Megan Espinoza, VP of Film and TV Development for Gato Grande's English division: We believe there is a lot of interest in magical worlds where people can lose themselves
Megan Espinoza, VP of Film and TV Development for Gato Grande’s English division, commented that they are developing a series based on the book Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs. The adaptation will be done by Bronwyn Garrity and Gato Grande, combining suspense and fantasy, which is in high demand by audiences.
“We believe there is a lot of interest in magical worlds where people can lose themselves. With so many difficult and complicated things happening in the world, the chance to escape into these fantasy worlds is something audiences value,” said Espinoza. She added that having characters in their twenties, a time in life when people are still finding their path and haven’t made big mistakes, is also appealing.
It’s a global story, featuring characters from different places and backgrounds: Mexico, England, and the East Coast of the USA.
“Something we like is that it’s a super commercial story with three main characters, one of whom is Mexican-American. Her perspective is different, but her Latina identity isn’t her whole story: it’s part of her character and journey in this magical world,” she explained.
Espinoza mentioned that both sisters have the same American father but different mothers: one Mexican and one English. “We believe this series has great potential to travel globally,” she said.
They are looking for the right partners, whose involvement will define some development aspects. They are also working with Bronwyn to fully understand her vision and the series’ direction. “As we know, books often change when adapted for the screen. Some things work well in a book but not in visual media, so we need to decide which parts to stay true to and which to expand or change,” she added.
The story follows half-sisters Esther and Joanna, who grew up immersed in magic and were raised by a father dedicated to protecting an ancient library of spell books. When they meet Nicholas, the world’s last living scribe, they realize the magic business is far bigger and more sinister than they expected, finding themselves at the center of a global conspiracy to control magic and those born into it.
This successful American IP has been translated into half a dozen languages. It will have executive production by Törzs and Gato Grande’s Executive Director Carla González Vargas, with Megan Espinoza leading the production.
