Production Begins on Masterpiece’s Maigret

Production has begun on Maigret, a contemporary TV adaptation of Georges Simenon’s novels about the Parisian Chief Inspector Jules Maigret, for PBS’s Masterpiece.

Produced by Playground and written by Patrick Harbinson (Homeland, 24, The Tower), the series reframes Maigret as an unconventional young detective with something to prove. Benjamin Wainwright (Belgravia: The Next Chapter, Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim) stars in the lead role as the streetwise detective.

Additional cast members are Stefanie Martini (The Gold, Last Kingdom, Emerald City), Blake Harrison (World on Fire, I Hate Suzie Too), Reda Elazouar (Sex Education, Pirates), Kerrie Hayes (The Responder, Criminal Record), Shaniqua Okwok (The Flatshare, It’s a Sin), Rob Kazinsky (Star Trek: Section 31, Eastenders) and Nathalie Armin (Showtrial season two, Juice).

Harbison, who is also executive producing on behalf of Windhover Films, will direct the first two episodes of the series. Faye Gilbert (The Tower, The Bay) will be directing episodes three and four, and David Evans (Domina, Django) will be directing episodes five and six.

Susanne Simpson is executive producing on behalf of Masterpiece, with John Simenon executive producing on behalf of Georges Simenon Limited. For Playground, Colin Callender and David Stern are executive producing. Banijay Rights is handling international distribution.

“George Simenon’s creation of Jules Maigret holds a firm place in the pantheon of great literary detectives, and we are incredibly grateful to our partners Masterpiece, Banijay, ILP and John Simenon for their trust and support as we endeavor to bring a contemporary Maigret to a new, worldwide audience,” Stern, joint managing director of Playground, said. “Patrick Harbinson’s brilliantly fresh take on this iconic IP is reflective of Playground’s ambition to expand our growing slate of contemporary returning dramas that speak to a global marketplace.”

“Maigret will be a perfect addition to Masterpiece’s lineup of Mystery! shows,” commented Simpson, head of scripted at Masterpiece. “Our partners at Playground have assembled an incredible cast and creative team, and our audience is going to love Inspector Maigret and his unique style of crime-solving.”

Simon Cox, executive VP of content and acquisitions at Banijay Rights, added, “Jules Maigret is one of the 20th century’s most famous fictional detectives, which makes it a privilege to work with Playground Entertainment and Masterpiece to take Georges Simenon’s French sleuth into a contemporary world for the first time. With a wonderfully diverse mix of acting and writing talent on board, we’re in no doubt Maigret will be a tour-de-force production and a potentially long-running franchise.”