Amazon Prime Video Races With Fernando Alonso, Hoists Sails for ‘Boundless’
Amazon Prime Video has added racing driver Fernando Alonso to its original documentary lineup. A five-part series, “Fernando,” launches in Spain, France, Italy, UK and Latin America later this year, reports Deadline.
The series interviews his sister and partner, who offer a personal look at the former Formula One winner. The doc also follows him as he preps for his first Dakar Rally.
Headquartered in Barcelona, The Mediapro Studio is heading production. Javier Mendez, director of global content at The Mediapro Studio, stated: “Fernando is a winner and his goal this year has been to demonstrate that he is the best driver in any four-wheels vehicle.”
The Mediapro Studio also handled the first European Netflix and Amazon productions of “Los reyes de la comedia,” “Six Dreams” and “All or Nothing: Manchester City.”
In addition, Amazon is co-producing its own four-part Spanish series “Boundless” with Spanish broadcaster RTVE. The swashbuckling adventure dramatizes the 16th-century voyage of Spain’s Juan Sebastián Elcano and Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan.
Scheduled for a 2021 release, the dramatic “Boundless” follows Magellan as he proved the Earth is round. But it was a perilous journey. Of the 239 men and five ships that set off, only eight sailors returned on the one surviving vessel, the Nao Victoria. Production begins this summer at key historical locations, such as the Dominican Republic, the Canary Islands and the Basque Country.
“Boundless” will be directed by Simon West, who directed the blockbusters “The Expendables 2” and “Con Air.” Ricardo Cabornero, head of Prime Video content at Amazon Spain, called it “one history’s most incredible journeys.”
Also, Amazon Prime recently released the “Tales from the Loop” trailer. The show will debut April 3. It’s based on the acclaimed art of Swedish artist Simon Stålenhag and explores the town and people who live above “The Loop,” a machine built to explore the mysteries of the universe.
The sci-fi series stars Rebecca Hall (“Vicky Cristina Barcelona,” “The Town”), Paul Schneider (“Parks and Recreation”), Daniel Zolghadri (“Eighth Grade”), Duncan Joiner (“Waco”) and Jonathan Pryce (“The Two Popes”). “Tales from the Loop” is from executive producer Matt Reeves, who directed “Cloverfield” and “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.”
Vegans can enjoy the cooking show “New Day New Chef,” which recently kicked off on the streamer in the U.S. and UK. Hosted by vegan author Jane Velez-Mitchell, the eight-episode series illustrates that giving up meat and dairy isn’t a hardship. Celebrity guests, including vegan basketball star John Salley, Billie Lee of “Vanderpump Rules” and Olympic medalist Dotsie Bausch, rate dishes. Nine more episodes are in production, including a holiday special with festive plant-based recipes.
Finally, Amazon announced subscribers can watch the first season of select shows through Prime Video Channels at no additional cost, including “Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries: Season 1” from Acorn TV.
Photo credit: Toyota Europe YouTube channel