Amazon Studios announced on 28 March that it has greenlit a straight-to-series order of a four-hour miniseries that draws on the epic saga of Hernan Cortes. Based on the screenplay by Dalton Trumbo (Roman Holiday), the Amblin Television series is written by Academy Award-winner Steven Zaillian (Schindler’s List). Three-time Academy Award-winner Steven Spielberg (Saving Private Ryan), Javier Bardem and Steven Zaillian are set to executive produce the show. Bardem of No Country for Old Men fame is also set to star in the series.
“Cortes’ epic discoveries shaped the world as we know it today, and through the minds of Amblin, Steven Spielberg, Steve Zaillian and Javier Bardem, we will bring Prime Video members on an exhilarating journey. There are few moments in history that shape an entire culture such as Cortes’ story, and this series will be one filled with drama and adventure.”Sharon Yguado, Head of Scripted Series, Amazon Studios.
Cortes revolves around the legendary conqueror, Hernan Cortes, who led a rebellious expedition to the heart of King Montezuma II’s Aztec empire, connecting two civilizations for the first time and changing the course of history. It will stream on Amazon Prime Video.
Bardem expressed excitement over the prospect of working with his ‘dream team’.
“It is a privilege to tell this epic story— one that is full of drama and conflict within this huge, historical spectacle where two distant civilisations clash at the height of their reign. The best and worst of human nature came to life in all its light and darkness. As an actor, there is no better challenge than to serve such a unique project that I have been passionate about for years, and I am thrilled to be working with this dream team of Steven Spielberg, Steven Zaillian and Amazon.”Javier Bardem
Given his derision for the format, this announcement comes as a surprise. The blockbuster director had said in an interview, “You certainly, if it’s a good show, deserve an Emmy, but not an Oscar.” He was on the press tour for his upcoming film, Ready Player One.
Spielberg publicly slammed Netflix’s film-distribution model. Signalling a fear of an infiltration by Netflix and a threat to the movie-theater model, Steven Spielberg recently went on record and said that Netflix films should be barred from the Oscars. He termed them TV movies and believes that they are only eligible for Emmy Awards. This year, Netflix’s Mudbound was nominated in four categories.
“I don’t believe films that are just given token qualifications in a couple of theaters for less than a week should qualify for the Academy Award nomination.”Spielberg in an interview to ITV
Even Christopher Nolan had recently criticised Netflix’s ‘bizarre aversion to supporting theatrical films’.
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