Cast and crew of Spanish drama series FoQ: La Nueva Generación have gathered in Madrid to begin filming the show's second season at a local high school.
Production took place on a Wednesday at the IES Gregorio Marañón high school in the northern Barrio del Pilar district. The school opened its doors during the late July summer break to serve as the set for Zurbarán, the fictional academic institute at the heart of the series.
The project returns for its second season after achieving the highest debut for an original fiction series on streaming platform atresplayer in two years. Actress Angy Fernández returns to the franchise to reprise her role as Paula Blasco, joining returning cast members and new additions.
Filming on set in Barrio del Pilar
Filming took place during a hot late July day in Madrid, with cast members wearing autumn wardrobe designed for a September return to classes. The set welcomed returning student cast members Rocío Velayos as Asia, María Bernardeau as Carlota, Biel Antón as Pelayo, Kiko Bena as Koldo, Miguel Fernández as Jon, Esther Mejorada as Iria, Santiago Garzozi as Jeremy, Julia Camus as Bárbara, Carla Domínguez as Marina, Biel Castaño as Dani, and Roc Ané as Rocky.
Actress Itziar Miranda also took part in filming in her role as the Zurbarán teacher Brianda. At the institute entrance, multiple takes were recorded showing extras and main actors walking toward the building doors under the direction of Juanma Pachón, Carlos Alonso Ojea, Roberto Montalbo, and Carlos García Miranda.
Crew members held umbrellas over actors to protect them from the sun between takes, stepping back when production calls signaled traffic to stop and crew to stand by. In one exterior scene, a motorcycle nearly strikes a female student who leaps out of harm's way, marking the entrance of new character Zac, played by musician and actor Víctor Pérez, in an arrival shot designed to mirror a scene from a Steve McQueen film.
Directors encouraged the cast to remain cheerful and energetic for the back-to-school atmosphere before filming repeated takes from alternate camera angles. Before breaking for lunch, the production team assembled to sing happy birthday to crew member Virginia.
Character arcs and cinematic format
During the lunch interval in the school courtyard, members of the young ensemble appeared significantly more relaxed than during press interviews for season one. Production sources indicated that the upcoming academic term will present new challenges for the students, testing their personal relationships and the bonds forged during the previous year.
Actor Víctor Pérez explained that his character Zac introduces dynamic elements capable of destabilizing the central student group. Director Juanma Pachón stated that season two adopts a more cinematic visual presentation, with episodes structured around major school events including Halloween, an American-style high school dance, a traffic light party, and a team-building excursion.
Set design and production background
Inside the facility, set decorators installed custom signage designating rooms as Zurbarán classrooms, displayed student advice posters, and posted labels over restroom doors. Production teams also partially occupied the actual school principal's office to film interior scenes.
Outside the venue, wardrobe staff operated a mobile laundry unit inside a truck to manage costume changes, which included full athletic uniforms and matching green socks for the fictional institute's sports teams.
The series is produced by Buendía Estudios Canarias in collaboration with Boomerang TV and with the participation of Atresmedia. Atresmedia is a major Spanish television conglomerate that operates the subscription streaming platform atresplayer. The show serves as a revival and continuation of the original Spanish high school drama series Física o Química, which originally aired on Antena 3 and focused on the lives of students and teachers at the fictional Zurbarán academy.
