Germany’s RTL has acquired royal drama “Maxima” from Beta Film. The show follows the life of Argentinian born Maxima Zorreguieta, who later became Queen Maxima of the Netherlands.
The first six-hour season of the show has just wrapped shooting. Several additional territories are in negotiations. A sneak preview of “Maxima” will be presented at Mipcom in Cannes. The series is produced by Millstreet Films and was commissioned by RTL Netherlands’ OTT service Videoland.
Shot in New York, Spain, the Netherlands, and Belgium over the course of the summer, the series features a stellar cast: Maxima is portrayed by Argentinian actress Delfina Chaves (“The Secret of the Greco Family”), and Crown Prince Willem-Alexander by Martijn Lakemeier (“The East”). German star actor Sebastian Koch (“The Lives of Others,” “Your Honour”) takes on the role of Claus von Amsberg, Willem-Alexander’s father, and Elsie de Brauw (“The Death of My Mother”) stars as Queen Beatrix. Valeria Alonso (“Tell Me Who I Am”) and Daniel Freire (“Sex and Lucía”) portray Maxima’s parents Maria Pame and Jorge Zorreguieta. Ivan Lapadula (“Dos Vidas”) plays Maxima’s ex-boyfriend Tiziano.
The show starts in Seville in 1999. From the moment the beautiful Argentine Maxima appears at the Dutch Crown Prince’s side, she finds herself in the spotlight. But when Willem-Alexander asks her to marry him, the past catches up with her. Heated discussions erupt about her father’s political career in the Argentinian Videla regime – something she never faced in her own circles. What allows Maxima to finally thrive at an old European court? And how can Maxima stay true to herself without giving up her family – or do these things not go together?
Saskia Diesing directs together with Joosje Duk and Iván López Núñez.
The writers room was led by Marnie Blok and Ilse Ott. Rachel van Bommel produces for Millstreet Films in coproduction with Beta Film and FBO.
“Maxima” is based on the book “Máxima Zorreguieta: Motherland” by Marcia Luyten, which was published by De Bezige Bij in the Netherlands; an Argentinian edition was published by Planeta.
