French producer Dimitri Rassam is enjoying a high-profile Cannes Film Festival as producer of Competition title Limonov: The Ballad and The Count Of Monte Cristo, which scored a rousing 12-minute ovation at its Out of Competition debut.
“It’s my first film in Competition, it has been a tremendous ride,” says Rassam, who is a producer on Limonov under his Paris-based Chapter 2 banner, alongside Italy’s Lorenzo Gangarossa and Mario Gianani as well as director Kirill Serebrennikov’s long-time collaborator Ilya Stewart.
Rassam is no stranger to the Cannes red carpet having regularly accompanied his actress mother Carole Bouquet in his early 20s, before mounting the festival’s famed steps in his own right as the producer of The Little Prince and co-producer of L’Immensità.
Cinema is also in his blood on his paternal side through late producer father Jean-Pierre Rassam, and uncle Paul Rassam, the long-time friend and collaborator...
“It’s my first film in Competition, it has been a tremendous ride,” says Rassam, who is a producer on Limonov under his Paris-based Chapter 2 banner, alongside Italy’s Lorenzo Gangarossa and Mario Gianani as well as director Kirill Serebrennikov’s long-time collaborator Ilya Stewart.
Rassam is no stranger to the Cannes red carpet having regularly accompanied his actress mother Carole Bouquet in his early 20s, before mounting the festival’s famed steps in his own right as the producer of The Little Prince and co-producer of L’Immensità.
Cinema is also in his blood on his paternal side through late producer father Jean-Pierre Rassam, and uncle Paul Rassam, the long-time friend and collaborator...
- 5/24/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Pathé and Chapter 2 have announced the start of shoot in Morocco today for Martin Bourboulon’s Afghanistan evacuation drama In The Hell Of Kabul: 13 Days, 13 Nights and unveiled new cast additions.
Rising French actress Lyna Khoudri (French Dispatch) and Danish Bafta-winning Borgen star Sidse Babett Knudsen have joined the cast, which is led by Roschdy Zem, and also features respected theatre actor Christophe Montenez of The Comédie Française.
Set against the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan of U.S. troops in August, 2021 as the Taliban march on Kabul, the film recounts the true story of French Commander Mohamed Bida, who oversaw security at the French embassy, the last Western mission to remain open.
Trapped, Commander Bida decides to negotiate with the Taliban to organise a last-chance convoy with the help of Eva, a young French-Afghan translator. There is a race against time to lead the evacuees to...
Rising French actress Lyna Khoudri (French Dispatch) and Danish Bafta-winning Borgen star Sidse Babett Knudsen have joined the cast, which is led by Roschdy Zem, and also features respected theatre actor Christophe Montenez of The Comédie Française.
Set against the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan of U.S. troops in August, 2021 as the Taliban march on Kabul, the film recounts the true story of French Commander Mohamed Bida, who oversaw security at the French embassy, the last Western mission to remain open.
Trapped, Commander Bida decides to negotiate with the Taliban to organise a last-chance convoy with the help of Eva, a young French-Afghan translator. There is a race against time to lead the evacuees to...
- 5/20/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
"Will you do good or will hate fill your heart?" Pathe in France has revealed the main official trailer for The Count of Monte-Cristo, which is premiering at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival next week. It's yet another new Alexandre Dumas adaptation, written & directed by the two writers who made The Three Musketeers movies recently, though this time they're also directing. A new take on the famous novel by Dumas, about a man who gets revenge after being unfairly imprisoned. It has been adapted many times before, most notably in 2002 with Jim Caviezel & Guy Pearce; in 1975 with Richard Chamberlain & Trevor Howard; and the original classic in 1934 with Robert Donat & Elissa Landi. There's also another new Italian-French TV series version of Monte Cristo in the works. Starring Pierre Niney as Edmond, Anaïs Demoustier as Mercédès, Bastien Bouillon, Anamaria Vartolomei, with Laurent Lafitte, & Julien De Saint Jean. After 14 years in the island prison of Château d'If,...
- 5/7/2024
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
One of Hollywood's most frustrating recent news stories is that Francis Ford Coppola is having trouble finding distribution for his self-funded passion project, "Megalopolis" (via The Hollywood Reporter). In a just world, making "The Godfather" would grant Coppola a lifetime blank check, but that has never been the world we've lived in.
What you may not be aware of is one of Coppola's influences for his magnum opus. Like his friend "Star Wars" director George Lucas, Coppola looked to Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa. While Lucas took after Kurosawa's Jidaigeki (historical) films, Coppola looked to one of the director's contemporary-set films: "The Bad Sleep Well."
Released in 1960 and starring his go-to leading man Toshiro Mifune, the movie is one of Kurosawa's (comparatively) more obscure ones. It was especially overshadowed by "High and Low," the masterful kidnapping thriller that Kurosawa and Mifune released in 1963. Both movies are set in the world of...
What you may not be aware of is one of Coppola's influences for his magnum opus. Like his friend "Star Wars" director George Lucas, Coppola looked to Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa. While Lucas took after Kurosawa's Jidaigeki (historical) films, Coppola looked to one of the director's contemporary-set films: "The Bad Sleep Well."
Released in 1960 and starring his go-to leading man Toshiro Mifune, the movie is one of Kurosawa's (comparatively) more obscure ones. It was especially overshadowed by "High and Low," the masterful kidnapping thriller that Kurosawa and Mifune released in 1963. Both movies are set in the world of...
- 4/15/2024
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
Good afternoon Insiders, Max Goldbart here. We’ve been out in force in France this week. To read about our travels, plus plenty more, scroll down, and sign up here.
All That Mania
‘So Long, Marianne’ star Alex Wolff (left) with Series Mania boss Laurence Herszberg
Netflix pulls ahead: Anything but doom and gloom this week at the Lille Series Mania confab, which was buzzy as ever, cementing its place as a must-not-miss event in the ever-crowded TV market calendar. Big stars including Patricia Arquette, Jeremy Irons and Michael Chiklis headed to the city in northern France to tout wares and talk shop. Netflix execs were out in full force, pushing hard against the cross-industry contraction narrative by unveiling dozens of shows in the weeks leading up to the market — and unveiling two more, starring Isabelle Adjani and Famke Janssen — at its showcase. At a time when local content is being rowed back,...
All That Mania
‘So Long, Marianne’ star Alex Wolff (left) with Series Mania boss Laurence Herszberg
Netflix pulls ahead: Anything but doom and gloom this week at the Lille Series Mania confab, which was buzzy as ever, cementing its place as a must-not-miss event in the ever-crowded TV market calendar. Big stars including Patricia Arquette, Jeremy Irons and Michael Chiklis headed to the city in northern France to tout wares and talk shop. Netflix execs were out in full force, pushing hard against the cross-industry contraction narrative by unveiling dozens of shows in the weeks leading up to the market — and unveiling two more, starring Isabelle Adjani and Famke Janssen — at its showcase. At a time when local content is being rowed back,...
- 3/22/2024
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Rolling off “The Three Musketeers,” Pathé and Dimitri Rassam’s Chapter 2 (a Mediawan company) have unveiled the teaser and poster for their next period epic, “The Count of Monte-Cristo,” starring Pierre Niney in the title role.
Based on Alexandre Dumas’ literary masterpiece, the film tells the story of a young man, Edmond Dantes, who becomes the target of a sinister plot and is arrested on his wedding day for a crime he did not commit. After 14 years in the island prison of Château d’If, he manages a daring escape. Now rich beyond his dreams, he assumes the identity of the Count of Monte-Cristo and exacts his revenge on the three men who betrayed him. Pathé will give the movie a wide release in French theaters on June 28.
The film is directed by Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de la Patellière, who penned the two-part epic “The Three Musketeers.” The pair...
Based on Alexandre Dumas’ literary masterpiece, the film tells the story of a young man, Edmond Dantes, who becomes the target of a sinister plot and is arrested on his wedding day for a crime he did not commit. After 14 years in the island prison of Château d’If, he manages a daring escape. Now rich beyond his dreams, he assumes the identity of the Count of Monte-Cristo and exacts his revenge on the three men who betrayed him. Pathé will give the movie a wide release in French theaters on June 28.
The film is directed by Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de la Patellière, who penned the two-part epic “The Three Musketeers.” The pair...
- 3/4/2024
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
This year, Spain has more titles at the Berlinale’s two TV showcases, Co-Pro Series and Berlinale Market Selects, than any other country in the world— a total of four shows, beating the U.S. with one, and even Germany, which has three.
On top of that, running Feb. 19-20 at the fest’s CinemaxX screening hub, the Spanish showcase at the Berlinale
Market Series highlights three more shows and features a panel, in what may be the big- gest national TV showcase at 2024’s Berlin Festival.
What this bullish presence says about the state of the state of Spanish TV production is an- other matter. Seven key takes:
Second-Phase Boom
Spain’s Berlin bonanza is only natural. Netflix scored its first global TV blockbuster with Spain’s “Money Heist” in 2018, and now the country is now riding a second wave as a strong supplier of the global streamer. In...
On top of that, running Feb. 19-20 at the fest’s CinemaxX screening hub, the Spanish showcase at the Berlinale
Market Series highlights three more shows and features a panel, in what may be the big- gest national TV showcase at 2024’s Berlin Festival.
What this bullish presence says about the state of the state of Spanish TV production is an- other matter. Seven key takes:
Second-Phase Boom
Spain’s Berlin bonanza is only natural. Netflix scored its first global TV blockbuster with Spain’s “Money Heist” in 2018, and now the country is now riding a second wave as a strong supplier of the global streamer. In...
- 2/19/2024
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
“The Count of Monte-Cristo,” the new period epic from the team behind “The Three Musketeers,” is getting ready to hit the market after its five-month shoot wrapped this month.
Producers Dimitri Rassam at Mediawan-owned banner Chapter 2 and Pathé have unveiled a first still of the movie (above), which stars Pierre Niney as the iconic title character.
The film is directed by Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de la Patellière, and is a bigscreen adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ renowned masterpiece revolving around Edmond Dantès, a young sailor who was falsely accused of treason and is imprisoned without trial in the Château d’If, a grim island fortress near Marseille. After many years of captivity, he finally escapes and, under the identity of the Count of Monte Cristo, plans to take revenge on those who have wrongly accused him.
“’The Count of Monte-Cristo’ is one of the greatest stories ever told,” said Delaporte and de la Patellière,...
Producers Dimitri Rassam at Mediawan-owned banner Chapter 2 and Pathé have unveiled a first still of the movie (above), which stars Pierre Niney as the iconic title character.
The film is directed by Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de la Patellière, and is a bigscreen adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ renowned masterpiece revolving around Edmond Dantès, a young sailor who was falsely accused of treason and is imprisoned without trial in the Château d’If, a grim island fortress near Marseille. After many years of captivity, he finally escapes and, under the identity of the Count of Monte Cristo, plans to take revenge on those who have wrongly accused him.
“’The Count of Monte-Cristo’ is one of the greatest stories ever told,” said Delaporte and de la Patellière,...
- 12/19/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Somewhat mysterious and fearless, Oscar-winning British actor Jeremy Irons has played a host of different characters during his decades-long career, from Adrian Veidt in Damon Lindelof’s TV series “Watchmen,” to Rodolfo Gucci in Ridley Scott’s “House of Gucci,” British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain in “Munich: The Edge of War” and Alfred Pennyworth in the DC Extended Universe films, including the latest “Justice League.” Reteaming with Palme d’Or winning Bille August for the third time, Irons will next play Abbé Faria, a noble and wise character, in the prestige limited series “The Count of Monte Cristo,” starring opposite fellow British actor Sam Claflin as Edmond Dantès. The premum limited series is distributed worldwide by Mediawan Rights, in cooperation with CAA (for North America).
Currently on the sprawling set of “Monte Cristo” in sun-drenched Malta, a cheerful Irons spoke to Variety about the timeliness of “Monte Cristo’s” story,...
Currently on the sprawling set of “Monte Cristo” in sun-drenched Malta, a cheerful Irons spoke to Variety about the timeliness of “Monte Cristo’s” story,...
- 11/28/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Europe’s major players in TV and film attending Mipcom Cannes sensed a wave of opportunity coming at them from across the Atlantic, as Hollywood muddles through a period of strategic uncertainty and steep losses from the transition to streaming platforms.
The extended labor strife in the U.S. this year, with the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA waging historic and concurrent strikes, has Euro producers touting the appeal of lensing on the continent with a strong pool of skilled talent accustomed to working at much lower price points.
Also looming over Mipcom was the intense security protocol deployed around the Palais and headlines of bomb scares in France. The country has been on high alert in the wake of Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7 and the murder of a high school teacher a few days later. Despite the tense geo-political backdrop, the overall mood of marketgoers seemed livelier than last year,...
The extended labor strife in the U.S. this year, with the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA waging historic and concurrent strikes, has Euro producers touting the appeal of lensing on the continent with a strong pool of skilled talent accustomed to working at much lower price points.
Also looming over Mipcom was the intense security protocol deployed around the Palais and headlines of bomb scares in France. The country has been on high alert in the wake of Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7 and the murder of a high school teacher a few days later. Despite the tense geo-political backdrop, the overall mood of marketgoers seemed livelier than last year,...
- 10/19/2023
- by Cynthia Littleton, Elsa Keslassy and John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: The ViX original series Montecristo starring William Levy is set to premiere on April 14, with the release of all 6 episodes to hit the streamer. Watch the first official trailer above.
Based on the literary classic The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, the series tells the story of Alejandro Montecristo (Levy), an enigmatic figure who bursts into the public eye and raises concerns amongst the world’s elite because the origin of his fortune and his past are unknown.
Montecristo is the founder and CEO of a new technology company that has incited the envy and interest of many, among those is Fernando Alvarez Mondego – a businessman connected to the Spanish aristocracy who wants to acquire the Montecristo startup. What Fernando doesn’t know is that Montecristo is someone he knew decades ago and the reason for his emergence is fueled purely by revenge.
“I have always loved...
Based on the literary classic The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, the series tells the story of Alejandro Montecristo (Levy), an enigmatic figure who bursts into the public eye and raises concerns amongst the world’s elite because the origin of his fortune and his past are unknown.
Montecristo is the founder and CEO of a new technology company that has incited the envy and interest of many, among those is Fernando Alvarez Mondego – a businessman connected to the Spanish aristocracy who wants to acquire the Montecristo startup. What Fernando doesn’t know is that Montecristo is someone he knew decades ago and the reason for his emergence is fueled purely by revenge.
“I have always loved...
- 3/23/2023
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
After partnering on the anticipated saga “The Three Musketeers,” Pathé and Chapter 2 are re-teaming on “The Count of Monte Cristo,” another classic by Alexandre Dumas.
Directed by Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de La Patellière, the sprawling adventure movie will star Pierre Niney as Monte Cristo, who is considered an iconic figure of French literature.
Dimitri Rassam, president of Chapter 2, a Mediawan company, and Pathé are producing the movie which will start shooting on location in France in July.
Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de la Patellière are prolific screenwriters whose recent credits include the two-part epic “The Three Musketeers.” They have directed a raft of popular films, including “What’s in the Name?”
“‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ is one of the greatest stories ever told. A veritable myth mixing several cinematic genres – adventure and thriller is layered on top of an immensely powerful love story,” said Delaporte and de la Patelliere.
Directed by Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de La Patellière, the sprawling adventure movie will star Pierre Niney as Monte Cristo, who is considered an iconic figure of French literature.
Dimitri Rassam, president of Chapter 2, a Mediawan company, and Pathé are producing the movie which will start shooting on location in France in July.
Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de la Patellière are prolific screenwriters whose recent credits include the two-part epic “The Three Musketeers.” They have directed a raft of popular films, including “What’s in the Name?”
“‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ is one of the greatest stories ever told. A veritable myth mixing several cinematic genres – adventure and thriller is layered on top of an immensely powerful love story,” said Delaporte and de la Patelliere.
- 2/10/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Making its U.S. market debut, Spain’s Secouya Studios has unveiled a weighty 2023 slate underscoring its ambitions to consolidate as one of the biggest film-tv producers in the Spanish-speaking world.
Ranging from fiction series, docuseries, feature documentaries and entertainment formats, 2023 projects take in, among unannounced drama series, “Crudo,” the first skein out of the gate from a framework deal between Secuoya Studios and Colombia’s Caracol Television unveiled just before September’s Iberseries.
Also new is “Hola, Mundo,” an eight-episode co-production with Weekend Studio, part owned by Mediwan; and “Efímero,” billed as a romantic drama.
Among fresh docuseries, Carlos Sainz, Spain’s two-time World Rally Champion, narrates “Race In,” an exclusive story about motorsport’s challenges in a contemporary world, such as sustainability, gender equality and social responsibility. “Proximity: Flying Centimeters from Death· turns on a near-death experience suffered by Base jumper Alex Villar;‘Vuelo JK5022: Spanair’s...
Ranging from fiction series, docuseries, feature documentaries and entertainment formats, 2023 projects take in, among unannounced drama series, “Crudo,” the first skein out of the gate from a framework deal between Secuoya Studios and Colombia’s Caracol Television unveiled just before September’s Iberseries.
Also new is “Hola, Mundo,” an eight-episode co-production with Weekend Studio, part owned by Mediwan; and “Efímero,” billed as a romantic drama.
Among fresh docuseries, Carlos Sainz, Spain’s two-time World Rally Champion, narrates “Race In,” an exclusive story about motorsport’s challenges in a contemporary world, such as sustainability, gender equality and social responsibility. “Proximity: Flying Centimeters from Death· turns on a near-death experience suffered by Base jumper Alex Villar;‘Vuelo JK5022: Spanair’s...
- 1/25/2023
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
ViX+, the fledgling Spanish-language SVOD from TelevisaUnivision, is dipping into literary classics once more with the modern retelling of Alexandre Dumas’ popular revenge tale, “The Count of Monte Cristo.”
The news follows the Jan. 20 bow of ViX+’s Anna Karenina adaptation, “Volver a Caer” with Kate del Castillo. Last year, ViX+ unveiled an adaptation of Nobel Prize laureate Mario Vargas Llosa’s “Travesuras de la Niña Mala” (“Bad Girl”).
In an exclusive first look, ViX+ unveils footage of the six-part series, simply titled “Montecristo,” with William Levy (“Resident Evil: The Final Chapter”) playing the enigmatic lead.
Produced by Spain’s Secouya Studios, “Montecristo” follows Alejandro Montecristo, a mysterious figure whose past and considerable fortune are unknown. Montecristo is the founder and CEO of a successful new tech company that has sparked the interest and envy of many, including Fernando Alvarez Mondego, a businessman with close ties to the Spanish aristocracy...
The news follows the Jan. 20 bow of ViX+’s Anna Karenina adaptation, “Volver a Caer” with Kate del Castillo. Last year, ViX+ unveiled an adaptation of Nobel Prize laureate Mario Vargas Llosa’s “Travesuras de la Niña Mala” (“Bad Girl”).
In an exclusive first look, ViX+ unveils footage of the six-part series, simply titled “Montecristo,” with William Levy (“Resident Evil: The Final Chapter”) playing the enigmatic lead.
Produced by Spain’s Secouya Studios, “Montecristo” follows Alejandro Montecristo, a mysterious figure whose past and considerable fortune are unknown. Montecristo is the founder and CEO of a successful new tech company that has sparked the interest and envy of many, including Fernando Alvarez Mondego, a businessman with close ties to the Spanish aristocracy...
- 1/25/2023
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
The May 3 episode of CBS’ Person of Interest presents a blast from the past for both Jim Caviezel as well as his alter ego — and we have an exclusive first look at the reunion.
Person of Interest Sneak Peek: Reese Gets a Blast from His Dark Past
More from TVLineWalker Sneak Peek: Cassie Teams With Independence's Justin Johnson Cortez on Jackal Case (Exclusive)Candace Cameron Bure in A Christmas Less Traveled: Get Exclusive First Look at New Great American Family MovieCaity Lotz and Kyle Schmid Team for Lifetime's Yoga Teacher Killer (Exclusive)
In “Many Happy Returns,” the third-to-last hour...
Person of Interest Sneak Peek: Reese Gets a Blast from His Dark Past
More from TVLineWalker Sneak Peek: Cassie Teams With Independence's Justin Johnson Cortez on Jackal Case (Exclusive)Candace Cameron Bure in A Christmas Less Traveled: Get Exclusive First Look at New Great American Family MovieCaity Lotz and Kyle Schmid Team for Lifetime's Yoga Teacher Killer (Exclusive)
In “Many Happy Returns,” the third-to-last hour...
- 4/20/2012
- by Matt Webb Mitovich
- TVLine.com
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