The director’s new feature film begins shooting in Extremadura with a cast led by Antonio de la Torre, Mariló Márquez Villa, and Julián Villagrán. It also marks the first project from Cut One, Boomerang TV’s new fiction label focused on innovative formats and storytelling.
“Caza Mayor,” directed by Daniel Sánchez Arévalo, is the latest Movistar Plus+ original film, following the success in 2025 of titles such as “Los Domingos” and “Sirat,” and continuing the platform’s commitment to supporting Spanish cinema and strengthening the national film industry. Starring Antonio de la Torre, Mariló Márquez Villa, and Julián Villagrán, and written by María Ballesteros and José Antonio de Pascual, the film has just begun production, which will take place over seven weeks in the towns of Fregenal de la Sierra, Bodonal de la Sierra, and Zafra, in Badajoz.
“Caza Mayor” is a Movistar Plus+ original production by Movistar Plus+, La Película del Tigre A.I.E., Estela Films, Tenampa Films, Cut One (Boomerang TV), Pólvora Films, and Tinnitus, with the participation of Atresmedia and the collaboration of Atresmedia Cine. It is financed by the Spanish Government (ICAA) and supported by the regional governments of Extremadura and the Community of Madrid. The film is set for a theatrical release in 2027, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures Spain, with international sales handled by Film Factory.
This new Movistar Plus+ original is a rural thriller with touches of dark comedy that explores the reasons why we believe in what we cannot see. In the middle of the night, José Luis, a pig farmer from Extremadura, arrives home covered in blood, claiming he has seen a tiger. Is he telling the truth, or is it an elaborate excuse to hide the fact that he was stealing three Iberian pigs? Thus begins a story that rides on the back of a tiger, shaking the quiet life of Fregenal de la Sierra, a small town in the province of Badajoz. Is it a desperate escape forward, or a final attempt to prove the truth?
“Caza Mayor” is an adaptation of the podcast “El Tigre,” winner of the Ondas Award for Best Fiction Podcast in 2025, written by María Ballesteros and José Antonio de Pascual, and available on the Podium Podcast platform.
In the words of Daniel Sánchez Arévalo: “A rural thriller. A drama. A dark comedy. A western, which is what I’ve always wanted to make. That’s what ‘Caza Mayor’ aims to be. It’s hard for me to find references, and I suppose that inability to categorize it is what attracted me most to the idea and what I strive for. In any case, I believe it’s something very much ours, something that defines us as a society and as human beings. One of the things that captivated me most about the podcast was the casting of local people from Fregenal de la Sierra, which gave it great authenticity and realism. That’s why I decided to do the same in the film-surrounding Antonio de la Torre with non-professional actors: Mariló, her children, her coworkers… all local people, to preserve that realistic tone. An extensive local casting process uncovered real gems, and then, together with our lead actors, we immersed ourselves fully in that unique Extremaduran accent one that has been largely unexplored in our cinema and is, for me, one of the project’s greatest strengths.”
According to Guillermo Farré, Head of Original Films and Spanish Cinema at Movistar Plus+: “At Movistar Plus+, we are great admirers of Daniel Sánchez Arévalo and have long wanted to work with him. From the moment we read the first drafts of ‘Caza Mayor,’ we were captivated by the strength of the project: a very personal blend of thriller and dark comedy, with emotional moments and a carousel of memorable characters. It offers a look at the contemporary rural world that we believe will truly resonate with audiences, and it perfectly aligns with Movistar Plus+’s commitment to supporting distinctive, ambitious projects that surprise viewers and reach a wide audience.”
In the words of producers Félix Tusell (Estela Films), Carmela Martínez Oliart (Tenampa Films), Rafa Taboada (Cut One), Arturo Valls (Pólvora Films), and Daniel Sánchez Arévalo (Tinnitus): “For us, ‘Caza Mayor’ is a unique film: a rural thriller with the soul of a western, infused with touches of dark humor and a distinctly Extremaduran voice. The script by Ballesteros and de Pascual masterfully balances genre elements with naturalistic storytelling. From this foundation, Sánchez Arévalo directs Antonio de la Torre in crafting a memorable protagonist who will force audiences to decide whether he is a cowardly liar or a martyr willing to defend the truth at all costs.”