{
  "id": 8313154,
  "title": "Javier Bardem teams up with Ozark co-creator for his own HBO show",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/javier-bardem-teams-up-with-ozark-co-creator-for-his-own-hbo-show",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-18T20:29:43.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The A.V. Club",
    "slug": "the-a-v-club",
    "url": "https://www.avclub.com/javier-bardem-ozark-co-creator-hbo-show-the-spread-matthew-vaughn"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Javier Bardem, known for his roles in movies, is branching out to the world of prestige TV with a new HBO show. Bardem teamed up with Ryan Murphy and Netflix for Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story in 2024, and recently starred in Apple TV’s adaptation of Cape Fear. Now, he's signed on with Ozark co-creator Bill Dubuque for a show titled The Spread, which reportedly does not involve malevolent, sentient margarine or alien DNA. According to the HBO synopsis, Bardem's character is a visionary billionaire who aims to transform Miami into a new financial hub in America. This includes assembling \"the brilliant, the hungry and the dangerous\" to join him in reshaping the economic landscape of southern Florida. What sets The Spread apart from other HBO projects is its surprising origin story. Dubuque, along with co-writer Sean Sansiveri and director Matthew Vaughn, reportedly sold the concept directly to HBO in a bold \"hail Mary\" pitch, bypassing the usual need for a pilot or development work. This move may have been aided by Netflix's involvement, which helped spark a bidding war that impressed HBO executives. Francesca Orsi, an HBO executive, expressed excitement about bringing the gilded chaos of Miami to life through The Spread, stating it's the network's first foray into Florida-set scripted series.",
  "summary": "Fresh off Monsters and Cape Fear , Oscar-winner Bardem has apparently caught the prestige TV bug.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}