Alfredo De Villa & Robert Teitel launch Luchadores Productions
Veteran director Alfredo De Villa and Emmy-winning producer Robert Teitel are stepping into the ring with a bold new venture: Luchadores Productions, a 100% diversity-owned creative studio with a mission to reshape the Latino commercial landscape.
Co-founded by De Villa (Washington Heights, Adrift in Manhattan) and Teitel (Barbershop, The Hate U Give, Bob Marley: One Love), the new full-service production company is already packing heat with a star-powered directing roster that includes John Leguizamo, Jay Hernandez, and Phil Bertelsen. Tim Donahue heads up post-production for the studio.
“At Luchadores, we believe in the power of authentic storytelling that resonates across cultures,” said De Villa. “We’re not just checking boxes — we’re crafting stories that reflect the real, rich human experience.”
The company’s creative philosophy is rooted in three pillars: Collaboration, Global Reach, and Multi-Channel Impact. Their clients already include A-list brands like Microsoft, Amazon, Bud Light, Paramount, Netflix, Meta, and Wells Fargo, with work that balances cultural fluency and commercial impact.
From Nothing Like the Holidays to Something Bigger
The partnership between De Villa and Teitel was forged in 2008 with Nothing Like the Holidays, a culture-forward holiday dramedy featuring John Leguizamo, Debra Messing, Alfred Molina, and Luis Guzmán. That collaboration captured Teitel’s Puerto Rican family roots — and laid the groundwork for this next chapter.
“Representation isn’t just a buzzword to us — it’s a responsibility,” said Teitel. “With Luchadores, we’re creating a space for Latino and multicultural stories to thrive in both mainstream and niche markets.”
A Knockout Roster
Alfredo De Villa, a Mexican-born director with a Columbia MFA, has helmed hundreds of commercials for major brands. His narrative work has screened at Tribeca and Sundance, and he’s taught commercial directing for the Sundance Institute.
John Leguizamo, the award-winning actor and director, brings over 100 film credits, multiple Tony nominations, and recent acclaim for producing Broadway’s Buena Vista Social Club, which earned 10 Tony nods in 2024. He also directed and starred in the feature Critical Thinking.
Jay Hernandez, known for Magnum P.I., Crazy/Beautiful, and Suicide Squad, recently wrapped his feature directorial debut Night Comes. He also directed several episodes of Magnum P.I., showcasing his smooth transition from actor to director.
Phil Bertelsen, the Emmy- and Peabody-winning documentarian, brings a powerful nonfiction perspective with acclaimed work like Who Killed Malcolm X? (Netflix), The Picture Taker (PBS), and HBO’s Seen & Heard, which premiered at SXSW.
Luchadores isn’t here to join the conversation — it’s here to lead it. With top-tier talent, global reach, and a passion for storytelling rooted in truth, De Villa and Teitel are betting on a new era of inclusive, impactful content.
As Teitel puts it, “We’re not just making ads. We’re making culture.”