Netflix Sets Brazilian Original with Carlos Saldanha

Netflix has revealed the new original series Invisible Cities, created and directed by Brazilian director Carlos Saldanha (Ice Age, Rio, Ferdinand) and starring Brazilian actor Marco Pigossi (Caras & Bocas).

Invisible Cities tells the story of a detective who finds himself caught in a murder investigation that puts him in the middle of a battle between two worlds: the natural world and an underground one inhabited by mythical creatures evolved from a deep lineage of Brazilian folklore. The 8×1-hour series will start production at the end of 2018.

Pigossi also joins the cast of Tidelands, a supernatural crime drama and the first Australian Netflix original series. The project also marks a first in Pigossi’s career: his debut in acting in English.

Erik Barmack, Netflix’s VP of international original content, said: “This new project marks an important moment in our slate of Brazilian originals as we add a new genre to the diverse content we’ve been working to offer to our audiences by tapping into the cultural mixture that makes Brazil such a rich and interesting source of stories with universal appeal. We are beyond excited for doing so by partnering with talented and world-class director Carlos Saldanha.”

Saldanha added: “Invisible Cities is a lifelong passion project that brings me back to filming in my home country. I’m thrilled to capture a contemporary take of Brazilian folklore with the millions of people around the world connected through Netflix.”

“We are thrilled to have a talent like Marco Pigossi joining Netflix. Marco has had such an influence on Brazilian culture, and we couldn’t be more excited to be apart of his journey to reach and entertain a global audience,” said Tesha Crawford, Netflix’s director of international original content.

Pigossi remarked: “This is a great moment for me, embracing the opportunity as an actor to live the plurality and creative challenges that a partnership with Netflix presents. To have this cultural exchange and film with actors and crew from different nationalities is a huge learning, even more knowing that people all around the world will watch the result. And now also having the privilege of working in my own country with such an amazing creator as Carlos Saldanha. It is an amazing opportunity!”