Mediawan has scored a raft of major licensing deals on “The Count of Monte Cristo,” the highly anticipated epic series directed by two-time Palme d’Or winner Bille August.
A lushly lensed adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ iconic masterpiece, the series will have a gala premiere on closing night of Canneseries where it will play out of competition in the Lumière Theatre, in the presence of August, and his key cast, Sam Claflin (“Peaky Blinders”) and Ana Girardot (“The Returned”).
Produced by Palomar and DEMD Productions, two Mediawan companies, “The Count of Monte Cristo” has lured PBS Masterpiece in the U.S. and UKTV in the U.K., along with TVE in Spain, RTS in Switzerland, and the Nordic PSB alliance which includes SVT, NRK, DR, YLE and RUV.
The eight-episode series will also be broadcast in Eastern European countries, including Poland with TVP, Hungary with TV2, and the Czech Republic with Ceska TV. Mediawan is also in negotiation to close more major territories.
Claflin stars in “The Count of Monte Cristo” as Edmond Dantes, a nineteen-year-old sailor who was falsely accused of treason and is imprisoned without trial in the Château d’If, a grim island fortress off Marseille. After many years of captivity he finally escapes and, under the identity of the Count of Monte Cristo, he plans to take revenge on those who have wrongly accused him.
“The Count of Monte Cristo” already premiered in Italy where it broke rating records. On Rai1, the miniseries was a massive success, attracting nearly 6 million viewers, a 30.5% market share. Mediawan said the ratings on Rai marked the broadcaster’s highest score on that slot within the last three years.
The show was commissioned by France Télévisions in France and RAI in Italy, and distributed worldwide by Mediawan Rights in cooperation with CAA for North America and with the participation of Entourage Ventures.
Valérie Vleeschhouwer, Mediawan Rights’ managing director, said the show’s “global resonance underscores Mediawan Rights’ enduring commitment to supporting the best talents and the best IPs.”
Vleeschhouwer said “The Count of Monte Cristo” taps into the “needs of a dynamic global market” for “appealing premium content.”
Nicola Serra, Palomar CEO, praised the series’ “wonderful talents.” “Their amazing work made this show a worldwide event for a global audience. We hope they will love the show as much as we loved to make it,” said Serra.
August, the revered Danish filmmaker whose credits include “Pelle the Conqueror,” “The Best Intentions” and “Les Misérables,” shot the series on location in Europe over five-months.
“The Count of Monte Cristo” is the first international series of that caliber fully produced as well as distributed by Mediawan, and financed with Entourage.
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