Canal+ Goes for My Brilliant Friend

FremantleMedia International has presold My Brilliant Friend to the Canal+ Group for France and French-speaking territories.

The eight-part drama is based on Elena Ferrante’s best-selling book of the same name. It is directed by Saverio Costanzo (Private, The Solitude of Prime Numbers, Hungry Hearts) and is currently in production in Italy.

My Brilliant Friend is an HBO, Rai Fiction and TIMVISION series. It will be the first of the Elena Ferrante novels centering on the lives of Elena Greco and Rafaella Cerullo to be brought to the screen.

Gérald-Brice Viret, the executive VP of Canal+ TV channels, said: “We are very delighted to be adding My Brilliant Friend to our lineup of foreign drama. We are excited to bring this series to our subscribers: Elena Ferrante’s saga is a huge success in France as it is worldwide, and the series is produced by a team of renowned talents.”

Al De Azpiazu, VP of sales and distribution for Western Europe at FremantleMedia International, said: “We’re proud to have partnered with Canal+ to bring this hugely ambitious, emotional and awaited series to French audiences. Elena Ferrante is one of the biggest contemporary writers of our time who has amassed a legion of global fans, we’re all excited to see Elena and Rafaella’s story play out on screen.”