Diego Maradona animated series in the works at Reliance Animation
India’s Reliance Animation has secured the IP rights of characters to develop an animated series based on the life of football legend Diego Maradona.
The Mumbai-based studio, a division of Reliance Entertainment, will create a scripted series about Maradona’s journey from his early years to international stardom for streaming and television platforms. The project is currently in development and details on the creative team, distribution partners and launch timeline are still to be announced.
The deal was done in partnership with SATTVICA SA, the Argentina-based rights holder to Maradona’s intellectual property, and brokered through Bridge Marketing Group Inc. The series explores key moments in Maradona’s career, his personal struggles and his cultural influence both on and off the pitch.
“We are thrilled to bring Diego Maradona’s extraordinary story to a new generation through animation,” said Shibasish Sarkar, CEO of Reliance Entertainment. “His journey of resilience, passion and achievement transcends sports, and we believe it will inspire audiences around the world.”
Tejonidhi Bhandare, CEO of Reliance Animation, described the project as a milestone for the studio. “Our team aims to capture the spirit, struggles and triumphs of Maradona’s life in a way that resonates with viewers of all ages and cultures,” said Bhandare.
Rita Maradona, representative of SATTVICA SA, added: “We, the sisters of Diego, are very happy and proud of this new project with such a prestigious company as Reliance, through which we will try to reach the children’s audience and ensure that all the children of the world get to know our brother.”
Samuel Nieto, CEO of Bridge Marketing Group Inc., the global licensing agent for the Diego Maradona brand, added that the partnership “will help extend the legacy of the great Diego Maradona in the minds of future generations of young athletes around the world. It will be a beautiful story told through the magic of animation.”
The news was unveiled on the sidelines of WAVES Film Bazaar, the market component of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Goa.
Reliance Animation is part of the Reliance Group’s entertainment sector, with operations across production, digital platforms, gaming and music.
