News

Max's adaptation of Like Water for Chocolate has already been renewed for a second season, and here's what to know about the magical romance's return. Based on the beloved eponymous novel by Laura Esquivel, Like Water for Chocolate concerns the star-crossed lovers, Tita (Azul Guaita) and Pedro (Andres Baida), as their relationship intertwines with the complicated politics of the Mexican Revolution. Underneath the classic Romeo and Juliet storyline is Esquivel's magical realism, which imbues literal fantasy within the culinary world as Tita finds solace in her brilliant cooking.

The Salma Hayek-produced adaptation isn't the first time the novel was brought to life, and the 1992 movie held the distinction of being the highest-grossing foreign film in US history (at that point). However, like any adaptation, the film was forced to strip away some of the novel, thus robbing it of its grandeur. The 2024 TV version has no such issues,...

Max's acclaimed period drama from producer Salma Hayek has been renewed for season 2. The streamer is undoubtedly a haven for period dramas, offering audiences a rich tapestry of historical storytelling. Shows like Catherine the Great have delved into the complex legacies of powerful leaders with Helen Mirren's portrayal of the Empress of Russia, while Gentleman Jack captured the revolutionary life of Anne Lister in mid-19th century Yorkshire, an enthralling depiction of the first modern lesbian. Max's period shows have seamlessly blended historical accuracy with modern sensibilities for a resonant and impactful dive into the past for today's viewers.

With intricate period details and captivating performances, Max has established itself as a leader in delivering compelling TV series rooted in true stories. HBO's miniseries Chernobyl transported audiences to the harrowing days of the 1986 nuclear disaster in Ukraine, winning Outstanding Limited Series, Directing, and Writing at the 71st Primetime Emmy Awards.

Max confirmed today the streaming service has renewed HBO Original series Like Water for Chocolate for a second season. The series has become the most watched Latin American content on Max worldwide and has climbed to rank among the top three most watched series on the platform during its premiere month.

The renewal announcement was made by Salma Hayek Pinault, executive producer of the series, during an event in London where HBO and Max content leaders including Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO of HBO and Max Content, and Mariano César, SVP of General Entertainment Content and Programming Strategy for Latin America and Ush, presented top upcoming titles for Max globally.

“We are proud to see the success that Like Water for Chocolate is having on international screens. It is an original Latin American production made with the highest quality standards that characterize HBO series, with an incredibly talented community of local creators and artists,...

“Like Water for Chocolate” has been renewed for a second season at Max, executive producer Salma Hayek Pinault revealed at the streamer’s showcase in London Thursday evening.

Hayek Pinault, appearing alongside Max Latin America boss Mariano Cesar, said the romantic drama series will not go beyond Season 2. “We don’t want to do more than two,” she said. “We want to do something that’s really special, and [make sure] that we don’t water it down to try and make it longer.”

“Like Water for Chocolate,” an adaptation of the 1989 magical realism novel by Laura Esquivel, follows star-crossed lovers Tita and Pedro, whose romance is hindered by her family traditions. Tita finds solace in the kitchen, where magic and flavors help her embrace her destined path. A film adaptation of the story, directed by Alfonso Arau, was released in 1992.

The series launched on Max Nov. 3 and stars Azul Guaita, Andres Baida,...

A Salma Hayek-produced Max show has debuted with a Bridgerton-worthy Rotten Tomatoes score after just one episode has premiered on the streamer. The popular Netflix series was a major hit for the platform when it premiered in 2020, telling a dramatic romance story pulling from the Regency era. All three seasons of the show have since made it onto the list of Netflix's Top 10 most popular English TV series of all time, with Bridgerton season 4 now hotly anticipated. Since it became a hit, other streamers have seemingly been trying to capitalize on its success.

Similar shows have been released by different streaming platforms in the last few years, such as Apple TV+'s The Buccaneers and Prime Video's My Lady Jane. The success of similar Regency-inspired series has been mixed, with Prime Video's show getting axed after season 1, while The Buccaneers season 2 has been confirmed. This tossup of different successful...

Stepping into the world of HBO’s Like Water for Chocolate, viewers are immediately transported to the rural Mexican countryside at the beginning of the last century. Sweeping shots introduce the de la Garza family hacienda nestled amongst rolling green hills, while traditional dresses and architecture fill out the backgrounds. From the earliest moments, it’s clear that no expense was spared in bringing the period setting to life.

Costumes and production design feel authentic throughout, helping the show immerse audiences entirely within the world it depicts. Worn fabrics and weathered surfaces evoke a bygone era, allowing us to see and feel events unfold through the perspectives of characters living within that place and time. More than just aesthetic choices, these visual elements contribute meaningful context for comprehending the cultural norms and societal roles portrayed.

Of course, food plays a central role in the story, and HBO’s production does...

HBO Latino and Max is serving up a new dish this fall with Like Water for Chocolate, a series based on Laura Esquivel’s magical realism novel. The story follows Tita de la Garza (Azul Guaita), whose love for Pedro Múzquiz (Andrés Baida) is thwarted by rigid family traditions. Relegated to the kitchen, Tita finds solace […]

Like Water for Chocolate Series Premiere: A Recipe for Romance and Rebellion?...

Like a fine mole, magical realism requires incredible complexity to yield something that is then perceived as quite simple. Fifty different types of chilies become something broadly described as a chocolaty sauce. Sentiment, whimsy, romance, the supernatural and some measure of grounding combine into a mix that even your friendly neighborhood culture critic might only be able to say works or doesn’t. And two people perceiving an identical mélange of elements might respond to the flavor profiles in wholly different ways.

Take, for a purely hypothetical example, Alfonso Arau’s 1992 adaptation of Laura Esquivel’s

Like Water for Chocolate. Already a beloved hit in its day, affection for the movie seems only to have grown since. It’s impossible to quibble with Arau’s tonal commitment, or with the sumptuous cinematography from Steven Bernstein and, in one of his earliest films, Emmanuel Lubezki. But by tipping its magical realism so firmly toward “magical,...

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.

November brings both the familiar and the new to screens big and small. A favorite novel gets a new adaptation. A bestselling detective series gets a TV series. A popular movie gets a spinoff in Gladiator II, and a beloved musical finally gets the theatrical treatment fans have waited years for in Wicked. But the month is also set to bring a sure-to-be twisty adaptation of an acclaimed novel and more.

"No one can tell you who you can love." HBO Originals has revealed the trailer for the series called Like Water For Chocolate, a modern adaptation of the book of the same name by Laura Esquivel. Flavors and scents embody the emotions and passion of a forbidden love. Star-crossed lovers Tita and Pedro's romance is thwarted by her family's traditions, forcing Tita to navigate magic and flavors in the kitchen as she fights for love and embraces her destined path. Set during the Mexican Revolution, the series also addresses the struggle of women to control their own destinies. The breathtaking locations in Tlaxcala and Mexico City provide an authentic and powerful backdrop for this adaptation of a beloved Mexican literary classic. It was also adapted once before into the 1992 movie. The cast is lead by Irene Azuela as Mamá Elena, with Azul Guaita as Tita. Ana Valeria Becerril gives life to Rosaura,...

And you thought your fritters were magic.

HBO has released the trailer for its latest original series, “Like Water for Chocolate,” an adaptation of Laura Esquivel’s original novel of the same name. There was a 1992 Miramax film adaptation directed by Alfonso Arau, but this is the first time Tita and Pedro’s love story was made for the small screen (though TV’s have gotten pretty big since ’92). The series has been in development for TV since 2017.

In “Like Water for Chocolate”, Tita and Pedro are in love, but Tita’s mother condemns her for the single life. You could do that back then: “Like Water for Chocolate” is set amid the Mexican Revolution, so a bit more than a century ago. But Tita and Pedro aren’t going down without a fight — for Tita, that resistance starts in the kitchen and ends with transformations at the table.

You see,...

“Like Water for Chocolate,” HBO’s upcoming series adaptation of Laura Esquivel’s Mexican literary classic executive produced by Salma Hayek Pinault, has released its official trailer.

Set during the Mexican Revolution in the early 20th century, the six-episode series follows Tita de la Garza (Azul Guaita) and Pedro Múzquiz (Andrés Baida), “two souls deeply in love, yet unable to be together due to entrenched family customs,” according to the show’s synopsis. “The protagonists navigate a world of magical realism and rich flavors as Tita struggles between the destiny imposed on her by her family and her fight for love. Along the way, the audience will witness her greatest refuge: the kitchen. For Tita, her magical connection to cooking becomes an active resistance against oppression, allowing her to channel her deepest desires and passions into her recipes, transforming those who taste them.”

Hayek Pinault, who executive produced the series through her Ventanarosa Productions banner,...

The HBO Original series Like Water for Chocolate debuts on Sunday, November 3, on HBO Latino in the U.S. and will be available to stream globally on Max, where the platform is available. New episodes will debut weekly.

An original production from Warner Bros. Discovery, the series is produced by Ventanarosa Productions, Endemol Shine North America, and Endemol Shine Boomdog.

Like Water for Chocolate explores the idea that sometimes traditions can become a prison, an obstacle for love. Tita de la Garza and Pedro Múzquiz are two souls deeply in love yet unable to be together due to entrenched family customs.

The protagonists navigate a world of magical realism and rich flavors as Tita struggles between the destiny imposed on her by her family and her fight for love. Along the way, the audience will witness her greatest refuge: the kitchen.

For Tita, her magical connection to cooking becomes an active resistance against oppression,...

Peacock has released the trailer for “Teacup,” a new horror thriller series from James Wan’s Atomic Monster, which has been adapted by showrunner Ian McCulloch.

Per the official logline, “‘Teacup’ follows a disparate group of people in rural Georgia who must come together in the face of a mysterious threat in order to survive.” Cast members include Yvonne Strahovski, Scott Speedman, Chaske Spencer, Kathy Baker, Boris McGiver, Caleb Dolden, Emilie Bierre and Luciano Leroux.

Executive producers include Wan, Michael Clear and Rob Hackett for Atomic Monster, Francisca X. Hu, Kevin Tancharoen and McCammon. “Teacup” is produced by UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group.

The first two episodes of the series, which was inspired by the novel “Stinger” by Robert McCammon, premiere on Peacock Oct. 10, followed by two new episodes every week through Halloween.

Watch the trailer below.

Programming

All 134 episodes of “Suits” are now available to stream via...

Outer Banks is considered by so many as one of the most fun teen Netflix originals, and they are correct. Created by Josh Pate, Jonas Pate, and Shannon Burke, the series has something for everyone from romance to teen drama and from adventure to action, and after Season 3 the Netflix series has proven to be a big project for the streamer. So, if you loved the romance, friendships, adventure, and a ton of teen drama in Outer Banks here are some similar shows you should check out while waiting for Season 4.

Surviving Summer (Netflix) Credit – Netflix

Surviving Summer is an Australian teen drama series created by Joanna Werner and Josh Mapleston. The Netflix series follows Summer Torres, a rebellious teenage girl as she is expelled from her school in Brooklyn, New York, and moves to Australia where she quickly gets into surfing and becomes a part of a surfing group.

The Accident is a Mexican thriller drama series written by Leonardo Padrón. The Netflix series revolves around a tragic accident that changes the lives of several families leaving them with their soul crippling guilt and resentment which leads them down the path of violence. The Accident stars Ana Claudia Talancón, Sebastian Martínez, Alberto Guerra, Eréndira Ibarra, Shaní Lozano, Silverio Palacios, Erick Elías, Erik Hayser, and Valentina Acosta. So, if you loved the thrilling story, compelling characters, and satisfying mystery in The Accident here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Who Killed Sara? (Netflix) Credit – Netflix

Who Killed Sara? is a Mexican mystery crime thriller series created by José Ignacio Valenzuela. The Netflix series follows the story of Álex Guzmán, a man who spent 18 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit and now that he is out, he is determined to find who killed his...

Bandidos: a Netflix hit with a diverse cast, combining comedy, action, and adventure for a thrilling heist series. Watch as treasure hunters in Mexico brave risks for the Snake King's treasure in this top 10 TV show. Miguel, Lilí, and Wilson lead a dynamic crew facing danger and betrayal on their quest for riches.

Bandidos is a seven-episode heist comedy-drama boasting an elaborate ensemble cast of characters. The Mexican-American production premiered on Netflix on March 13, 2024. Loosely translating to "robbers" in Spanish, Bandidos follows a group of treasure hunters as they embark on a perilous underwater adventure, seeking a coveted Mayan artifact called the Snake King's treasure. Netflix's Spanish-language show is created by Pablo Tébar and directed by Adrian Grünberg and Javier Ruiz Caldera, and stars Alfonso Dosal, Ester Expósito, and Juan Pablo Medina in the lead roles.

Set mainly in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, Bandidos was filmed in various locations including Mérida,...

"Is ingenuity — and a pinch of good luck — enough to save this band of thieves with an improvised plan?" Netflix has unveiled an official trailer for a Spanish language adventure comedy, tropical heist series titled Bandidos, arriving for streaming in March. This "Bandits" series features a massive underwater heist and other adventures along the paradise that is the Mexican Caribbean. A Mayan treasure never seen before... until now. Will they be able to achieve their great heist with an improvised plan and a bit of good luck? The exciting adventure series follows the story of Miguel and his accomplice Lilí, who are joined by a group of bandits as they attempt to retrieve treasure from an underwater grave of a Spanish galleon that sunk in the Gulf of Mexico during the War of Independence. However, they’re not the only ones after this highly sought after bounty. Bandidos stars Alfonso Dosal,...

Exclusive: Netflix has put Bandidos, a thriller series about an underwater heist, into production.

The drama follows the story of Miguel (Alfonso Dosal) and accomplice Lilí (Ester Expósito), who are joined by a group of bandits as they attempt to retrieve treasure from an underwater grave of a Spanish galleon that sunk in the Gulf of Mexico during the War of Independence. However, they’re not the only ones after the bounty.

Shot in Spanish, the series also stars Juan Pablo Medina, Mabel Cadena, Nicolás Furtado, Andrés Baida, Andrea Chaparro, Juan Pablo Fuentes and Bruno Bichir among others.

Pablo Tébar is writer and showrunner on the series, which our sources say will feature a “massive underwater heist.” We understand the action will occur in several different settings, however.

Rambo: Last Blood and Get the Gringo director Adrian Grunberg is the director.

The series is set to launch in 2024. It marks...