Canal+ revealed this Friday that it was working on adaptations of two films by Jean-Pierre Melville, “Army of Shadows” and “Le Cercle rouge”, but also on a remake of “Bowler Hat and Leather Boots”.
Canal+ formalized projects for new series on Friday: adaptations of two films by Jean-Pierre Melville, “Army of Shadows” and “Le Cercle rouge”, and a remake of “Bowler Hat and Leather Boots”.
“We have a lot of projects at StudioCanal” (the group’s production company, editor’s note), including “the adaptation of films which are in the catalog and which we are going to adapt into series”, declared the chairman of the board of directors of the Canal+ group, Maxime Saada, during the general meeting. He notably cited Army of Shadows, The Red Circle et Non-Stopaction film starring Liam Neeson released in 2014.
Another project, “the remake of Bowler hat and leather boots“, he continued. According to StudioCanal, it will be a new version of the cult British series from the 1960s (adapted into a film in 1998).
Aucune date n’a été donnée
Adapted from a novel by Joseph Kessel, the film Army of Shadows (1969) tells the story of French resistance fighters during the Nazi occupation, with Lino Ventura in the leading role.
Also directed by Jean-Pierre Melville (1917-1973), one of the most respected French filmmakers, The Red Circle (1970) features a trio of robbers composed of Alain Delon, Yves Montand and Gian Maria Volonté facing a police officer played by Bourvil.
Maxime Saada also confirmed the upcoming adaptation for the cinema of the new book by the prolific American novelist Freida McFadden, who enjoyed worldwide success with The Maid. “His new book, The Divorcewill be adapted by StudioCanal”, declared the manager, according to whom “it was very competitive” against other studios.
These rights were acquired even before the release of the book on Tuesday in its English version. The date of publication in French is not known.
Finally, Maxime Saada announced the launch of the film The Road Homewhich will begin filming “in a few days”, with Cynthia Erivo and Guy Pearce. It will recount the creation of Paul Simon’s music album Graceland in the middle of the period of apartheid” in South Africa.
This project is an illustration of the growing weight of this country within the Canal+ group, which in September purchased the South African giant MultiChoice, leader in pay television in English-speaking and Portuguese-speaking Africa.
