Skyverse Studios, AMC Networks’ streamer Acorn TV, French broadcaster TF1 and Nordic and international streaming service Viaplay announced the start of production on “Cannes Confidential,” a six-part, one-hour international crime series set in the Cote d’Azur in the iconic city of Cannes, France. The production has been granted unprecedented access to film in the City of Cannes through an exclusive partnership, and will mark the first English-language procedural drama to be produced and set on the Cote d’Azur since the 1970s, blending comedy, mystery and crime within a love story.
Created by Chris Murray, “Cannes Confidential” is a blue-sky, romantic crime series starring French TV-drama actor Lucie Lucas, Jamie Bamber, and singer/actor Tamara Marthe, with additional cast to be announced. The series centers on the relationship between an idealistic, local underdog female cop and an ex-conman. The pair are forced into an unlikely — and surprisingly successful — crime-fighting partnership, which sees them solve a murder case in each close-ended episode. However, the drama’s arc focuses on the main character’s quest to find the criminals who framed her father, a local-hero police officer who was jailed for a crime he did not commit.
“Cannes Confidential” will introduce viewers to a rarely seen view of Cannes, beyond the yachts and A-listers, with its fishing boats, local tradesmen, and working-class characters. These two worlds and two versions of reality will collide and be reflected in the personalities of the two main characters. The series is executive produced by Patrick Nebout, Henrik Jansson-Schweizer, Catherine Mackin and Bea Tammer of Acorn Media Enterprises; the International Drama Development & Artistic Acquisitions Department of TF1; Lotta Dolk of Viaplay; and it is produced by Daniel J. Cottin at Isolani Pictures. Camille Delamarre will direct all six episodes.
Acorn TV holds the exclusive distribution rights to the series in North America, New Zealand, Australia, and United Kingdom. Meanwhile, Viaplay holds exclusive distribution rights in the Nordic region, Baltic countries, and Poland. Lastly, Acorn Media Enterprises and Acorn Media International hold worldwide rights in all other territories.
“Led by an amazing creative team and with a fantastic main cast, ‘Cannes Confidential’ is set to offer a unique, premium romantic crime series to international audiences, combining exciting episodic cases with an emotional overarching story. We’re thrilled to team up with such premium partners as Acorn TV, TF1 and Viaplay on this show, and we’re grateful to the City of Cannes for granting access to share a unique story inspired by its vibrant community,” said Patrick Nebout, CEO of Skyverse Studios.
“When you join the incomparable Chris Murray’s writing, exclusive and unprecedented access to the city of Cannes, and a cast of this caliber – what more is there to say? We are beyond delighted to get this production underway and have found phenomenal partners in TF1, Viaplay and Skyverse,” commented Catherine Mackin, Managing Director at Acorn TV/Acorn Media Enterprises.
“We are thrilled to be part of this project with such great partners. Set in the world-famous city of Cannes, this production will feature a prestigious and glamorous cast. We look forward to sharing with our viewers this extremely well-crafted and witty police investigation series,” added Sophie Leveaux, Artistic Director of Acquisitions and International Drama Development at TF1.