Netflix Ramps Up Slate of French Originals

Netflix has set three new French original series and acquired four new French films and documentaries.

Among them, Family Business is a half-hour comedy about a young man who recruits his best friends to help save his family’s business, by transforming their butcher shop into France’s first coffee shop.

Marianne follows Emma, an acerbic young novelist who discovers the terrifying characters she writes in her best-selling series of horror novels might also be living in the real world.

There’s an upcoming series adapted from the book Vampires by Thierry Jonquet as well. When a young rebellious teenage girl is faced with her inevitable change, becoming a vampire, her overly protective mother engages her estranged siblings in a race to find a cure.

Plan Coeur is Netflix’s next half-hour romantic comedy series co-directed by Noémie Saglio that will be launch by the end of the year.

Banlieusards is about Noumouké, the youngest of three brothers from a sensitive suburb of Paris who must choose which of his two brothers’ footsteps he wants to follow.

La Grande Classe follows two best friends from a small town, now uber-Parisians, who decide to return to their hometown for a high school reunion with a secret agenda: take revenge on their former bullies and come to terms with their teenage crush.

The documentary film Solidarite follows the destinies of five men and women who are symbols of resilience and bearers of hope in humanity.

Paris est une fete (working title) is a real-time French love story shot over three years on the streets of Paris, without any permits, amid the crowds—in a city scarred by terror attacks and social upheavals.

Erik Barmack, VP of international originals at Netflix, said: “We are delighted to announce today three new French series—a witty comedy about friends, family and weed; a psychological horror series; and a modern, coming of age vampire tale in Paris—for our French and global audience to enjoy. Each project involves such talented French storytellers and producers that we are thrilled to be working on what promises to be very exciting times to come.”