D’first published in serial form in The Journal of Debates between 1844 and 1846, Le Comte de Monte Cristo remains one of Alexandre Dumas‘s most famous novels. And the most inspiring for cinema and television, with more than 40 audiovisual adaptations under the belt. The latest, worn by Pierre Niney, triumphed at the box office in 2024, attracting nearly 9.5 million spectators to cinemas. Others are in preparation, including an American film with René-Jean Page (The Bridgerton Chronicles) and an improbable series for TF1 with Audrey Fleurot (The Comtesse de Monte Cristo).
We could therefore doubt the relevance or the need for yet another variation, such as the new event fiction in eight episodes just placed under the France.tv tree (before its broadcast on France 2 from December 26) as an end-of-year gift. We would be wrong. Because this ambitious Franco-Italian co-production offers this classic of French literature a carefully written and sumptuously packaged epic modernization.
The serial format is particularly suited to the tragic fate of Edmond Dantès, a young sailor about to get married, unjustly accused of treason and imprisoned for fifteen years in the jails of the sinister Château d’If, before escaping, changing his identity and taking revenge on those who had him convicted. Quite faithful to the approximately 1,889 pages of Dumas’ text, the eight episodes have the necessary time to restore all of its density, psychological depth and multiple twists and turns.
Narratively accomplished, the series is just as spectacular visually. She owes it to the magnificence of her costumes and sets unearthed in Paris, Malta and Italy, as well as to the know-how of Danish director Bille August, winner of two Palmes d’Or at Cannes (for Pelle the Conqueror in 1987 and The Best Intentions in 1992). It finally benefits from a three-star international cast, which notably brings together Jeremy Irons (Abbé Faria), Ana Girardot (Mercedes) and Blake Ritson (Baron Danglard).
But it is the masterful interpretation of Sam Claflin (seen in Hunger Games, Lazarus…) in the title role which remains in memory. The British actor is as moving as a naive and broken young lover as a ruthless man thirsty for revenge, whose inner torments and regrets he manages to convey. His sensitive incarnation alone contributes to justifying the last minutes of the finale, which deviates from the path traced by Alexandre Dumas in his novel… to the point of changing its philosophy. In any case, this is the criticism leveled by purists at the series when it was broadcast in Italy last January. However, this is not enough to tarnish the enthusiasm of the transalpine public: this Comte de Monte Christo attracted an average of 5.9 million curious people, the best audience recorded on RAI for three years. We wish him the same success in France…
“The Count of Monte Cristo” (France.tv. then France 2). Directed by Bille August, with Sam Claflin, Ana Girardot, Jeremy Irons… 8 x 52 min.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians : God that’s cool!
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In December 2023, the demigod Percy Jackson launched an assault on serial Olympus, with a first, nicely packaged quest to recover Zeus’ lightning. The fiction, co-created by Rick Riordan and adapted from his novels for teenagers, then had a record start on Disney+ with 13.3 million curious people for the first six days of operation.
Two years later, Poseidon’s young son returns with a new mission (taken from volume 2 of the saga): free his friend, the satyr Grover, sequestered at the bottom of the Sea of Monsters. At the same time, he must find the Golden Fleece to protect the half-blood colony and (not so) incidentally Olympus, even humanity, all threatened by the dreams of domination of the titan Chronos. Nothing less! Fortunately he can count on the help of Tyson, his Cyclops half-brother, and that of Annabeth and Clarisse, daughters of Athena and Ares.
Is the world in danger? The adults, even if they were gods, revealed themselves to be immature and totally self-centered, and it was up to their offspring to save him. A golden rule in children’s fantasy literature and series, applied here with humor and a certain creativity. Just as lively as the first season, but a bit darker, this new Percy Jackson epic continues to explore a teeming universe, populated by (often nightmarish) creatures and legendary heroes. We thus come across Tantalus (hilarious Timothy Simons, seen in Nobody Wants This), the Graea (sisters of Medusa), the Lestrygons (anthropophagous giants) and many others… The opportunity to review (or discover) mythology but also to address, between two epic fights and chases, subjects that go through adolescence, such as friendship, the search for approval, self-affirmation… and the courage to defend one’s own. Ideal for a family evening!
“Percy Jackson and the Olympians”, season 2 (Disney+). By Rick Riordan and Jonathan E. Steinberg, with Walker Scobell, Leah Sava Jeffries… 8 x 42 min.
And also
Lupin returns to Netflix
Good news for fans of gentleman burglar Assane Diop (Omar Sy): the American platform has (finally) revealed the date of its fourth and final heist. Bad news: they will have to wait another year! It will only be in the fall of 2026 that they will be able to discover the eight new episodes of the successful series, as announced in the poster unveiled on social networks. As a reminder, season 3 was broadcast in October 2023.
Sigourney Weaver in Lara Croft ?
According to the American site Deadline, the actress is in discussions to join the Prime Video series created by Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag, Killing Eve) and adapted from the famous video game. She would thus give the answer to Sophie Turner, who will play Lara Croft. It remains to be seen in what role…
Paradise : a promising trailer and a broadcast date for season 2
Who runs the bunker after Sinatra’s fall? Did Collins manage to escape to find his wife? Are there any survivors left after the climate catastrophe that ravaged the Earth? These are the questions that tormented the (many) fans of the post-apocalyptic thriller from Disney + after the finale of season 1 last March. They should partly be answered in the second chapter, of which the platform gave an overview with an intriguing trailer. We discover Collins injured after the crash of Air Force One and Sinatra claiming to have other secrets. We also see men and women fighting against the elements as well as a mysterious scientist played by Shailene Woodley. Launch date of the first three episodes: February 23. The others will follow at a rate of one per week.
Margot has money problems : the first images of the series with Michelle Pfeiffer
To Discover
Kangaroo of the day
Answer
Adapted from the bestselling novel of the same name by Rufi Thorpe and created by David E. Kelly (Ally Mc Beal,Big Little Lies…), the series follows a 19-year-old single mother who turns to the OnlyFans platform to pay her bills. It will be broadcast in April 2026 on Apple TV, which has just revealed the first images. On display (prestigious): Elle Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer, Nicole Kidman and Nick Offerman.
