Sep 15, 2026 4:00pm IST
‘Drawn Together’ Author Mercedes Ron on Adapting ‘Enfrentados’ Series, Why Ester Expósito is the Perfect ‘Marfil’ and the YA Genre Boom (EXCLUSIVE)
Mercedes Ron is a Prime Video darling. The Argentina-born Spanish author, who began her writing career on Wattpad, is now a New York Times bestselling writer with three of her book series adapted into film franchises across Spanish and English on the streamer. After the Culpables and Dimelo trilogies, her duology, “Enfrentados,” is the latest to be adapted into two films, “Drawn Together” (“Marfil” in Spanish) and “Drawn Apart” (Ébano), starring Ester Expósito and Hugo Diego Garcia.
In an exclusive conversation with Variety India, the author reveals how much creative control she has over her adaptations, why she thought Ester Expósito might not want to play Marfil, the YA and Mature Adult genre boom and writing challenges and a possible crossover between the worlds she has created. Excerpts:
What was something about the “Enfrentados” book series you were particularly protective of when getting it adapted for the screen?
I'm very protective of everything. I don't like when they want to make changes, but now I understand that they have to. Not everything that works in a book is going to work on the screen. But I think “Drawn Together” is adapted pretty close to the book. Of course, I wanted New York to be in the movie. I thought we weren’t going to be able to have it, but it all worked out, so I'm so happy about that. The most important thing for me was the chemistry between the characters.
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Did you have a say in the casting of Ester Expósito and Hugo Diego Garcia as Marfil and Sebastián?
I was really involved in the casting. I really wanted Ester in the movie. I thought she was going to say no, because she does really different movies. But then she said yes. I think she's the best actor to play Marfil. For Sebastián, we did more castings and eventually found Hugo. When we saw the chemistry between Hugo and Ester, it was amazing.
This is your third collaboration with Prime Video after the “Culpables” saga and “Dimelo” trilogy. How involved are you in the adaptation process? Any learnings from your previous collaborations that helped you with “Enfrentados?”
Yes, of course. With “My Fault,” I was a little scared. I felt insecure about everything. You are used to working on your own with your characters and the story, and suddenly you're working with a lot of people who want to make changes or are giving you ideas. I learned that you need to trust the team.
Making a movie is very different to writing a book. Now I think I feel more secure and calmer. I'm very involved. Some writers don't want to be involved at all, but I always wanted that. So I'm involved in the casting process and the screen tests. I give comments when I read the scripts. I watch the movie before it's ready, so I can send my comments as well.
I also like to pay attention to the music. I think a song that doesn't match a scene can ruin everything. So yeah, they want to have me involved, and that's really good, and I'm very happy about that.
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The YA or Mature Adult genre is having a moment right now. As a woman in your 30s, what do you think is it about these characters that appeals to everyone, and what do you tap into to write them?
I think this kind of movie is never going to get old. We love romance. Ninety percent of the audience, of course, is a female audience, and I love that so much. I also think it's having a moment. The industry is understanding that there's a huge fandom that wants to watch this kind of movie and wants to read these kinds of books.
I think what I'm doing a bit differently is that I try to combine a good love story with a thriller. With this one, we have a bodyguard and all the thrill that comes with that scenario. It's set in New York. I think that's why people often tell me it's one of my best books.
Since everyone's going the multiverse route and adding meta nods to their works, would you ever want a crossover with the “Culpables,” “Dimelo” and “Enfrentados” films?
Actually, for “Drawn Together,” I'm open to it. I don't know how we can do it, though! I do have a crossover in “Tell Me in Secret.” Nick and Noah from “My Fault” appear in the book. People love it so much. So yeah, I'm open to it. Maybe one day, I don't know… But of course, they all live in the same world, you know?
“Drawn Together” is currently streaming on Prime Video.
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