Netflix unveiled its 2022 slate of 25 French Originals, as well as projects including the second and third instalments of its action movie “Lost Bullet,” and “En Place,” a comedy series created by Jean-Pascal Zadi (“Tout simplement Noir”) and Francois Uzan.
The company said it will invest more than €200 million ($220 million) in 2022 in France. Of these 25 titles, around 10 are series, and eight are films.
The streamer’s French presentation was hosted at the Comedy Club in Paris to tease “Standing-Up,” a series following aspiring stand-up comedians that’s directed by Fanny Herrero, the creator of “Call My Agent.”
The show will play on opening night during the Series Mania Festival. Herrero, attended the press conference along with key Netflix executives in Europe, including Damien Couvreur, Sara May and Gaelle Mareschi. The creative said she wanted “Standing-Up” to introduce fresh faces who defy stereotypes, reflect the diversity of French society and depict the rollercoaster life of 20-something young artists as they become adults.
Besides “Standing-Up,” Netflix’s anticipated highlights for 2022 including Romain Gavras’s “Athena,” an immersive and modern tragedy played by Dali Benssalah, Sami Slimane, Anthony Bajon and co-written by Ladj Ly (“Les Miserables”); as well as “Rhythm + Flow France,” a rap contest celebrating the vibrant hip-hop movement in France. A jury consisting of French hip hop artists Niska, Shay and SCH will look for the next stars across Paris, Marseille and Brussels.
Netflix will also start shooting “Le Roi des Ombres,” directed by Marc Fouchard, later this year. Based on an original idea by Kaaris and set in contemporary France, “Le Roi des Ombres” will follow several characters and is inspired by and ancestral African legend.
“We are proud of bringing new stories to life and reflecting the diversity of French creation in all the 25 productions, in all their variety, being released this year on Netflix,” said Damien Couvreur, VP of series in France for Netflix.
During the presentation, Netflix also showed some clips of anticipated titles such as “Notre-Dame fire,” Hervé Hadmar’s drama series set against the backdrop of the fire which destroyed part of the French landmark.
Alongside fiction series and films, Netflix is also looking to ramp up its output in documentaries with “Johnny Hallyday: Beyond Rock” about the iconic French crooner; and a doc charting Carlos Ghosn’s epic escape from Japan and shedding light on his complex personality. Following the success of “Lords of Scam” and “Gregory,” Netflix will also feature a documentary about the story of Raël, and his thousands of followers in 104 countries around the world.
In terms of movies, Netflix announced it will produce a third instalment of Guillaume Pierret’s “Lost Bullet, with the second instalment launching later this year. May said “Lost Bullet” will be Netflix’s first French film franchise.
Another Netflix original movie in the pipeline is “The Takedown,” the previously announced sequel of “On The Other Side of the Tracks,” a buddy comedy series reteaming “Lupin” helmer Louis Leterrier with its star Omar Sy, and Laurent Lafitte. Sy is to this day the only French talent to have a multi-year partnership with Netflix. The partnership will see Sy’s Paris and L.A.-based production company develop original films for Netflix, with Sy starring in and acting as executive producer on the projects.
The platform is also aiming to step up its projects driven by female directors and creatives, said Mareschi, who mentioned “Dangerous Liaisons,” a Biarritz-set contemporary teenage adaptation of the eponymous novel which will mark the feature debut of Rachel Suissa.