Mandrake (TV series)

Mandrake
Mandrake official poster.
Genre	Comedy-drama
Created by	Rubem Fonseca (novel) José Henrique Fonseca
Starring	Marcos Palmeira Maria Luiza Mendonça Luis Carlos Miéle Marcelo Serrado and Érika Mader
Theme music composer	Dado Villa-Lobos
Opening theme	The Work Song
Composer(s)	Charles Mingus
Country of origin	Brazil
Original language(s)	Portuguese
No. of seasons	2
No. of episodes	13 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)	José Henrique Fonseca
Producer(s)	Luis Peraza Pedro Buarque de Hollanda Leonardo Monteiro de Barros
Location(s)	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Cinematography	Gustavo Hadba Paulo Souza
Camera setup	Multi-camera
Running time	~50 minutes (no commercials)
Release
Original network	HBO Latin America
Picture format	SDTV, Super 16 mm
Audio format	Stereo
Original release	October 30, 2005 – December 16, 2007
External links
Website

Mandrake is an original series created for the Brazilian branch of the HBO Latin America. The series was produced by HBO's local partner, Conspiração Filmes, with a budget of USD$6.5 million. It first aired on October 30, 2005, being broadcast on Sundays at 11 O'clock pm (local Brazilian time: UTC -3).

The first ever HBO original series produced in Brazil, Mandrake was adapted from the character created by Brazilian novelist, Rubem Fonseca. Fonseca is known for his analysis of Rio de Janeiro's diverse society in his book A Grande Arte (The Great Art). Fonseca was actively involved in the adaptation of his work for TV, and the general direction of the project was entrusted to his own son, José Henrique Fonseca.

The series was met with great enthusiasm by critics. A second batch of five episodes was produced in mid-2007, and began airing on November 18, 2007. This is expected to complete a 13-episode first season. A second season was, at first, neither confirmed nor denied, with HBO quoted as saying they would be focusing on producing an international series immediately after the Mandrake first season ends. Finally, on May 20, 2007, HBO announced that it was beginning production of a 5-episode second season of the show

As part of a broader plan of distribution, the episodes were immediately dubbed in Spanish, so that HBO could distribute the show to its other Latin American branches.

The series focuses on the character of Mandrake, a criminal lawyer from Rio de Janeiro played by Marcos Palmeira. His line of work consists mainly of helping wealthy individuals who are facing trouble with the shadier elements of the local society (such as rich men who may be being blackmailed by corrupt cops). Mandrake's job is to act as a go-between Rio's subculture and his clients.