HBO Max and France Télévisions have officially begun production on “Alice,” a six-part drama exploring the extraordinary life and legacy of Alice Guy Blaché, widely recognized as the world’s first female film director and a foundational yet often overlooked figure in cinema history. The series, currently filming in Paris, will continue across France, Belgium, and Canada through December.
“This is an ambitious, long-anticipated drama, first announced four years ago,” said Manuel Alduy and Morad Koufane of France Télévisions. “It celebrates the extraordinary journey of a woman who lived many lives — a cinema pioneer, a passionate lover, a mother, and a bold entrepreneur. Her story is as cinematic as the art form she helped create, and we want to finally give her the recognition she was denied for over a century.”
Guillaume Le Gros of HBO Max added, “We are proud to partner with France Télévisions, Wild Bunch, and Palermo Production on this deeply human story that brings to light the French pioneer of world cinema long erased from history. Her strength of character, artistic vision, and fierce determination remain profoundly inspiring today. ‘Alice’ perfectly reflects our commitment to telling universal, powerful and uplifting stories — while partnering with local talent to bring them to audiences worldwide.”
Producers Grégory Strouk of Wild Bunch and Caroline de Jenlis of Palermo Production emphasized the historical importance of the series, saying, “We’re thrilled to launch the first-ever scripted series on Alice Guy Blaché, the world’s first female filmmaker. ‘Alice’ is an epic saga diving into the struggles and triumphs of an extraordinary, free-spirited woman who helped shape the birth of cinema. With a powerhouse creative team and a story as bold as it is timeless, ‘Alice’ is set to inspire and captivate audiences in France and across the globe.”
Set against the backdrop of the Belle Époque, “Alice” follows the revolutionary journey of Guy Blaché as a pioneering filmmaker, entrepreneur, wife, and mother, from the streets of Paris to the burgeoning studios of early Hollywood. Her life story unfolds as she battles industry norms, seeks recognition in a male-dominated field, and shapes the birth of modern cinema.
Academy Award–nominee Bérénice Bejo, best known for her role in “The Artist,” stars as Alice. She is joined by Thibaut Evrard as Léon Gaumont, Oscar Lesage as Herbert Blaché, Irène Jacob as her mother Marie, and Yannick Choirat as industry rival Charles Pathé. The ensemble cast also includes Marc Barbé, Steve Driesen, Sophie Nélisse, François Arnaud, and Vincent Leclerc.
“Alice” is created by Tim Loane and Claire Lemaréchal, co-written with André Gulluni, and co-directed by Virginie Verrier and Guillaume Lonergan. The series is a co-production between HBO Max and France Télévisions, alongside Wild Bunch, Palermo Production, Panache Productions & La Compagnie Cinématographique in Belgium, and Sphere Media in Canada.
As “Alice” enters production, it marks a major milestone for the international scripted market, blending historical depth, artistic resonance, and transatlantic creative collaboration into a series poised for broad global appeal.
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