Netflix orders French original series Marseille

By Rick Marshall August 28, 2014

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After earning praise from audiences and critics alike for original series like House Of Cards and Orange Is The New Black, Netflix has shifted its attention overseas for its next original production, Marseille.

The eight-episode series is described as “a tale of power, corruption, and redemption set against the rich backdrop of the French port city,” and it’s expected to debut on the streaming service in late 2015. Shot entirely in France, the series is penned by Dan Franck, co-writer of the Emmy nominated miniseries Carlos, and follows longtime Marseille mayor Robert Taro as he finds himself challenged by his former heir and protege in the coming election.

“Creating a series for an enormous audience and without any constraints will let us push to its limits a story about the Shakespearean theater of politics in a city where Alexandre Dumas and Jean-Claude Izzo , among others, have planted many spears,” said Franck in a statement accompanyingthe announcement. “Netflix has given us a blank page to create a House of Cards in French that breaks through unspoken hypocrisy. This is a writer’s dream and a great opportunity for French producers and creators to enter a new world.”

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The first two episodes of Marseille will be directed Florent-Emilio Siri (Cloclo, L’Ennemi Intime) and Sundance-winning filmmaker Samuel Benchetrit (J’ai toujours reve d’etre un gangster).

“Marseille will take the audience right into the political arena where the old regime of traditional politicians are getting ready to face the younger generation of predators, thugs, and sometimes their own heirs,” said producer Pascal Breton. “Netflix is giving us the perfect opportunity to tell this story from a uniquely French viewpoint, in association with some of France’s best writers and directors. Produced entirely in France, Marseille has the potential to become one of the most gripping television events of the coming years.”

Production on Marseille is expected to begin in the spring.

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