WarnerMedia’s French Pay-TV Channel Readies First Local Original Series With Mediawan’s MakingProd (EXCLUSIVE)
Warner TV, the French pay-TV channel and on-demand service launched by WarnerMedia, is teaming with Mediawan Group’s MakingProd for its first French original TV series, “Visitors,” a fantasy comedy by Simon Astier (“Zero Corp,” “Mortel”).
The eight-part half-hour series was created, written and is being directed by Astier, whose fanboy profile and graphic universe seem to be the perfect match for Warner TV’s identity. Astier’s previous credits include the comedic science fiction series “Hero Corp” in which he also starred, and Netflix’s supernatural series “Mortel.” Stéphane Drouet at MakingProd is producing “Visitors,” which recently started filming.
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Astier stars in “Visitors” as Richard, a rookie police officer who sees two strange lights colliding in the sky on his first day on the job. The series’ large ensemble cast also includes Florence Loiret Caille, Damien Jouillerot, Vincent Desagnat, Tiphaine Daviot, Grégoire Ludig, Julie Bargeton, David Marsais, Arnaud Tsamere, Delphine Baril and Adrien Ménielle.
“It’s a privilege to partner with Simon Astier and MakingProd on the production of ‘Visitors,’ a show where Simon has created a unique universe, told through his personal comedic voice,” said Guillermo Farre, head of WarnerMedia Entertainment in Southern Europe, Middle East and Africa.
Farre pointed out that since the launch of its channel in France in 2017, Warner TV has premiered locally several hit series such as “The Flight Attendant,” “Raised by Wolves” and “Miracle.” “With ‘Visitors’ we’re sure we have a new hit series in our hands.”
Astier said Warner’s “prestigious filmography was part of [his] childhood and nurtured [his] culture and ambition to make films and series.”
“Working with Warner TV and MakingProd, I have the incredible good fortune to enjoy unfailing support and full creative freedom,” said Asiter.
Drouet, meanwhile, said “producing Warner TV’s first original French series is a very exciting challenge” and that the show will explore various genres, such as comedy, adventure and science fiction.
Now part of Mediawan, MakingProd is a well-established production company that launched 20 years ago and boasts a track record including the successful French series “Cherif” and “Double Je” for the public broadcaster France Televisions, “Les Invincibles” for Arte, and most recently Jonathan Cohen’s “La Flamme” for Canal Plus.
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