Domingo Corral, who led original production at the Telefonica-owned Movistar Plus for over a decade, has transitioned into an independent producer role following a new agreement with HBO Max. His departure from Movistar in May 2025 was described as a shock exit, but by March of the same year, he had secured a partnership to develop scripted television and film projects. In an exclusive interview at the MIA Market in Rome, Corral expressed gratitude for finding a partner that shares his vision, noting that alignment with commissioners is crucial for his new chapter.
The production deal was initially announced at Series Mania earlier this year. Under the agreement, Corral will collaborate with HBO Max originals executives Sarah Aubrey and Casey Bloys, who are now part of the senior content team at the merged Skydance business. The first project under this partnership focuses on the disappearance of petty criminal El Nani, also known as Santiago Correla, set against the backdrop of Spain's transition from dictatorship to democracy in the 1980s.
Corral reflected on his time at Movistar, where he worked within a telecommunications company alongside engineers and finance professionals. He argued that the success of their original productions proved that quality content can be commercially viable without being niche. "We weren't making niche content simply to win awards," Corral stated, explaining that the primary objective was always to retain subscribers and attract new ones while maintaining high storytelling standards. He views HBO as a prime example of an entity that successfully merges these goals.
His career path includes 15 years at Turner Broadcast System, where he rose to become General Manager and SVP of Turner Iberia before joining Movistar in 2014. During his tenure at Turner, he oversaw operations for channels such as CNN, TCM, Boing, Cartoon Network, and TNT in Spain and Portugal. This background positioned him well for the HBO partnership, given the historical proximity of Turner and HBO within the Time Warner stable.
Corral's exit from Movistar Plus sparked significant reaction within Spain's creative community. An open letter signed by nearly 200 industry figures, including Pedro Almodóvar and Penélope Cruz, criticized the move, praising Corral and his team for their respect toward creators and focus on entertainment. While Guillermo Farré, who effectively replaced Corral on the cinema side, stated that the direction initiated by Corral remains valid, the company has not officially commented on the departures, attributing them to a wider organizational restructure.
Corral himself remains uncertain about the reasons for his dismissal, noting that he did not ask and simply moved on. He described feeling bruised initially but ultimately lucky to find a new home with HBO. At the MIA Market, he passionately advocated for commissioners to take ambitious risks, warning that failing to do so could mean missing out on future hits like La Bola Negra. Despite a humorous mix-up where his production company was misidentified as "Good Day Productions" on a screen at the Westin Excelsior Hotel, Corral maintained his focus on his core belief: that quality films and series should be assumed to be mainstream rather than difficult or exclusive.
Sources: Deadline.