will the 2025 model of HBO Max and M6 hang-out you? | EUROtoday

Veager to resurrect the ghost of Belphégor, who had haunted viewers in 1965, this often appears to tickle French screenwriters. Even if the journey may be perilous. Jean-Paul Salomé experimented with it in 2001 when he wished to deliver the specter to the cinema. He had enlisted the providers of famend actors who might – on paper at the very least – compete with the casting of yesteryear. Juliette Gréco, Yves Rénier, René Dary or François Chaumette succeeded Sophie Marceau, Michel Serrault or Frédéric Diefenthal. Weary! None had prevented inventive catastrophe.

So, when M6, related to the HBO Max platform, determined in flip to adapt the novel by Arthur Bernède printed within the type of a serial in The Little Parisian in 1927, we anticipated, let’s admit it, the worst. We are removed from it, luckily! But ought to we rush to this four-episode sequence, the primary produced by the Pathé studio, from December 11 on HBO Max (afterward M6)?

Contemporary writing for a heritage sequence

That M6, and even HBO Max, presents French viewers improbable fiction is shocking – pleasantly – because the style has too usually been uncared for by the small display. It is exactly this guess that seduced Nils-Antoine Sambuc, co-creator with Thomas Mansuy of the miniseries, as he revealed to us over the last La Rochelle Fiction Festival: “The concept of ​​writing a up to date fantasy thriller on the Louvre appealed to me instantly. It was not a query of repeating what had been accomplished, however of providing a brand new important character, in a unique universe. And the clear goal of providing a gripping, entertaining sequence that might make sense. I additionally wished to take care of the anxiousness of shedding management, of waking up with out realizing what you may have accomplished or not accomplished. » Great program in perspective.

The producer, Aude Albano, then confirmed to us: “That Pathé’s first TV sequence will likely be Belphegor is a powerful image. We wished to adapt a component of immense French heritage however giving it a up to date type. And we did not need to lose in thoughts that if Belphegor speaks to our generations, it doesn’t imply something in any respect to these of our youngsters. A fantasy thriller that takes place on the Louvre, alternatively, is more likely to attraction to everybody. »

The 2025 model of Belphegor exhibits actress Shirine Boutella within the function of Hafsa, a younger artwork restorer on the Louvre who’s as gifted as she is tormented. Exit the black veils of Juliette Gréco, make manner for nightmares, reminiscence loss and different absences of all types for a heroine prey to torment. During a night organized within the museum, Hafsa discovers a Mesopotamian masks with a disturbing aura: that of the storm god Baal Phegor, alias Belphegor, of whom she dreamed the earlier evening. And which disappears within the course of.

She is the primary suspect within the alleged theft for the safety of the institution… however not for the police, who, curiously, usually are not even referred to as. Here is our heroine very badly embroiled in a narrative that’s past her management, the place she should not solely do all the things doable to deliver out the reality, discover her boyfriend who has been lacking for the reason that night of the theft, and above all face her personal inside demons. Lots for one lady!

The Louvre handled higher than Belphégor

Shirine Boutella, seen within the Lupine from Netflix or Pamela Rose, the sequencefrom Canal+, comes out with honors. Especially since it’s hardly helped by dialogues that aren’t all the time impressed and unnecessarily explanatory. If Aure Atika, Vincent Elbaz, Tiphaine Daviot and Laurent Bateau supply trustworthy performances, it’s troublesome to say the identical a couple of histrionic Nicolas Briançon or perhaps a Kad Merad barely performing the minimal service…

As for the plot, it takes time to quiet down. The fiction lasts solely 4 episodes, and but we’ve got to attend till the third to know the actual motivations of the antagonists: the unlawful trafficking of previous works. A captivating topic that deserved in-depth remedy. We particularly remorse that Belphegor is commonly lowered to a easy accent, regardless of his very unusual powers. A disgrace! Even if, on the finish, it regains a barely extra central place.

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The Louvre is, luckily, a lot better handled. The crew took nice pleasure in making the museum their very own, particularly within the first episode. “The administration was a very caring companion all through the challenge. She instantly wished to accompany us, recalled the director, Jérémy Mainguy, with delight. Even if, after all, we will solely movie there on Tuesday, the closing day, and at evening. And that we’re not allowed to get too near the works. But, when you clarify what you need to obtain, virtually something turns into doable. » The rooms are notably effectively offered. The again room, because it seems on display, a lot much less so. The elements reserved for workers appear very modest for an establishment of such measurement.

Belphégor, sequence in 4 episodes out there on HBO Max from Thursday December 11, 2025. And in 2026 on M6.