Hulu’s ‘La Máquina’: An anti-fable of friendship and boxing

LOS ANGELES — Their friendship goes back to childhood, but it’s not very often we get to see Emmy winner Diego Luna and Golden Globe winner Gael García Bernal work on a project together.

In 2001, the pair worked on Alfonso Cuaron’s “Y Tu Mama Tambien,” and in 2008, the two friends teamed up again with Cuaron in “Rudo y Cursi.”

Now, 16 years later, García Bernal and Luna join forces for Hulu’s first Spanish-speaking original series, “La Máquina.”

In the six-episode limited series, Esteban (García Bernal) is a Mexican boxer at his low point. After a devastating loss, Esteban is determined to get back on top with the help of his manager and best friend Andy (Luna), but a nefarious organization rears its head, making the rematch a life-or-death event.

It’s a complicated friendship that benefited from the real-life relationship between the two actors. García Bernal said in their friendship, they can be honest with each other, especially about their work, whether it is individual projects or working together as they do in “La Máquina.”

“Love is involved in everything that we do,” Luna told Spectrum News. “There are so few friendships that matter in my life [like the one with Garcia Bernal].”

Both actors recognize the importance and responsibility of starring in Hulu’s first original Spanish series — a series that started as an idea that had been percolating for years and originated with García Bernal and Luna having a drunken conversation in Berlin. It was then they both decided they wanted to make a project in which García Bernal would play a boxer and Luna would play his larger than life manger.

“We are very thankful they have been so supportive,” said García Bernal. “They have let us do what we want. It’s fantastic. It’s really like a dream.”

But it’s not only a story about boxing, though, if viewers like boxing, they’ll enjoy the show, said Luna. It’s also a story about friendship, popularity and getting to the end of one’s career.

“We are privileged to be trusted in this, and hopefully it’s the first of many shows in Spanish at Hulu,” said Luna. “It’s a show where they will see Mexico from an interesting perspective. They’ll have fun.”

For those who grew up with Mexican pop music in the ‘80s, ‘90s and early 2000s, the series’ soundtrack will be nostalgic. Featuring songs from artists like Kabah and Cristian Castro and La Union, show creator and writer Marco Ramirez told Spectrum News the music chosen for “La Máquina” is what gives the series its flavor.

“There were many WhatsApp threads where actors, writers and directors were shooting ideas. All the ideas and songs, even the ones that were not included, brought us down memory lane,” said Ramirez. “From the songs that were done in karaoke, or even ‘Lobo-Hombre en Paris’ from La Union, all these songs feel like they have a very specific flavor. It really helped inform the tone of the show.”

Gael García Bernal, Diego Luna and Eiza Gonzalez. (Photo by: Cristian Salvatierra/Hulu)

Ramirez told Spectrum News, “La Máquina,” is not like other boxing or crime stories. It’s a story about reaching the end of one’s career and finding a way to let go. 

“It speaks its own language, and it has its own rules,” Ramirez said. “I think the music is just unexpected enough. It’s vintage pop that is so specifically Latin American. Culturally, the show is its own thing.”

García Bernal told Spectrum News they worked to create an anti-fable about how losing can be winning, how losing be winning your freedom and escaping success. 

“La Maquina” also stars Eiza González and one of Mexico’s greatest soap opera actors, Lucia Mendez.

All episodes of “La Máquina” are now streaming on Hulu.

Click the arrow above to watch the full interview.