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6 months ago
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Max has unveiled a trio of French shows ahead of launch, with commissioning head Vera Peltekian saying “we don’t want to do a French Succession or White Lotus.“
Peltekian and French scripted boss Clémentine Bobin unveiled series about the Bataclan attacks, the gypsy community and an adaptation of a memoir by a French rabbi.
The previously-announced Bataclan series has been given title Black Lies and will co-star Laure Calamy and César-winning The Goldman Case actor Arieh Worthalter alongside Les Misérables’ Alexis Manenti and Mother And Son’s Annabelle Lengronne.
The show tells the story of a woman who cons her way into a victim’s association following the deadly attack in 2015.
Malditos is set in the gypsy community of southern France and follows two brothers and a mother as they fight to keep a dark secret from destroying their legacy.
Living With Our Dead, meanwhile, is based on Delphine Horvielleur’s memoir, following a young rabbi as she navigates the pressure of guiding people through key life questions.
Peltekian said the shows represent the fact that “we don’t want to do a French Succession or White Lotus,” although her team is inspired by these tentpoles, she added.
The streamer will launch shortly in France and Warner Bros. Discovery CEO and President of Global Streaming JB Perette will address Series Mania tomorrow.
Peltekian said shows will be rooted in “modernity” and tell stories about the present. “It’s important to create that special link and make the viewer feel concerned by the story,” she said. “Many French people are moving, changing their life and maybe direction, and maybe we could [make shows] about that.”
The team was speaking at Series Mania two years after HBO Max Europe commissioners were unveiled. But shortly after this, HBO Max pulled commissioning from a number of European territories. The streamer has since rebranded and is preparing for launch in multiple European nations.
Netflix and Disney have also unveiled European shows this week.
