Wresting fans rejoice!
El Rey Network’s Lucha Underground has been renewed – the second season will go into production later this year for an early 2016 return.
For more, follow the jump.
EL REY NETWORK, MARK BURNETT AND UNITED ARTISTS MEDIA GROUP GREENLIGHT SECOND SEASON OF ‘LUCHA UNDERGROUND’
Professional Wrestling Series Goes Back Into Production In Fourth Quarter 2015
Austin, TX– September 21, 2015 – El Rey Network and Emmy Award®-winning producer Mark Burnett and United Artists Media Group today announced that the Lucha Libre wrestling series “Lucha Underground” will return for a second season. The action packed, character-driven series will go back into production in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles in the fourth quarter of 2015 and will premiere on El Rey Network in early 2016.
“We brought together some of the best athletes from lucha libre and wrestling to fight in Los Angeles this year on ‘Lucha Underground’. It was fresh, it was compelling and it got the attention and created buzz across the entire wrestling world,” said Executive Producer Mark Burnett.
El Rey Network Chairman and Founder Robert Rodriguez, said: “The explosive combination of athleticism and storytelling makes for such great television and I’m so pleased that this legendary wrestling tradition will continue to have a home on El Rey Network.”
Ancient tradition, extraordinary athleticism, and a flare for theatrics combine in El Rey Network’s wrestling series, “Lucha Underground”. The riveting original introduces American audiences to the high-flying aerial maneuvers, slingshot moves, dramatic masks, intricate, rapid-fire combinations and distinctive wrestling techniques of lucha libre, one of Mexico’s most popular sports. Fans will have a ringside seat as masked villains and heroes face off to battle for wrestling supremacy. It provides enthusiastic viewers with an incredibly visceral and explosive experience with a focus on the artistry, originality, intense action and over-the-top characters that has come to define this phenomenal fan-favorite. A celebration of lucha libre’s long-standing Mesoamerican heritage and culture dating back to 1863, this is programming that must be seen to be believed.
“Lucha Underground” is produced by United Artists Media Group in association with FactoryMade Ventures and AG Studios for El Rey Network. Executive producers are Mark Burnett, Eric Van Wagenen (also showrunner) and Brian Edwards of United Artists Media Group; Dorian Roldán from Lucha Libre AAA; Alejandro Garcia and Antonio Cué Sánchez-Navarro from AG Studios; El Rey Network co-founder Robert Rodriguez; and FactoryMade Ventures and El Rey Network co-founders John Fogelman and Cristina Patwa. The series will be distributed internationally by United Artists Media Group.
About El Rey Network
El Rey Network is a 24-hour English language network founded by maverick filmmaker Robert Rodriguez. Curated by Rodriguez and his artistic collective, the network unites “the new mainstream” through badass content that awakens the renegade in everyone. El Rey’s action-packed slate is anchored by signature series including the original drama, “From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series” which returns for a second season in summer 2015, the one-on-one interview program, “El Rey Network Presents: The Director’s Chair” and “Lucha Underground,” a freestyle wrestling series from Mark Burnett. El Rey Network’s lineup also showcases a wide range of iconic feature films and TV series including genre, cult classics, action, and horror/sci-fi. El Rey Network LLC is jointly owned by Robert Rodriguez and FactoryMade Ventures with a minority stake held by Univision Networks & Studios, Inc
About United Artists Media Group
United Artists Media Group (UAMG) is a joint venture among MGM, Mark Burnett, Roma Downey and Hearst Corporation, focused on developing, producing and financing premium content across all platforms, including scripted and non-scripted television programs, motion pictures and digital content.
About Lucha Libre AAA
Lucha Libre AAA is a media and entertainment company founded in 1992 by Antonio Pena Herrada and manages the IP of the “AAA” brand and another 250 characters in its league. The company produces Lucha Libre events globally including venues such as Palacio de los Deportes, Arena Monterrey, HP Pavilion, Madison Square Garden, Los Angeles Sports Arena and Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. In addition to working with sponsors such as Corona, Hershey’s, Comex and Unilever, the league has released an animated movie and videogame in the Mexican market. Lucha Libre AAA develops 5 hours of content per week that is aired on three television channels in Mexico: Galavision and Televisa Deportes Network.
About FactoryMade Ventures
FactoryMade is an incubator for entertainment businesses and was founded by John Fogelman and Cristina Patwa. The company builds IP-based franchises and production and distribution platforms by leveraging its strong ties to the Hollywood creative community and partnering with global brands and investors. Its ventures include El Rey Network and Tres Pistoleros Studios with Robert Rodriguez and a joint venture with the leading Mexican wrestling league Lucha Libre AAA. In addition to working with corporate partners such as Telefonica and JCP, they previously spearheaded the creation of Hasbro’s film business (Transformers, G.I. Joe, Battleship) and television business (Hasbro TV Studios, the Hub Network with Discovery Communications), and developed retail’s first integrated digital gaming and commerce platform with HSN (HSN Arcade).