Paramount+ and France Télévisions has confirmed their pact on upcoming, working-titled series Zorro starring Oscar-winning actor Jean Dujardin as the iconic masked vigilante.
The partners revealed a first image of The Artist actor Dujardin in the role in a release and said the show will launch later this year on Paramount+ before being broadcast on France Télévisions.
Paramount+ has also acquired rights for the UK, Italy, Germany and Latin America. France tv distribution is handling sales for all other territories.
News of Dujardin’s and Paramount+’s involvement in the show broke in the French media late last year but today’s release was the partners’ first official confirmation of their co-production and distribution deal.
The new show is set in 1821 and sees Don Diego de la Vega/Zorro become mayor of Los Angeles to improve his beloved city.
However, the city is facing financial trouble due to a local businessman and Diego soon discovers his powers as mayor are not enough to fight injustice.
Having not used his Zorro identity for 20 years, he revives his alter-ego but struggles to balance his dual identity, causing strain on his marriage with his wife unaware of his secret.
Further cast members include Audrey Dana, Salvatore Ficarra, André Dussolier, Eric Elmosnino and Grégory Gadebois.
The eight-episode show is created by Benjamin Charbit (Under Control, Gagarine, Notre Dame, Savages, The Trouble with You) and Noé Debré (Parliament, Stillwater, Dheepan).
It is co-produced by Paramount+, France Télévisions, Marc Dujardin’s Le Collectif 64 and Julien Seul’s Bien Sûr Productions.
Charbit and Debré take co-writer credits with Emmanuel Poulain-Arnaud (The Test). The series is directed by Jean-Baptiste Saurel (Parallels) and Emilie Noblet (Parliament, The 7 Lives of Lea).
