SEE NICOLAS DUVAUCHELLE, GREGORY FITOUSSI, GUILLAUME GOUIX IN THE 16TH CENTURY SET MINI SERIES FORTUNES OF FRANCE BASED ON ROBERT MERLE'S LEGENDARY SAGA

  FORTUNES OF FRANCE  

The series is available on Prime Video

HISTORICAL SERIES FROM FRANCE 

Some two years ago I told you that Robert Merle's 13 books long saga FORTUNES OF FRANCE (Fortune de France) is being turned into a six episode mini series by France2 with our dear Nicolas Duvauchelle starring alongside Gregory Fitoussi and Guillaume Gouix! The historical series, which used more than 750 extras in the production, aired in France last year, but it is now available on Prime Video for streaming. Check out the trailer with English language subtitles below and tell us what you think. 

 THE SERIES IS SET IN

Black Périgord, Château de Mespech, 1557. The religious wars are threatening to spread through France. Behind the ramparts of the castle of Mespech, surrounded by a dangerous, hostile and intolerant world, the Siorac family fights for its survival and its convictions. Jean (Nicolas Duvauchelle), the father, is forced to reconnect with violence to defend his ideals. Isabelle (Lucie Debay), the mother, fights to exist in a world where men make the law. Pierre (Simon Zampieri) and François (Marcel Thompson), the sons, suddenly enter adulthood, torn like their country between the Protestant faith of their father and the Catholic fervor of their mother. There is the life of a community, masters and servants, parents and children, epidemics, adversaries, battles and mourning, science and superstitions and love stories. The series is also known as The Huguenots at some places.

 

JEAN RENO IS FIGHTING WEREWOLVES IN 15TH CENTURY VILLAGE IN FAMILY PACK NETFLIX FAMILY COMEDY ADVENTURE MOVIE TRAILER

    FAMILY PACK TRAILER     

FOR NEW NETFLIX COMEDY ADVENTURE

It won't arrive until October this year, but Netflix has released a fun first trailer for their French original family movie adventure FAMILY PACK

Family Pack arrives to Netflix this October

(Loups Garous) based on the Werewolf video game and starring Jean Reno, Frank Dubosc, Suzanne Clement, Jonathan Lambert and Gregory Fitoussi.

Shot in Czech capital Prague, this big budget family action adventure fantasy comedy movie follows a family who, after discovering a mysterious card game, is thrust back in time to a medieval village where they must fend off dangerous werewolves each night. Arriving in the small 15th century village of Thiercelieux, they understand that monsters attack the inhabitants. They're going to have to find out who the culprits are. Francois Uzan directed this family friendly romp. Check out the fun trailer below:

1ST NICOLAS DUVAUCHELLE, GREGORY FITOUSSI, GUILLAUME GOUIX IMAGES FROM THE SET OF 16TH CENTURY MINI SERIES FORTUNES OF FRANCE BASED ON ROBERT MERLE'S LEGENDARY SAGA

  FORTUNES OF FRANCE  

FIRST HISTORICAL SERIES SET IMAGES ARE HERE

While the strike season is on we will, as usual, stick to Europe, so today I have something new from France for you: last year they had a number of historical mini series led by The King's Favourite and Marie Antoinette,

Nicolas Duvauchelle leads the series as the family patriarch

but this year they are adapting one of their most beloved series of historical novels - Robert Merle's 13 books long saga FORTUNES OF FRANCE (Fortune de France) is being turned into a six episode mini series by France

Gregory Fitoussi and Lucie Debay star in the new series

2! Today you can check out first set photos showing us the lead stars in full costume: and it is an ensemble cast led by our dear Nicolas Duvauchelle

Blandine Bellavoir and Guillaume Gouix also star

alongside Gregory Fitoussi and Guillaume Gouix! The historical series, which used more than 750 extras in the production, will air next year.

 

 THE SERIES IS SET IN

Black Périgord, Château de Mespech, 1557. The religious wars are threatening to spread through France. Behind the ramparts of the castle of Mespech, surrounded by a dangerous, hostile and intolerant world, the Siorac family fights for its survival and its convictions. Jean (Nicolas Duvauchelle), the father, is forced to reconnect with violence to defend his ideals. Isabelle (Lucie Debay), the mother, fights to exist in a world where men make the law. Pierre (Simon Zampieri) and François (Marcel Thompson), the sons, suddenly enter adulthood, torn like their country between the Protestant faith of their father and the Catholic fervor of their mother. There is the life of a community, masters and servants, parents and children, epidemics, adversaries, battles and mourning, science and superstitions and love stories.

SEE FRENCH RIVIERA SET MINI SERIES THE REUNION BASED ON MUSSO'S FAMOUS NOVEL WITH IOAN GRUFFUDD, GREGORY FITOUSSI, RUPERT GRAVES

  THE REUNION TV SERIES 

FROM MUSSO'S BESTSELLER

The series will stream on ITVX next month

Here is one that kinda escaped my radar at some point: a small screen adaptation of Guillaume Musso's widely popular best selling book "La jeune fille et la nuit" which has been sold in more than 2 million copies around the world so far and has also been translated in over 35 languages making it a massive international hit. We do not have an English language trailer yet, sadly, but you can check out a French one below the post and tell us what you think.

 

  TITLED THE REUNION 

the six episode series about a missing girl and a secret buried for 25 years, already aired on France 2 broadcaster earlier this year and will arrive to ITVX in United Kingdom later this January and is already streaming on Stan in Australia. Ioan Gruffudd and Gregory Fitoussi together with Rupert Graves lead this series which starts in an elite prep school frozen in the snow. Three friends linked by a tragic secret. One girl taken by the night. 25 years ago, The girl body was buried in the gymnasium wall, the same wall that is about to be demolished.

The story is that of three friends linked by a tragic secret: the disappearance of their friend Vineca twenty-five years earlier. And when they find themselves nowadays, in the south of France, one of them will want to break the silence. In this trio of friends facing the secret, there is Fanny, played by Vahina Gioccante. The most vulnerable character.

ITVX STREAMER LAUNCHES WITH CONFESSIONS OF FRANNIE LANGTON HISTORICAL TV SERIES! SEE HUGO BECKER, GREGORY FITOUSSI IN WIN OR DIE FRENCH HISTORICAL WAR MOVIE TRAILER

 ITVX LAUNCHES WITH 

CONFESSIONS OF FRANNIE LANGTON COSTUME DRAMA

ITV has invested $200 million and launched their new free streaming service ITVX this week with new historical series CONFESSIONS OF FRANNIE LANGTON which is available for streaming as of December 8th. Karla-Simone Spence leads the four parter in the role of Frannie Langton, the drama’s young protagonist born into a life of slavery who is fighting to tell her own story. She is joined by Sophie Cookson as Madame Marguerite Benham and Patrick Martins as Olaudah “Laddie” Cambridge in the murder mystery drama. Also starring in the historically authentic adaptation is Stephen Campbell Moore as renowned scientist and husband to Madame, George Benham. Joining him are Steven Mackintosh as John Langton and Amarah-Jae St. Aubyn as Sal. 

 

CONFESSIONS OF FRANNIE LANGTON
 set against the dazzling opulence of Georgian London, narrates Frannie’s journey from a Jamaican plantation to the grand Mayfair mansion of celebrated scientist George Benham and his exquisitely beautiful wife, Madame Marguerite Benham. In a misguided and monstrous gesture Frannie is gifted to Benham by the man who owns her, John Langton, and she is employed as a maid in the household much to her chagrin. As the plot twists and turns, events take a fateful turn as the Benhams are found murdered in their beds, with Frannie lying next to Marguerite. Frannie is accused of murder but swears that she couldn’t possibly have killed her mistress because she was devoted to her. Dragged away to prison, Frannie attempts to piece together the events of that night. She is deep into a laudanum addiction and unclear about precisely what happened…

 

 

 WIN OR DIE MOVIE TRAILER 

STARRING HUGO BECKER

The film is out in France January 25th

Speaking of period set projects, I also have one for you from France today: first traielr for WIN OR DIE historical movie also known as VAINCRE OU MOURIR which is coming to French cinemas next January directed together by Paul Mignot and Vincent Mottez and with a rather strong cast of French superstars led by Hugo Becker, Gregory Fitoussi, Jonathan Demurger, Jean Hugues Anglade and Rod Paradot. You can check out the first teaser below.

 

 

Hugo Becker leads the cast

THE STORY OF WIN OR DIE

follows the adventures of Charette (played here by French star Hugo Becker), naval officer, winner of the American War of Indepen- dence, who sees his life changed in 1793 when he engages in a final fight for freedom. François Athanase de Charette de la Contrie (2 May 1763 – 29 March 1796) was a Breton Royalist soldier and politician. He served in the French Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War and was one of the leaders of  the Revolt in the Vendée against the revolutionary regime during which the peasant fighters asked Charette to be their leader. During the very brutal war in which republicans massacred many people, he won numerous battles but was captured and executed when he was just 32.

 

HOLLYWOOD SPY'S EXTENSIVE SPOTLIGHT ON PERIOD SET MOVIES TO EXPECT FROM FRANCE: HISTORICAL FILMS FROM HUGO BECKER, ISABELLE HUPPERT, VINCENT PERES!

  PERIOD SET FILMS  

TO EXPECT FROM FRANCE 

Hollywood Spy is bringing you web's most extensive spotlight on all the period set movies we can expect from France, starting with A MASTER OF ARMS (Maître d’armes) which will be directed by Vincent Peres who is also directing. Paris, 1887. In a rapidly changing society, where dueling is the

Vincent Peres will star and direct

last way out to uphold one's honour, Clément Lacaze, charismatic fencing master, and Marie-Rose Astié de Valsayre, a feminist ahead of her time, will fight side by side, ignoring the threats and dangers that await them. Roschdy Zem, Doria Tillier and Denis Podalydès also star. 

 

MADAME DE SEVIGNE

With Karin Viard in the title role, it will also star Ana Girardot, Cédric Kahn, and Noémie Lvovsky. In the middle of the 17th century, the Marquise de Sévigné wanted to make her daughter a brilliant and independent woman, in her image. But the more she tries to have a hold on the destiny of the young woman, the more she alienates her. Mother and daughter then experience the pangs of a singular and devastating passion. From this devastation will be born a major work of French literature.

 

THE SHADOW OF CARAVAGGIO

Directed by Michele Placido, this co production between France and Italy will also star Riccardo Scamarcio, Louis Garrel, Isabelle Huppert. Italy, in 1600. The adventurous life of the great 16th century Italian painter, Caravaggio. A disturbing figure is responsible for investigating the latter because his art is deemed subversive.

 

THE LAST QUEEN 

aka La Dernière reine will star Adila Bendimerad, Dali Benssalah, Tahar Zaoui! Year is 1516, Legend says that the King of Algiers had a wife named Zaphira. When the pirate Aroudj Barbarossa arrives to liberate the city from the Spaniards, he is determined to conquer Zaphira as well as the kingdom itself. But is Zaphira ready to let him or is she plotting for herself?

 

POMARE, LAST QUEEN OF TAHITI

aka Pomaré, la dernière reine de Tahiti will star Tuheï Adams, Alexia Barlier, Bernard Le Coq and Terence Telle. In the kingdom of the lagoons where custom dictates that only men can become kings young Aïmata Pomare will break this law. Faced with the hostility of her peers, threatened by the greed of England and France, Aïmata, a young Tahitian princess, will try to save her traditions and her people in order to offer her a destiny. This is how she will become the last queen of Tahiti and make peace with France. 

 

THE FURCY SLAVE AFFAIR

aka L'Affaire de l’esclave Furcy will be an adaptation of Mohammed Aïssaoui's novel. It will tell  the true story of Furcy, a slave on a plantation on

Riccardo Scamarcio

Bourbon Island (Reunion), who decided in October 1817 to take his master to court to demand his freedom. After many twists and turns, this affair which lasted more than twenty years will find its denouement in Paris in 1843 at the Royal Cessation Court.

 

CONCE- SSION

aka La Concession by director Aurelia Raoull. 1867. Charlotte is part of a convoy of women sent to New Caledonia to populate this new French colony. While this 17-year-old orphan is won over by the Kanak spirits of Caledonian land, she revolts against her husband and the colonial system...

 

WIN OR DIE

Also known as VAINCRE OU MOURIR has already been shot and is currently in the process of post production which means we can show you the first photos from this historical war movie directed together by Paul Mignot and Vincent Mottez and a rather strong cast of French superstars led by Hugo Becker, Gregory Fitoussi, Jonathan Demurger, Jean Hugues Anglade and Rod Paradot. To be distributed by our favourite StudioCanal, this historical action war movie should troop into cinemas sometime next year.

  THE STORY OF WIN OR DIE

follows the adventures of Charette (played here by French star Hugo Becker), naval officer, winner of the American War of Independence, who sees his life changed in 1793 when he engages in a final fight for freedom. François Athanase de Charette de la Contrie (2 May 1763 – 29 March 1796) was a Breton Royalist soldier and politician. He served in the French Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War and was one of the leaders of the Revolt in the Vendée against the revolutionary regime during which the peasant fighters asked Charette to be their leader. During the very brutal war in which republicans massacred many people, he won numerous battles but was captured and executed when he was just 32.

IOAN GRUFFUDD, GREGORY FITOUSSI TO LEAD THE REUNION TV SERIES BASED ON MUSSO'S WORLDWIDE BESTSELLER! BBC TO ADAPT THE ENGLISH PATIENT INTO A PERIOD SET TV SERIES

    IOAN GRUFFUDD TO LEAD   

THE REUNION TV SERIES

Welsh star Ioan Gruffudd will lead the cast

As Variety reports, the French riviera set small screen adaptation of Guillaume Musso’s bestselling novel “La Jeune Fille et la Nuit,” has started shooting on location in the south of France with an international cast headlined by Ioan Gruffudd, Ivanna Sakhno and Grégory Fitoussi. Done for French television, Italian RAI and German ZDF, English language series THE REUNION opens in the present day, at a high school reunion in the south of France where three former friends reconnect. They grew apart and lost touch, but they are still bound by a tragic secret tied to the disappearance of a high school girl who went missing 25 years ago in the region. The book on

French star Gregory Fitoussi will also star in Reunion

which the six part series is based has been translated into more than 35 languages so far. Musso has been France's most popular writer for ten consecutive years now.

   THE ENGLISH PATIENT   

BBC WORKING ON TV ADAPTATION

Speaking of new series, BBC is apparently in early stages of adapting Michael Ondaatje's THE ENGLISH PATIENT into a period set TV series. As Deadline reports, it will offer a new vision of the story about four dissimilar

The series is in early stages of production

people brought together at an Italian villa during World War II! Emily Ballou (who also wrote Becoming Elizabeth for Starz) is penning the script which follows a unrecognisably burned man — the eponymous patient, presumed to be English — his Canadian Army nurse, a Sikh British Army sapper and a Canadian thief. Set behind the North African and Italian campaigns of the Second World War, the book is told out of sequence and moves back and forth between the patient’s memories before his accident and the current evens at the bomb-damaged Italian monastery.

1ST BEECHAM HOUSE INDIA SET EPIC TV SERIES PHOTOS WITH TOM BATEMAN, LEO SUTER! DEATH AND NIGHTINGALES BBC EPIC SERIES TRAILER WITH JAMIE DORNAN, MATTHEW RHYS

  1ST 'BEECHAM HOUSE'

PHOTOS FROM INDIA SET SAGA

The first photos are in from ITV's upcoming new historical saga BEECHAM HOUSE which will air sometime next year starring Tom Bateman as a handsome and soulful former soldier, John Beecham, who has acquired the

Tom Bateman leads the cast in the India set TV series

Delhi house to start a new life for his family and a business as a trader. Wealthy and distinguished, John has witnessed profiteering and exploitation

Beecham House will air sometime next year in six episodes

during his time with the controlling East India Company and appears haunted by his past. Determined to escape that life, he sets his sights on becoming an

Bateman starred in ITV's Vanity Fair and Jekyll and Hyde series

honourable member of the region’s trading community. But in the glorious setting of BEECHAM HOUSE, John’s life remains shrouded in mystery. His arrival provokes gossip amongst the servants and despite filling his residence

Viceroy's House Gurinder Chadha is directing the saga

with relatives and friends, Beecham’s house still has dark corners that crackle with conspiracy and sinister intent. The story also unfolds at a time when the

Hope we can expect tons of exotic sets and costumes!

1,000 year old Mughal rule is over and the British vie with the Maharajas to claim India as their own. The cast also includes Marc Warren, Gregory Fitoussi, Leo Suter and others.

   'DEATH AND NIGHTINGALES'

BBC TV SAGA TRAILER WITH JAMIE DORNAN AND MATTHEW RHYS

Rival BBC has, meanwhile, released the first trailer for their three part mini series DEATH AND NIGHTINGALES which will air later this month on BBC Two!  Set in 1885 it takes place over a desperately tense 24-hour period.

The series is set within just 24 hours!

It’s Beth Winters’ (Ann Skelly) 23rd birthday and also the day she has decided to join the charming Liam Ward (Jamie Dornan) to escape from her limited life and complex relationship with her Protestant landowner

The series will air very soon on BBC Two, possibly end of the month

stepfather Billy (Matthew Rhys). As decades of pain and betrayal finally build to a devastating climax, DEATH AND NIGHTINGALES sees a woman struggling to control her own destiny and will ultimately illuminate tensions that tear both families and nations apart. The trailer does not look too promising! The series starts airing on BBC Two November 28th!