La Historia de Juana mixes melodrama with situation comedy

TelevisaUnivision launched its new W Studios production, La Historia de Juana, last Monday, June 3rd, in primetime at 9:30 pm. Inspired by Perla Farías’ original Venezuelan telenovela Juana la Virgen (2002), La Historia de Juana brings back the classic melodrama format with a modern twist. According to a visit by PRODU to the Gabriel García Márquez Studios in Mexico City (CDMX), producer Jorge Sastoque, the director, stage and camera crew, and some of the cast discussed the show’s significance. They emphasized its aim to revitalize the classic telenovela genre with contemporary themes.

“This project presents a unique challenge: honoring the traditional telenovela format while infusing it with contemporary themes. At W Studios, we’re achieving this by modernizing everything from the visuals to the actors’ delivery.  Our goal is to create a show that’s both entertaining and dramatic, offering viewers a fresh take on the classic telenovela experience. Finding uniqueness has been our biggest challenge” commented Jorge Sastoque, executive producer, who shares this role with Patricio Wills and Aimee Godínez.

This role marks a significant turning point in Brandon Peniche’s 22-year career. He tackles fresh storylines that challenge viewers’ expectations of the traditional telenovela format. “La Historia de Juana isn’t your typical telenovela,” Peniche explains. “The narrative and production value are unlike anything I’ve experienced before. It’s clear that WStudios and TelevisaUnivision are pulling out all the stops for this ambitious project.”

Director Rolando Ocampo considers La Historia de Juana his dream project.  He meticulously prepped for it, spending five months reading the script and a year crafting detailed notes. “We’re thrilled with the results,” Ocampo says. “We’ve developed a compelling narrative that blends melodrama with situational comedy. The show features a dysfunctional family intertwined with aspirational storylines.”

La Historia de Juana is a fresh adaptation by Perla Farías herself, collaborating with a team of writers including Verónica Suárez, Basilio Álvarez, and Felipe Silva. Directed by the trio of Rolando Ocampo, Luis Manzo, and Carlos Santos, the series will run for 65 episodes.  Leading the cast is Brandon Peniche, alongside Camila Valero, Fabiola Guajardo, Cynthia Klitbo, Irina Baeva, Grettel Valdez, and Mario Morán, with additional talented actors rounding out the ensemble.