Actresses Karla Sofía Gascón and Itziar Ituño have committed to star in the upcoming Spanish television series When Devils Rule (Los demones mandan). The six-part political fantasy satire is produced by Spain’s Atlantika Films and is currently in development.
Plot and literary inspiration
The contemporary thriller incorporates elements of supernatural fantasy, folklore, and satire. According to the production’s logline, the story features demons hiding in plain sight while manipulating powerful figures as the world slides into chaos.
Creator and producer Nano Arrieta stated that the storyline is loosely inspired by Manuel Mujica Lainez’s novel The Journey of the Seven Demons. However, rather than a literal adaptation, the creators adapted the book’s themes of temptation and power to reflect contemporary issues such as genocide, the rise of fascism, and political extremism.
The narrative centers on four working-class heroines whose occupations support society in care, education, healthcare, and journalism. Gascón has been cast as Manuela, a teacher at an elite school, while Ituño will play Evita, the personal secretary to a fictional country’s prime minister. Connected through a community center, the women step in where institutions fail to unmask demons embedded in society.
Production and financing
When Devils Rule reunites Ituño with director Rodrigo Susarte and Atlantika Films, a banner that also produced the Movistar Plus original Patagonia. The pilot script is currently being drafted by Arrieta alongside Basque screenwriter Ibai Ariztegi.
Approximately 60% of the Spanish production costs are covered by the Basque region’s tax incentive. Arrieta is seeking additional platforms, broadcasters, financiers, and production partners during the development stage.
The project is scheduled to be pitched at Tallinn’s TV Beats Co-Financing Market, where it will compete for the €50,000 Council of Europe Series Co-Production Development Award.