James Manos Jr., writer on the first season of The Sopranos, on the first two seasons of The Shield and best known for developing Dexter (based on Jeff Lindsay's novel), is adapting Pigalle, la nuit.
As I said three weeks ago when this remake idea was brought up, the first season (developed for a US cable channel) will take place in Moscow. Now we learn that the central character will be a 30-year old orphan raised in New York. Like in Pigalle, la nuit, he will be named Thomas (a fine choice to keep that name, if you ask me).
Contacted by Télérama, Marc Herpoux, co-creator with Hervé Hadmar of Les Oubliées (France 3, 6 episodes, 2008), Signature (France 2, 6 episodes, 2011) and Pigalle, la nuit (Canal+, 8 episodes, 2009), said : "We don't really have a say in this. I think they want to do something bigger than our series by having sex trafficking in Eastern Europe at the core of their story. Something more realistic, too, without the 'tale' aspect of our series." Herpoux is pleased to see a writer such as James Manos Jr. behind the project.
When asked for comment, Manos said : "We're going to use what made Pigalle, la nuit a success to create a show about the inner struggling of a man and his fight for redemption with international organized crime as a backdrop."
US remakes of other Canal+ drama series such as Engrenages and Braquo are also in development.
And even if the association "Dexter + organized crime + cable channel" sounds good, I urge you to watch the original series. 8 well-written, well-directed episodes (+ an amazing photography and ambiance) that I advise you to discover.
Canal+ has not just renewed Platane, they have also granted a second season to Kaboul Kitchen. While airing from February 13 to March 6, this comedy set in a french restaurant in Kabul was met with critical acclaim (and the awards for best series and best writing at the FIPA, rewarding european productions) and public success : episode 1.01 garnered 940,000 viewers, episode 1.12 was watched by 875,000 viewers, and the ratings of this original, interesting, well constructed comedy with a great setting and cast were stable at this good level all season long.
- Source for Pigalle, la nuit : Télérama.
- Source for Kaboul Kitchen : Toute la télé.
