and also entertain them. We really wanted to use the historical period as a framework to tell a modern story that feels touching and fun for today’s audiences.”

He added that it’s a very modern story about a couple with problems who resolve them in different ways: “Through love and eroticism, this couple would sometimes solve their conflicts. We’re going to tell that story—what we believe happened behind closed doors at Chapultepec Castle,” he noted.

He indicated that part of the production will be filmed in Spain, where one of the castles will serve as a key location for the story.

TRENDS

Quintanilla commented that after the pandemic, content trends “change very quickly”—previously they could last two years. “At Sony, we work with the data we have, using it as a compass, not a GPS—it helps guide us toward what audiences are consuming. We also look at what platforms or partners are acquiring. We’re playing with that balance, along with the stories we want to tell. These are the three perspectives we use to create content that can reach the largest possible audience,” he emphasized.

CASTING

He mentioned that casting for Carlota is not yet open. They are currently working with the four lead actors they wanted for the series. “I’m fortunate that the four actors I approached loved the script I gave them and the story I told them—and they all said yes. That’s the advantage we have, and I’ve had full support from Sony to make it happen. But the key has been the story—it excites them, it inspires them. That’s our confirmed first line of cast.”

He added that they are now working on the villains. “We’re in the next stage with the actors we’d like to bring in for those roles, and we’re close to opening a general casting call, looking for European and Mexican actors to tell our story as authentically as possible,” he emphasized.

He said the series will feature a female villain who will make Carlota’s life impossible, but he could not reveal more details.