Prime Video has announced that its sweeping family saga ‘The House of the Spirits’ will premiere globally on April 29. The eight-episode limited series, adapted from Isabel Allende’s landmark debut novel, will launch in more than 240 countries and territories, marking what the platform describes as its most ambitious Latin American original to date.

According to a UNI report, the announcement was made at the Berlin International Film Festival, where three episodes of the series were unveiled. Speaking at the event, Javiera Balmaceda, head of local originals for Latin America, Canada and Australia, described the project as a milestone for the streamer, reflecting the company’s commitment to championing culturally authentic stories with global resonance.

Allende’s novel, first published over four decades ago, narrates a multigenerational epic centred on extraordinary women navigating political upheaval and personal transformation. The screen adaptation brings together creative talent from across Latin America and Spain, with showrunners Francisca Alegría and Fernanda Urrejola at the helm, alongside a pan-regional cast led by Nicole Wallace, Dolores Fonzi and Alfonso Herrera.

Spanning five decades, the narrative follows three generations of women — Clara, Blanca and Alba — as they navigate life in a conservative South American nation shaped by class divisions, political turmoil and elements of magical realism. The series explores themes of love, resilience, memory and social change, set against a backdrop of shifting political landscapes.

For Alegría and Urrejola, who co-wrote the pilot before pitching the project to FilmNation Entertainment and later Amazon MGM Studios, filming in Chile was a key creative decision. They insisted on grounding the adaptation in the country that inspired the original novel, aiming to preserve its cultural and emotional authenticity.

Director Andrés Wood, known for ‘Machuca’ and the series ‘News of a Kidnapping’, later joined the project, directing four episodes while also serving as co-showrunner and executive producer. He described the production process as highly collaborative, noting that he helped reshape the narrative structure following changes to the episode count while maintaining the original creative vision.

Urrejola, who also portrays Blanca in the series, called the experience transformative, saying the creative team approached each phase of production as a learning journey while exploring the novel’s universal themes. Though the story unfolds in an unnamed South American country, the production reflects Chile’s distinctive cultural and geographic identity, showcasing diverse landscapes from the capital city to the northern desert and southern countryside.

The production faced significant challenges in casting, as the team sought actors capable of portraying characters across different stages of life while maintaining continuity across generations. Cinematography is led by Manuel Alberto Claro, known for collaborations with Lars von Trier, while production design is handled by Rodrigo Bazaes.

Allende, who also serves as an executive producer, described the adaptation as a homecoming for her most beloved work, returning it to its Chilean roots while preserving its universal emotional appeal. The series is produced by FilmNation Entertainment, with production services provided by Fábula, founded by Pablo Larraín and Juan de Dios Larraín. Executive producers also include Eva Longoria through her Hyphenate Media Group banner, and Courtney Saladino.

With its expansive narrative scope, international creative collaboration and emphasis on cultural authenticity, ‘The House of the Spirits’ is positioned to become a significant addition to Prime Video’s global content slate.