“Fantomas,” a reboot of the iconic French crime franchise, has assembled a strong local cast, including Guillaume Canet (“La Belle Époque”), Romain Duris (“The Three Musketeers”), Lyna Khoudri (“The French Dispatch”) and Louis Peres (“Les Misérables”).
Set to start shooting in January in Paris with filmmaker and co-writer Frédéric Tellier (“Through the Fire”), the action-packed thriller is slated for a 2027 French release. Previously announced by Variety, “Fantomas” will be pitched to buyers by SND, which handles financing, production, French distribution and international sales, at the American Film Market next week.
SND is producing with Wassim Beji, the French producer of “Boite noire,” via his Paris-based company Wy Productions.
Created in 1911 by Marcel Allain and Pierre Souvestre, Fantomas is one of France’s most popular fictional characters, along with Arsene Lupin. Fantomas was first adapted for the big screen by into a silent crime film serial directed by Louis Feuillade for Gaumont in 1913. The property was later adapted into a crime comedy trilogy starring Jean Marais and Louis de Fines in 1964. Claude Chabrol and Juan Luis Buñuel also adapted the property into a limited TV series in 1980. A ruthless and multi-faceted thief and assassin, Fantomas has been a source of inspiration for some of the greatest artists of the 20th century, including the surrealist poet Guillaume Apollinaire.
The ambitious film will be set in Paris, in 1914, and will revolve around Fantomas, a master of deception and chaos, who is being chased by Lieutenant Juve as he investigates a series of violent crimes that have put the city on edge. “In an era of violence and political tensions, Lieutenant Juve finds himself hunting for a man with no motive, no agenda, no pattern or identity,” reads the synopsis.
Speaking of the cast, Tellier said “the chemistry between these actors will be electric, and I believe they will perfectly capture the essence of these iconic characters.”
“Bringing together two pillars of French cinema, Romain Duris and Guillaume Canet, alongside international stars Lyna Khoudri and rising star Louis Peres, creates a dynamic will mirror the tension and evolution the story requires,” continued Tellier, who added that his film will “bring a fresh perspective to the iconic character while staying true to its timeless essence.”
The film’s key crew will include cinematographer Glynn Speeckaert (“In the Beginning”), producer designer by Florian Sanson (“Holy Motors”), costume designer Olivier Bériot (“Lupin”), and artistic director Frédéric Cambon (“Lupin,” “John Wick 4”). The original score is composed by Guillaume
Roussel, whose credits include “The Three Musketeers” and “Dog 51.” The special effects will be conducted at Atelier 69 (“Titane”).
“With more than 30 novels, 13 films, theater plays, and series, the character has transcended time and
borders,” said Ramy Nahas, SND’s head of international sales.
“Much like ‘The Count of Monte Cristo,’ ‘Fantomas’ is an adaptation of timeless classic destined
to become the next global blockbuster,” Nahas continued.
