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SkyShowtime has announced a new Spanish original thriller titled The Tribute (El Homenaje), expected to premiere in 2026. Revealed at the Iberseries & Platino Industria event in Madrid, this eight-episode series marks a return for the creative team behind the psychological drama Shades, with a fresh cast, a family secret at its core, and tension simmering beneath extravagant festivities.
A family thriller steeped in betrayal
The Tribute is written and directed by Sergio Cánovas, who also takes on the role of executive producer, alongside Elsa Pataky. Produced by Secuoya Studios in partnership with Stellarmedia and with the backing of SkyShowtime and Prime Video (which holds second-window rights), the series promises to blend luxury, family dysfunction, and suspense in equal measure.
The story revolves around Adolfo Novak, portrayed by veteran actor Eusebio Poncela. A powerful family patriarch, Novak brings together relatives and trusted friends to celebrate his 80th birthday. But what starts as a grand celebration quickly turns into a night of confessions, betrayals, and buried secrets. As the evening unfolds, masks fall and a devastating truth emerges that no one could have predicted.
Sergio Cánovas describes the series as “a thriller where betrayal and revenge will erupt in a turbulent family story.” Having seen what he did with Shades, I’m genuinely curious to see how he handles this confined, emotionally loaded setting. If he brings the same psychological depth and careful pacing, we might be looking at a standout drama. To read Pluribus finale shocks fans as season 2 faces long wait
An ensemble reunited, with fresh faces
What’s particularly interesting is that several actors from Shades return here, but in completely new roles. We’ll see Eusebio Poncela again, this time at the heart of the storm. He’s joined by familiar faces like Miriam Giovanelli, Juana Acosta, Enrique Arce, Raúl Prieto, Luis Tosar, Luisa Mayol, and Elsa Pataky. I’ve always found it exciting when creators reuse actors across different stories — it builds a kind of emotional continuity, like company theater, where we’re invited to read new dynamics with familiar souls.
Joining the returning ensemble are newcomers Manu Ríos, Álvaro Rico, Ángela Molina, Óscar de la Fuente, and Georgina Amorós, adding some new energy and tension to the group. With such a well-balanced cast mixing experience and younger talents, the show has serious potential to create real on-screen chemistry — or explosive conflict.
Here’s a quick snapshot of the cast:
- Eusebio Poncela as Adolfo Novak, the patriarch
- Elsa Pataky and Luis Tosar in undisclosed but central roles
- Manu Ríos and Álvaro Rico, likely central to the younger generation
- Ángela Molina, a remarkable presence in any ensemble
A story of secrets in an age of exposure
The central theme of The Tribute — secrets within powerful families — might seem classic, maybe even familiar. But it’s all about execution. In a time where nothing stays hidden for long, telling a story that thrives on slow unraveling and buried truths feels oddly fresh. There’s something both timeless and timely in watching a well-off family live through the cracks in their image.
Brendan Fitzgerald, CEO of Secuoya Studios, called the series “a family thriller full of secrets and revelations.” That description might feel generic at first glance, but if the first teaser is any indication, we’re in for more than silhouettes creeping through hallways. Scenes shown during the Madrid event gave off that loaded, slow-burn energy: tension behind smiles, glances exchanged across candle-lit dinners, and the feeling that something irreversible is about to happen. To read Taylor Swift opens up in final Eras Tour docuseries episode
A promising addition to SkyShowtime’s originals
The Tribute joins SkyShowtime’s growing library of Spanish originals. So far, we’ve had A Recipe for Murder (a true-crime docuseries), Shades, and the upcoming Nails and Road to Arcadia. It’s clear that SkyShowtime is investing heavily in local drama with international ambitions, and honestly, it’s exciting to see how they’re choosing stories that aren’t just polished, but personal.
As someone who grew up loving character-driven mysteries and family dramas — from Agatha Christie to Festen — I’m hopeful about this one. If The Tribute plays its cards right, with nuanced directing and layered storytelling, it could be more than just a stormy birthday night. It could be one of those shows you keep thinking about long after the cake is cut and the guests are gone.
