La Máquina: Your Complete Guide to Hulu’s First Spanish-Language Original Series

La Máquina is an exciting Spanish sports drama series set to premiere as a Hulu original on Wednesday, October 9, 2024. This series marks a significant milestone as it will be Hulu’s first original Spanish-language series. Directed by acclaimed Mexican filmmaker Gabriel Ripstein, known for his previous works including 600 Miles, Chronic, From Afar, April’s Daughter, and Pulling Strings, La Máquina promises to captivate audiences.

The narrative centers on the life of an aging boxer, Esteban Osuna, who faces a life-altering defeat in the ring. Contemplating retirement, Esteban finds support from his manager and best friend, Andy Lujan, who is determined to push him back into the boxing world. The series delves into Esteban’s inspiring journey to defy the challenges of aging, regain his athleticism, and prepare for one last fight.

Acclaimed actors Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna headline the series, portraying Esteban and Andy respectively. Their enduring friendship dates back to their collaboration in the 2001 film Y Tu Mamá También. La Máquina is helmed by writer and showrunner Marco Ramirez, who has an impressive track record, having worked on The Defenders, Sons of Anarchy, and Daredevil.

Who is in the cast of La Máquina?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTYtPvowLhw

La Máquina | Official Trailer | Hulu (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTYtPvowLhw)

In addition to Bernal and Luna, the talented ensemble cast of La Máquina includes:

Eiza Gonzalez as Irasema
Juan Carlos Huguenin as Memo de la Peña
Christopher Evangelou as Harry Felix
Sandra Quiroz as Doctor Liu
Alberto Trujillo as Police
Karina Gidi as Carlota
Jorge Perugorria as Sixto
Luis Gnecco as Facundo
Raul Briones as Juan Carlos
Andres Delgado as Saul
Lucia Mendez as Josefina
Ricardo Lozano as Vip ring side
John Paul Wendt as Felix’s cutman

Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna discuss their friendship and filmmaking

Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna are longtime friends (Image via Hulu)

Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna share a deep friendship, both professionally and personally. The pair first graced the screen together in the acclaimed 2001 queer road drama Y Tu Mamá También and later reunited as step-brothers in the 2008 sports comedy Rudo y Cursi.

Now, after more than a decade, the duo reunites for the Hulu original series La Máquina, produced under their collaborative production company La Corriente del Golfo. In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly published on September 5, 2024, Bernal shared insights into the extensive training required for his role:

“It took a whole lot of preparation and a lot of effort, nights out, and not sleeping. It was a lot of preparation, a lot.”

As a long-time boxing fan, Bernal elaborated on his dedication to mastering the sport for his character, stating:

“It’s knowing how to guard, to throw, to move, to dodge, many, many, many things. Unfortunately, boxers used to be great, but now, not so much anymore.”

He further acknowledged Luna’s impressive transformation, remarking:

“It heightened the state of everything. It made it so much more exciting and so much more interesting.”

Luna emphasized the joy of working out together and the thrill of the boxing experience, noting:

“I really love boxing, and it was very nice getting fooled by the illusions. He was in the ring, and he was fighting. And he was definitely achieving everything that we discussed and that we dreamed about. You can tell he understands fighting.”

He also pointed out how Bernal’s physical transformation aligned perfectly with his role:

“We were in a set that was an actual arena, there was an actual boxer in front of my friend, and you couldn’t tell who had more years training. It was very, very exciting to watch.”

La Máquina will be available for streaming on Hulu starting October 9, 2024. Viewers can subscribe starting at $7.99/month after a free 30-day trial. Note that the subscription will increase to $9.99/month on October 17, 2024.

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