These first look images feature Belinda, Jaime Lorente, Miguel Ángel Silvestre and Mabel Cadena in Sony Pictures Television’s new series for HBO Max, filmed across more than 40 locations in Latin America and Europe.
HBO Max unveils the first official images from CARLOTA, the new drama series produced by Sony Pictures Television and inspired by the life of Carlota of Belgium, the last Empress of Mexico. The images debut on the anniversary of Carlota and Maximilian’s wedding, a symbolic date in the history that inspired the series.
The first-look images feature Belinda as Carlota, Jaime Lorente as Maximilian, Miguel Angel Silvestre as Alfred van der Smissen and Mabel Cadena as Josefa. Together, they offer an early glimpse into a story shaped by power, ambition and the emotional journeys of its central characters, brought to life through a visual approach that reimagines the historical drama with a contemporary perspective.
Filmed over 17 weeks across more than 40 locations throughout Latin America and Europe, CARLOTA is an ambitious large-scale production that brought together a cast of 45 actors, nearly 1,370 extras, 80 musicians and more than 100 dancers and stunt performers.
Created by showrunner Carlos Quintanilla Sakar and Adriana Pelusi, who also serves as head writer, the series brings together an acclaimed creative team led by directors Ana Lorena Pérez Ríos and José Manuel Cravioto, alongside directors of photography David Azcano Lara and Ximena Amann, production designer Carlos Bodelón and costume designer Loles García.
One of the series' most distinctive creative elements is its costume design, conceived to reflect the emotional and personal evolution of its characters throughout the story. Through a contemporary lens, the costumes reinterpret the elegance and silhouettes of the 19th century, creating a visual identity that is uniquely its own.
"When I first met Carlos Quintanilla, creator and showrunner, he made it clear that we wanted to create a fresh, contemporary series. On a period production, research is essential; understanding the history and the clothing of the era gave us the freedom to take creative liberties from a place of knowledge rather than ignorance. From there, our goal was for the costumes to tell the characters' story and accompany their emotional journey. In Carlota's case, every design choice—from her silhouette to her color palette—reflects her transformation throughout the series, and the same is true for Josefa. Being able to tell part of the story through costume design is, without a doubt, one of the most rewarding aspects of this work," said Loles García, Costume Designer.
The series' locations also play a fundamental role in shaping CARLOTA's narrative. Palaces, gardens, convents and historic streets were transformed to recreate the world of the series, while additional environments—including Carlota and Maximilian's imperial bedroom, a ship's cabin and the royal stables—were specially built on soundstages as part of the production design.
"Historical research was our starting point, but we were also given the freedom to reinterpret that world through a creative lens. The scripts encouraged us to explore new ideas—not only through color and form, but also across production design, costume design, makeup and hairstyling—allowing us to find a balance between historical authenticity and fiction. Every visual space was carefully crafted to shape this universe, from the earliest sketches to the chromatic palette, upholstery, drapery, furniture, carriages and every element seen on screen. It was a remarkable collaborative effort, and for me, this has been an incredibly rewarding project. I can't wait for audiences to discover it and experience all the work that went into bringing this story to life," said Carlos Bodelón, Production Designer.
CARLOTA also features an international ensemble cast that includes Bárbara de Regil as Enriqueta Villalpando, Sebastián Zurita as Leonardo Márquez, Irene Azuela as La Viuda Fernández, and Spanish actors Álvaro Rico and Clara Alvarado as Leopoldo, Carlota's brother, and Paula Kolonitz, respectively.
With these first official images, HBO Max offers audiences an initial look at CARLOTA, a series that reimagines one of the most iconic figures in Mexican history through a bold and contemporary perspective. The series will be coming soon exclusively to HBO Max.
