Cameras are rolling on Montmartre, an eight-part historical drama set against the backdrop of the cabaret scene in the titular Parisien neighborhood.
The drama is coming to the screen courtesy of Authentic Prod and TF1 and will star Alice Dufour, Victor Meutelet, and Claire Romain. The Banijay France-backed producer and French commercial broadcaster are joining forces to co-produce the scripted series.
Montmartre was created by Julien Simonet and Brigitte Bémol. Louis Choquette will direct. Set at the turn of the 19th century, the historical drama will tell the intertwining stories of a trio of characters.
Céleste, played by Dufour (Alphonse), is a determined Cancan dancer who is desperate to fund a search for her long-lost siblings. Meutelet (The Bonfire of Destiny) stars as Arsène, a wealthy young engineer, who breaks off an arranged marriage to embrace his hidden love for men. Meanwhile, Rose, played by Romain (Cat’s Eyes), works in a laundry and dreams of a simple life.
The cast also includes Hugo Becker, Mathilde Seigner, Thibault de Montalembert and Mikaël Mittelstadt.
Authentic Prod, led by Aline Panel, was bought by Banijay last year. It made series including the local version of NBC’s This Is Us.
“The cabaret scene of 19th-century Montmartre offers an atmospheric backdrop to explore timeless themes of family, love, identity and resilience,” Panel said about Montmartre.
She added: “These characters challenge societal conventions of the time as they pursue love and freedom on their own terms. We are proud to present this drama to TF1’s audience, expertly balancing historical intrigue and cultural relevance, with a compelling character-driven narrative.”