Álex Pina and Esther Martínez Lobato, best known for creating the global hit Money Heist (La Casa de Papel), bring a new project to Netflix with Billionaires’ Bunker (El Refugio Atómico). The series is set to premiere on September 19 as the streamer’s most ambitious Spanish production yet.
Billionaires’ Bunker opens with World War III at the doorstep. Max (Pau Simón), sentenced after crashing his car into a tree while under the influence and causing the death of his girlfriend Ane, is released from jail and taken with his father to Kimera Underground Park, a luxury bunker 900 feet below ground. As the nuclear war destroys the world outside, old grudges resurface inside between Max and Ane’s father, Guillermo (Joaquín Furriel), and her sister, who are also sheltered in the bunker with him.
The cast includes Miren Ibarguren as Minerva, Joaquín Furriel as Guillermo, Natalia Verbeke as Frida, Carlos Santos, Montse Guallar as Victoria, Pau Simón as Max, Alicia Falcó as Asia, Agustina Bisio as Mimi, and Álex Villazán as Ciro.
Produced for Netflix by Vancouver Media, Pina and Martínez Lobato’s Madrid-based label, the series begins with an apocalyptic tone before shifting into a lighter, more playful genre, “like a Russian doll“.
“The show does make reference to the current geopolitical situation, but it is more about the journey of the characters, more about an emotional journey.” said Pina. “In a way, Billionaires’ Bunker goes further than Money Heist. Trapped in the bunker, they lose hope. All that is left to them is to take off their masks and be themselves.”
“This is a show about large deceptions and big secrets,” added Martínez Lobato. “The change of genre is counterbalanced by the ensemble cast and strong character creation. Different viewers will fall in love with different characters for different reasons.”
Billionaires’ Bunker premieres on Netflix on September 19.
Source: Episode Magazine, Variety
