Roma’s Nicolás Celis Inks First-Look Pact with Endeavor & Exile

Exile and Endeavor Content have signed an exclusive first-look deal with Roma producer Nicolás Celis and his Mexico City-based production company Pimienta Films.

The first project under the new deal is the TV series Perfect Monsters, created by Celis, Marion d’Ornano and Enrique M. Rizo. Billed as an epic Western set in a desolate Mexican desert during the 1960s, it is based on the critically acclaimed novel by Miguel Ángel Molfino.

In the story, when 18-year-old Miro Hordt finds his parents murdered, he has no choice but to run—straight into the lives of a desperate arms dealer, a gang of robbers and a trio of corrupt detectives, all in search of redemption, power and freedom.

The deal with Celis and Pimienta follows on a partnership between Exile and Endeavor announced earlier this year to develop Spanish-language scripted television projects.

“We are fully committed to empowering the most exciting voices in Latin America, and Nicolás has an unparalleled track record at identifying and championing the best talent and projects in the region,” said Daniel Eilemberg, president of content at Exile.

“Nicolás is renowned for working on high quality and impactful projects and we are excited to be working with him on his first step into television drama with Perfect Monsters, a gritty and powerful coming-of-age Western,” said Kelly Miller, VP of international strategy at Endeavor Content.

“We are finally developing episodic content and I am very thrilled to partner up with Exile and Endeavor Content,” said Celis.

Among his numerous credits, Celis developed Amat Escalante’s Heli, which premiered in Cannes in 2013 and won best director; The Untamed, which premiered at the 2016 Venice Film Festival and won the Silver Lion for best director; Tatiana Huezo’s documentary Tempestad and Ciro Guerra and Cristina Gallego’s Birds of Passage (Pajaros de Verano), which premiered in the 2018 Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes. Celis executive produced Jonás Cuarón’s Desierto, starring Gael García Bernal, and most recently produced Alfonso Cuarón’s Academy Award-winning film Roma.