Yahoo News Colombia’s Caracol TV Reboots Telenovela Sensation ‘Newly Rich, Newly Poor’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Production is underway for the much-anticipated reboot of one of Colombia’s biggest telenovela hits, “Newly Rich, Newly Poor” (“Nuevo Rico, Nuevo Pobre”).
It’s been more than 15 years since the original Caracol TV show took the world by storm, selling to more than 100 territories and spawning remakes in Mexico, Greece and Serbia. Locally, the telenovela, which ran from July 2007 to August 2008, boasted an average 42.7% share and a 12.9% rating at its peak in 2007.
More from Variety
“The tale of two guys swapped at birth, navigating borrowed lives, gets a modern twist with fresh humor, drama, and plenty of surprises. It’s a Colombian TV classic revamped for today, ready to stir up new feelings and introduce some lovable characters,” said its writer-creator Jörg Hiller.
Rodrigo Triana and Juan Carlos Vásquez direct a stellar cast led by Variel Sánchez, Juan Guilera, Lina Tejeiro and Laura Barjum. They are joined by Ricardo Mejia, John Alex Toro, Julian Caicedo, Laura Taylor, Marcela Agudelo, Clary Borja and Martha Restrepo.
In the sleepy town of San Francisco, a drunk nurse (played by Esmeralda Pinzón) switches newborns Andrés Ferreira (Guilera) and Brayan Galindo (Sánchez). The wealthy Ferreira family takes home Andrés while the humble Galindo family brings up Brayan. Decades later, Andres, now a successful Cartsmart owner, is romantically entangled with model Fernanda Sanmiguel (Barjum), unaware of her affair with his cousin Mateo López (Mejia).
Meanwhile, Brayan, a laid-back worker, lives in a boarding house with his father, Leónidas Galindo (Toro), his girlfriend, Rosmery Peláez (Lina Tejeiro), and her siblings. When the nurse confesses, Andrés loses his wealth and status, while Brayan gains it all. The swap sparks a bitter rivalry between them, impacting relationships and igniting unexpected romances.
158 episodes of the original currently stream on Netflix, although the Colombian version extended to 194 episodes. When it debuted on the platform in 2021, it was among the Top 10 non-English-language shows of the year in more than 19 countries.
This new version will offer 60 episodes in a nod to changing audience tastes. It will air on Caracol TV and eventually stream on Netflix.
Said Lisette Osorio, Caracol’s VP of international sales, who is currently attending the LA Screenings Independents: “’Newly Rich, Newly Poor’ became an international success with a narrative that masterfully combines drama and humor. With new storylines and characters, we will keep audiences engaged across cultures.”
Best of Variety
Sign up for Variety’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
