Format

Movistar Plus+ has started filming Todo lo necesario, a new original three-part thriller series created by Marcel Barrena and Alberto Marini, in collaboration with Lastor Media. The series is inspired by the real-life negotiations for the release of three Spanish aid workers kidnapped by Al Qaeda in 2009. It explores one of the longest captivities of Western hostages held by the terrorist group, focusing on the political, emotional, and moral complexity surrounding the case. David Verdaguer, Enric Auquer, Marina Salas and Mónica López lead the cast.

Todo lo necesario is directed by Marcel Barrena and Fernando Trullols, and created by Barrena together with Alberto Marini, who also co-write the scripts. Following the success of El 47, Barrena and Marini reunite for this new Movistar Plus+ original production.

Synopsis
October 2009. Three Spanish NGO workers operating on the border between Mali and Mauritania are kidnapped by Al Qaeda. The series reconstructs the 267 days of captivity, portraying the intense political negotiations for their release, the anguish of their families, the survival struggle of the hostages, intelligence operations to locate them, and the moral dilemmas faced by all parties involved.
Filming takes place in Senegal (Saint Louis) and in Spain, including Barcelona and Murcia, in collaboration with the Murcia Film Commission.

Fran Araújo, Executive Producer at Movistar Plus+, said: “This series has been a long-awaited project. At the heart of Todo lo necesario lies a moral dilemma that immediately drew us in, as well as a complex portrayal of all the protagonists involved, which is very difficult to achieve. We have a director like Marcel Barrena, known for his humanity in portraying characters and his ability to connect with audiences through meaningful stories, and Beto Marini, with whom we have worked for a long time and whose talent we deeply value. Combined with a production company that takes great care in everything it does and an incredible cast, everything points to a major series premiering in a few months.”

Creators Marcel Barrena and Alberto Marini added: “From the writing stage, the intention is to build a thriller with no clean answers. Each character defends a partial truth. Families want to save their loved ones. Governments try to avoid setting a precedent. Negotiators know that a single wrong word can kill. The hostages move between necessity, business and survival. The captors are not just an abstract threat, but part of a much more complex political, religious, economic and criminal ecosystem.”