Berlin's Spectacular Return: Money Heist Star Pedro Alonso Set to Steal the Show
Pedro Alonso, the charismatic star of Money Heist, shares insights on the captivating character of Berlin and the thrilling Spanish-language series With Netflix fueling the rise of Spanish content, discover how this iconic actor continues to captivate new audiences worldwide
When asked about his infamous "Money Heist" ("La Casa de Papel") character Berlin, Pedro Alonso finds himself in a bit of a bind. "When I was reading the script, I was wondering, what are people going to think about this guy? Hes an emotional terrorist," Alonso said with a laugh during a video call.
Alonso is set to reprise his role as the carefree, sophisticated, and slightly psychotic thief in the upcoming Netflix prequel "Berlin," a highly anticipated spin-off of the hit TV show "Money Heist" that is scheduled to premiere on December 29th. Despite his character's fate in the original series, Berlin will return in the prequel, portrayed as a younger version with some notable differences.
Alonso expressed, "We appreciate what Money Heist has brought to us and now we release it. The new tone is filled with more comedy and romance; there's a lighter quality ingrained in its essence."
Even though it maintains the essence of what made Berlin a beloved character - leaning more towards "Sleeping with the Enemy" as opposed to "Sleepless in Seattle" - Alonso emphasized that love plays a significant role in the spinoff. "Love is the centerpiece. Just picture Berlin in a romantic comedy," he joked.
"Berlin" is a "Money Heist" prequel featuring Alonso as the titular thief, this time with a whole new gang, and striking a very different tone.
Before the events of "Money Heist" season one, the upcoming series will depict Berlin during the peak of his criminal activities, as he plans a new heist intertwined with a compelling love story.
Berlin is known for his clever planning and execution of intricate thefts, but when it comes to love, he has struggled. It is disclosed in "Money Heist" that he has been married at least three times.
"Berlin initially astonished me. People would say he's cold, but I soon realized he is a romantic at heart," Alonso said.
Located in the romantic city of Paris, viewers will witness Berlin (real name Andrés de Fonollosa) attempting to execute an extraordinary heist. The latest trailer for the show reveals a new team of thieves joining him, with their plan to steal â¬44 million ($48 million) in a single afternoon.
It is Berlin's volatile and morally questionable nature that continues to draw Alonso in. "Every time I've had to embody the character, it feels like stepping into a completely different film. It's a role with depth and richness," Alonso reflected.
Finding new audiences
"Molotov Cocktail," a Spanish production, has captivated audiences worldwide. Premiering in 2017, the series, created by Ãlex Pina and produced by Vancouver Media, has gained global recognition and spearheaded a new era of Spanish content with international appeal. By the conclusion of its broadcast, it had solidified its place as one of Netflix's most successful non-English language titles to date.
Pedro Alonso as Berlin, the sadistic thief at the heart of crime caper "Money Heist" (2017-2021).
Alonso emphasized the positive impact of the La Casa de Papel (Money Heist) phenomenon, stating, "The success of the show, along with the collaboration between Vancouver and Netflix, has given me the assurance that I am in a supportive environment where the content is continuously improving."
Vancouver Medias' collaboration with Netflix was a turning point for "Money Heist," reshaping its path. Netflix acquired the streaming rights to the show, originally aired on Spanish TV, and reworked the original 15 episodes into 22 episodes. This move led to the commissioning of more seasons and significantly impacted the show's success. According to Alonso, the collaboration transformed the Spanish media production industry, leading to an increase in the production of Spanish shows.
"The global market has created a new landscape, and now we are producing series that are, at least technically, competitive in any market. It's been a huge leap," he said. "In the last eight, nine, ten years, there has been a complete revolution in Spanish storytelling."
Major streaming platforms have made substantial investments in Spanish-language content and are now seeing the benefits. This trend has even caught the attention of Robert De Niro, who appeared in Hulu's popular Spanish-language series, "Nada."
Amazon Prime Video's "Argentina, 1985" was nominated for an Oscar and won Best Foreign Language Film at the Golden Globe awards this year. They are now expanding their collection of Spanish-language movies and TV shows, such as the thriller series "Los Farad," featuring "Money Heist" actor Miguel Herrán.
Spanish-language drama "Argentina, 1985" won a Golden Globe earlier this year.
Amazon Studios' commitment to Spanish-language content has been amplified by Netflix's recent investment in Spain, particularly with the expansion of its Spanish production hub in Tres Cantos, located just north of Madrid.
The streaming giant doubled its Spanish TV original series last year and expanded its facility in Tres Cantos, making it Netflix's first production facility in Europe with 10 stages and a post-production facility. It's where a lot of the platform's Spanish-language content is filmed, including "Valeria" and "La Sociedad de la Nieve," which is Spain's nomination for Best International Film at this year's Academy Awards.
"I was part of the first two seasons of Money Heist and received great reviews, but unfortunately my character died. Now, seven years later, I'm back with you. That's the power of Netflix - it can bring dead characters back to life," Alonso said with a laugh.
On a more serious note, Alonso believes that with the recent success of Spanish titles, the rise of streaming is set to continue growing and succeeding.
He mentioned that nobody can predict what will happen next year, but he believes that Spanish production is gaining well-deserved global recognition, which is very exciting. "Berlin" is set to debut on Netflix on December 29th.
