Celeste Creators Talk Season 2 and Turning Tax Inspectors Into Heroes

Following the surprising and acclaimed success of turning Spain's tax agency into the engine of a noir-tinged comedy, the creative team behind 'Celeste' is back. Creator Diego San José and director Elena Trapé are taking aim at an even more sacred institution in Spanish culture: professional soccer. The six-part second season of the Movistar Plus original series brings back Carmen Machi as Sara Santano, the determined tax inspector who previously captivated audiences and critics alike.

In the first season, Sara spent her time trying to prove that a globe-trotting Latin music star owed tens of millions of euros in unpaid taxes to the Spanish state. The new season, however, takes a narrative detour by rewinding the clock to an earlier period in Sara's career. It revisits Figueroa, an Argentine soccer star whose complex tax case remains the sole professional failure in an otherwise immaculate and distinguished career.

This structural shift introduces a fascinating social equation. Sara represents one of the least-loved public figures in the country, someone whose job naturally inspires public dread and avoidance. In stark contrast, Figueroa is a celebrated soccer idol whose personal failings and potential legal infractions are easily forgiven by the public as long as he continues to perform on the pitch. This tension provides rich comedic and dramatic material for the upcoming episodes.

International sales for the second season are being handled by Imagina Sales, a division of The Mediapro Studio distribution network. The series is set to make a splash at Mipcom ahead of its highly anticipated world premiere at Barcelona's Serielizados Fest. The first season established a formidable reputation, winning prestigious accolades including Spain's Ondas and Feroz awards for best comedy, alongside top honors at the Series Mania International Panorama.

Produced by Movistar Plus in collaboration with 100 Balas and The Mediapro Studio, the new season reunites the core creative visionaries. Elena Trapé returns to direct all episodes, while Diego San José pens the script alongside collaborators Oriol Puig and Fernando Delgado-Hierro. The transition from contemporary pop stardom to the high-stakes world of soccer allows the creators to explore different facets of institutional power and public perception.

Discussing the decision to make the second season a prequel, the creators noted that the choice was driven entirely by the character of Sara Santano rather than the specific target of her investigation. By examining her past defeat, the series aims to deepen audience understanding of her relentless drive and professional ethos. As the show prepares for its global rollout, expectations are exceptionally high for this clever blend of bureaucratic grit and sports culture satire.