Vertigo Films & Hollywood Gang Team for Action Series

Vertigo Films and Hollywood Gang Productions have partnered to develop Army of Strangers, a series about the French Foreign Legion.

Written by Matthew Parkhill (Deep State, Rogue), the action series captures the spirit, brutality and grit of the men who join the infamous corps, which has been in every major war, by following a band of new recruits as they undertake a dangerous mission.

In addition to writing, Parkhill will showrun and executive produce. For Vertigo Films, Co-Founder Allan Niblo will executive produce, and Nathalie Peter-Contesse will oversee development. For Hollywood Gang Productions, Founder Gianni Nunnari will executive produce.

“The French Foreign Legion is almost an urban legend—dangerous and fascinating at the same time—further compounded by the idea that, once you sign up, they own your life,” said Niblo. “As one of the last forces to have a light shone on it, it’s the perfect subject to dramatize and bring to screen. We are throwing everything at it—revealing its legendary past, complex characters and lethal reputation.”

“This series is layered,” added Nunnari. “While exploring the complicated past and present of the French Foreign Legion as an institution, we also have the gift of so many rich characters with their own complicated journeys. We are very grateful to partner with Vertigo and Matthew in the ‘fight’ to bring this series to screen.”

Parkhill said, “The Legion is unlike any other army on Earth, a band of misfits from all over the world—criminals, adventurers, romantics, the broken, the rejected, the disillusioned and the dispossessed. All looking for one thing. To escape. A second chance. To start again. I’m excited to team up with Vertigo and Gianni on a show that takes a look at this truly unique and fascinating world, covering stories of honor and shame; of class, race, hope and hypocrisy; of unshakeable friendships and unlikely redemptions. After what we’ve lived through the past few years, who isn’t cracked or splintered or broken in some way? And that’s what this show will speak to.”