Spielberg to produce the remake of the Catalan public television series ‘Polseres vermelles’ for American network ABC

Barcelona (ACN).- One of Catalan public television’s hits will be adapted by Steven Spielberg for the American network ABC. The series ‘Polseres vermelles’, which literally means ‘Red bracelets’, is about the experiences of a group of children and teenagers with cancer, who are being treated in hospital. The series, which has been produced and broadcast by Televisió de Catalunya (Catalan public television) wants to portray the values of friendship, solidarity, resilience, tenderness, and love, without dramatising the situation and patronising the characters. ‘Polseres vermelles’ became the season’s biggest success on Catalan television. It is based on the personal experiences of script writer and creator, Albert Espinosa. Espinosa was diagnosed with cancer when he was 14 and spent some months in hospital. Nowadays, he is a successful script writer, who played out his experience with cancer in a theatre play, a movie and now the series that Steven Spielberg will produce it. ‘Friends’ creator and scriptwriter Marta Kauffman might be in charge of the series adaptation, which may be titled ‘The Red Band Society’.

The Midas King of Hollywood and founder of Dreamworks, Steven Spielberg, has bought the rights to adapt ‘Polseres vermelles’ for American television. Albert Espinosa announced the negotiations through his Twitter on Thursday. On Friday, Catalan public television confirmed an agreement had been reached. Spielberg and Marta Kauffman will adapt the series. Espinosa believes Spielberg and Kauffman will keep the spirit and tone of the series, as “they really know how to picture friendship” and a child's hopes and imagination. However, some parts of the plot might be slightly altered.

Currently Catalan public television is preparing the second season of the series, directed by Pau Freixas.