The beloved and internationally celebrated novel The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende is finally getting the television treatment it deserves. After years of anticipation, the first-ever Spanish-language TV adaptation of the groundbreaking book is set to arrive on Prime Video, and the streaming platform has just revealed when audiences around the world can finally watch it.
The news broke at the prestigious 76th Berlin Film Festival, where the creative team behind the series screened the first three episodes for a special audience. The response was overwhelmingly positive, setting the stage for what Prime Video is calling its “most ambitious Latin American original to date” . For the millions of readers who have cherished this multigenerational story since it was first published in 1982, the wait is almost over.
This new adaptation promises to be a lavish, eight-episode limited series that will bring the magical and political world of the Trueba family to life. The show will premiere on April 29, 2026, and will be available in more than 240 countries and territories, making it a truly global event .
A Story That Spans Generations and Borders
For those unfamiliar with the source material, The House of the Spirits is the debut novel that put Isabel Allende on the map. It is an epic family saga that follows three generations of women—Clara, Blanca, and Alba—in an unnamed South American country. The story weaves together themes of love, loss, political turmoil, and a touch of magical realism that makes the narrative so unique.
The story is told through the perspective of Alba in the 1970s, who uncovers her family’s troubled past and her country’s violent history by reading the diaries of her grandmother, Clara, written decades earlier . This structure allows the series to explore deep themes of memory, identity, and healing. Showrunner Fernanda Urrejola explained why the novel remains so relevant today. “Talking about healing generational trauma – it’s huge. And to understand how important memory is in order for us not to repeat the story. And we need that now,” she said at the Berlin Film Festival .
One key decision by the creators was to keep the country unnamed, just as Allende did in the novel. While the story is deeply rooted in Chilean identity and was filmed entirely on location there, the ambiguity allows the narrative to represent the universal history of many Latin American nations. “It was about time that we told the story ourselves,” showrunner Francisca Alegría told reporters in Berlin. “For us, the novel, and for, I would say, all Latin America, is such an important piece of work. It talks so much about our identity, our history” .
The Cast Bringing the Trueba Family to Life
Adapting a book with such a rich tapestry of characters was a massive challenge, especially finding the right actors to portray the same people at different ages. The casting team, however, has assembled a stellar pan-regional cast from across Latin America and Spain to tackle these iconic roles.
Alfonso Herrera, known for his roles in Rebel Moon and Sense8, takes on the complex role of Esteban Trueba, the volatile and often tyrannical patriarch of the family . The ethereal and clairvoyant Clara del Valle is played by three different actresses to show her evolution: Nicole Wallace (Our Fault) and Dolores Fonzi (Belen) portray her at different stages, with Francesca Turco also taking on the role .
Their daughter, Blanca, is portrayed by Sara Becker and Fernanda Urrejola (who is also a co-showrunner) . The third generation, Alba, is played by Rochi Hernandez (30 Nights with my Ex) .
The supporting cast is equally impressive. Fernanda Castillo (The Lord of the Skies) plays the stern Férula, while Aline Kuppenheim (A Fantastic Woman) is Nívea del Valle. Eduard Fernández (The Skin I Live In) takes on the role of Severo del Valle, and Juan Pablo Raba (News of a Kidnapping) appears as Tío Marcos. The character of Pedro Tercero, the revolutionary, is played by both Pablo Macaya and Nicolás Contreras (Baby Bandito) . Spanish icon Maribel Verdú (Pan’s Labyrinth) is also part of the cast as Tránsito Soto .
A Dream Team Behind the Camera and a New Trailer
The series is not just a win for Latin American talent in front of the camera, but behind it as well. The creative trio leading the project consists of showrunners Francisca Alegría, Fernanda Urrejola, and acclaimed director Andrés Wood (Machuca, News of a Kidnapping) . Wood described the collaborative experience as unique, noting that the leadership team was primarily made up of women, which brought a fresh perspective to the production .
For Alegría and Urrejola, who co-wrote the pilot, it was essential to film in Chile. “It wasn’t the obvious choice at first, but Fernanda and I insisted and luckily Amazon and FilmNation agreed. Being able to shoot such an iconic Chilean novel in Chile was incredibly important for us,” Alegría explained .
The production values are top-tier, with Manuel Alberto Claro, the cinematographer known for his work with Lars von Trier on films like Melancholia, handling the visuals. Production designer Rodrigo Bazaes, whose credits include A Fantastic Woman and Spencer, ensures the period settings look authentic .
Isabel Allende herself serves as an executive producer on the project, alongside Eva Longoria (through her Hyphenate Media Group) and Courtney Saladino . Seeing her most famous work reimagined for a new generation has been an emotional experience for the 83-year-old author. “When I saw the miniseries, I saw what it always should have been,” Allende said .
The series is produced by FilmNation Entertainment, the Oscar-winning company behind Anora and Conclave, with production services provided by Chile’s own Fabula, the Academy Award-winning producers of A Fantastic Woman .
The first trailer and images released alongside the announcement show a visually stunning and emotionally charged drama, staying true to the novel’s spirit while making it fresh for television.
Also Read:
Why This Adaptation Matters Now
This new version of The House of the Spirits arrives more than 30 years after the 1993 film adaptation, which starred Hollywood heavyweights like Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, and Jeremy Irons. While that film introduced the story to a massive audience, it was a commercial disappointment and received mixed reviews for condensing such a complex novel .
The eight-episode format gives the showrunners the time and space to let the story breathe, allowing viewers to sit with the characters and understand the slow-burning political and personal changes that define the novel. For the creative team, this was a responsibility they did not take lightly. “It was a huge challenge,” Wood admitted, but working with a Latin American cast and crew made it a dream project .
For longtime fans, this series represents a homecoming for a beloved story. For new viewers, it will be an introduction to a world of passion, magic, and history that has captivated over 70 million readers worldwide . With its themes of memory, resilience, and the fight against oppression, the story feels as urgent today as it did when it was first written.
Viewers in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, India, and across the globe can mark their calendars. All eight episodes of The House of the Spirits will begin streaming exclusively on Prime Video on April 29, 2026 .
For more updates on international TV series and streaming news, keep checking back with VvipTimes for the latest announcements.
