Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, the visionary writer-director-producer trio behind acclaimed projects like “La Bola Negra” and “La Mesías,” are set to executive produce an ambitious new drama series currently in development for HBO Max in Spain. The prestige project is being created by two of Spain’s preeminent screenwriters, Fran Araújo and Eduard Sola, uniting a premier roster of creative talent in contemporary European television.
The series is freely inspired by tragic, real-life events that took place in the remote mountain hamlet of Tor, situated in the high Pyrenees. To this day, the dark and complex circumstances surrounding the Tor case remain unresolved, continuing to capture the public imagination across Spain through its layers of mystery, folklore, and local conflict.
Fran Araújo brings an extraordinary pedigree to the writers’ room. He served as a co-writer on Alberto Rodríguez’s critically acclaimed historical drama “The Anatomy of a Moment,” which earned an International Emmy nomination. Araújo also won a prestigious Goya Award for his screenplay work on “One Year, One Night.” Furthermore, his extensive crime-writing credits include Movistar Plus hits such as “Hierro” and “Rapa.” Beyond his writing, Araújo has established himself as a powerhouse executive producer on many of Movistar Plus’s most daring and celebrated drama series. His executive producing credits include Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi’s deeply moving “La Mesías,” Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s “The New Years,” and Alauda Ruiz de Azúa’s intense family drama “Querer.”
Eduard Sola joins Araújo as co-creator, bringing his own formidable track record of critical and commercial success. Sola co-created “Querer,” which claimed the top prize at Series Mania 2025. He also penned the breakout Catalan feature film “A House on Fire” and wrote HBO Max’s highly regarded 2026 anti-gentrification drama series “Ravalear: Not for Sale,” which earned a coveted selection at the Berlinale.
In addition to the creative firepower of Araújo and Sola, the project is being developed in collaboration with journalist and author Carles Porta, who wrote the definitive book on the Tor tragedy, titled “Tor: tretze cases i tres morts.” Porta’s deep investigative work into the remote mountain community provides a robust factual foundation for the dramatic adaptation.
Uniting a mouthwatering younger pedigree talent package, the down-the-decades drama series will explore the deep-seated tensions, dark secrets, and legends of a forgotten borderland. According to HBO Max, which officially announced the project, the series will blend mystery, suspense, and rich human drama to revisit events that continue to fascinate the country. The platform described the upcoming release as an ambitious adaptation inspired by real events.
Reflecting on the unique setting of their story, Fran Araújo and Eduard Sola shared insights into the vast and atmospheric world they are building. They noted that Tor is far more than just a crime story or a collection of 2,300 hectares of forest. Instead, they described the hamlet as a universe unto itself, extraordinarily rich in compelling characters and striking landscapes.
As a physical and cultural place of passage nestled between two countries, Tor has been shaped by historical events that have left permanent marks on both the rugged terrain and the handful of people who inhabit it. It is a location deeply imbued with an ancient magic that dictates the rhythms of daily life and long-standing feuds.
The screenwriters expressed that starting from a world so fertile for storytelling is a profound professional privilege, noting that doing so alongside Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi—whom they regard as two of the most stimulating creative minds in the country—makes the collaboration even more rewarding. They began this challenging creative journey with deep gratitude toward HBO Max for their unwavering trust, expressing excitement to immerse themselves in a mountain environment known for drawing in everyone who ventures into it.
The series has been established at Suma Content, the prominent production company founded by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi. Suma Content previously developed “La Mesías,” which was widely acclaimed as one of the finest Spanish television series of recent years, as well as “La Bola Negra,” a project that earned the creators a shared Cannes Best Director award alongside a prestigious TIFF People’s Choice Award, which frequently serves as a bellwether for Academy Award Best Picture nominations.
Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi emphasized that opening this new chapter at Suma Content feels monumental, noting their belief that the Tor-inspired series could easily become one of the company’s flagship productions due to its grand scale and sweeping vision. Working with Fran Araújo and Eduard Sola represents an immense privilege for the filmmaking duo, who have long been fascinated by the haunting aura of the Pyrenean hamlet.
The mystery surrounding the mountain of Tor has intrigued Calvo and Ambrossi for years, leading them to conclude that they hold a story with enormous poetic and entertainment potential. Their goal is to create something entirely unprecedented on television: a gripping narrative where nature, sweeping landscapes, and isolated spaces act as protagonists in their own right. At the same time, the series aims to preserve the authentic, intimate voices of its characters across multiple decades within an addictive, fast-paced narrative structure. They echoed their appreciation to HBO Max for believing in the bold artistic vision behind the project.
Guillermo Farré, head of local original production at HBO Max in Spain, highlighted the unique synergy of the creative team assembled for the series. He noted that the project successfully brings together some of the most exciting creative voices working in Spain today. Farré praised Fran Araújo and Eduard Sola for their exceptional ability to craft rich, character-driven stories, while commending Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi for continually pushing creative boundaries through their distinctive vision and high ambition.
Farré concluded that the series, inspired by the extraordinary and haunting world of Tor, possesses all the essential elements of a powerful, prestige HBO drama. He expressed pride in supporting these visionary creators as they bring the dark Pyrenean mystery to life for global audiences.
