Creative team and production partnership

HBO Max announced on 30 September 2026 that it is developing a new drama series inspired by the unsolved deaths in the Catalan Pyrenean mountain village of Tor. Screenwriters Fran Araújo and Eduard Sola are attached as creators and primary writers, while filmmakers Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi will serve as executive producers through their company Suma Content. The production is being developed in collaboration with investigative journalist Carles Porta and his production banner Luminol Media. Calvo and Ambrossi direct and produce through Suma Content following the release of their feature film La bola negra, which won the Best Direction award at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival and the audience award at the San Sebastián International Film Festival. Araújo won a Goya Award for One Year, One Night and co-wrote The Anatomy of a Moment, while Sola wrote the film A House on Fire and co-created the series Querer. Calvo and Ambrossi commented on their vision for the mountain setting in a statement issued through the platform.

“We want to create something that we haven't seen before: a series in which nature, landscapes and spaces are protagonists in their own right, without ever losing the voice of their characters over several decades, within an addictive narrative.”

Pyrenean setting and true crime origins

The narrative is freely inspired by the history of Tor, a remote mountain community in Lleida near the border between Spain and Andorra. The area has been marked by decades of conflict over 2,300 hectares of mountain forest, as well as three unsolved deaths that continue to attract public attention in Spain. The focal point of the local history includes the July 1995 murder of Josep Montané, known as Sansa, which remains unclosed by investigators. Porta previously examined the disputes and killings in his book Tor. Tretze cases i tres morts, as well as in a 2024 docuseries. Rather than making a direct book adaptation or a documentary format, the new project will construct a multi-decade fictional drama blending suspense and human conflict. Araújo and Sola described the significance of the Pyrenean territory in an official release.

“Tor is so much more than a crime. So much more than 2,300 hectares of forest. Tor is a universe itself, extraordinarily rich in characters and landscapes. A place of passage between two countries, shaped by historical events that have left their mark on the landscape and on the few people who inhabit it. A place imbued with an ancient magic.”

Development slate and European programming

The Tor project is part of HBO Max's development pipeline for European scripted programming. The initiative is overseen by Guillermo Farré, the platform's head of local original production, who recently succeeded José María Caro in the executive post. HBO Max has also expanded its European roster with other regional commissions, including a French medical drama inspired by The Pitt. Creative development and scripting for the Tor series will remain with Araújo and Sola, while Suma Content and Luminol Media handle production responsibilities. Farré commended the creative partnership in an official statement.

“This project brings together some of the most exciting creative voices working in Spain today. Fran Araújo and Eduard Sola have an exceptional ability to create rich, character-driven stories, while Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi continue to push boundaries with their distinctive vision and ambition. Inspired by the extraordinary world of Tor, this series has all the elements of a powerful HBO drama, and we are proud to support these creators in bringing it to life.”