Amazon Prime Video France is making strides not only to maintain its foothold in popular comedy franchises like “LOL: Last One Laughing” but also to expand its audience. The streaming service aims to reach a broader demographic, particularly women and younger viewers, through a new roster of romantic and high-profile adaptations from celebrated authors such as Virginie Despentes and Joël Dicker.
In a recent interview with Variety, Thomas Dubois, the head of Amazon MGM Studios for France and Japan, elaborated on the platform’s strategy for diversifying its content offerings. He emphasized the need to balance the comedic elements with new romances and prestige dramas.
“Our goal is to continue developing the talented comedy family we have built, while simultaneously breaking into new genres and promoting fresh faces, whether in front of or behind the camera,” Dubois stated.
Prime Video is planning to “double down” on series, particularly in light of the success of the show “Culte,” which draws inspiration from real events related to the French adaptation of “Big Brother.”
Among the new shows, the platform is launching “Glam Squad,” a six-episode series inspired by an original idea from Rebecca Zlotowski, the filmmaker whose recent project “Vie Privée” premiered at Cannes. Zlotowski co-wrote the series and co-directed it with Agathe Riedinger, whose debut feature “Wild Diamond” competed at Cannes last year. According to Dubois, “Glam Squad” will spotlight a cast of emerging talent such as Antonia Buresi, Lucie Goudeau, Natacha Krief, and Arcadi Radef.
Previously, Zlotowski gained acclaim for “Les Sauvages,” a Canal+ series that showcased emerging talents like Dali Benssalah and Souheila Yacoub. “Glam Squad” follows four vibrant beauty experts as they navigate the glamorous world of Paris Fashion Week and the Cannes Film Festival.
Additionally, Prime Video is diving into literary adaptations with projects based on works from renowned authors, including Joël Dicker’s bestseller “Un animal sauvage” and Despentes’ critically acclaimed novel “Les jolies choses.” The latter will be brought to life in a series co-created by Clara Levy, who also contributed to “Culte,” and produced by Moonshaker.
With the objective of attracting female audiences, Prime Video is drawing from the recent success of romance-focused projects such as the “Culpa Mia” trilogy. Among the upcoming adaptations is “Campus Drivers,” based on C.S. Quill’s five-book series, which will commence filming soon with a cast led by Carmen Kassovitz and Baptiste Masseline, under the direction of Tom Goris and Vianney Lebasque. Dubois noted that “Campus Drivers” will leverage the existing fanbases of the novels.
Another project in the romance genre is “Toi + moi – seuls contre tous,” an adaptation of Emma Green’s novel “Toi + Moi,” currently filming with fresh talents Vittoria de Savoia and Lucas Barski, and directed by first-time female director Manon Gaurin. Dubois mentioned that highlighting women behind the camera is a significant part of Prime Video’s commitment to promoting young talent.
Prime Video is also venturing into the survival movie genre with “Tempête,” directed by Edouard Salier. This film is set against the catastrophic storm that hit France in December 1999, following a visually impaired teenager, Chloé, who escapes her overprotective mother to attend a party, only to find herself stranded. The film features influencer Bach Buquen as Erwan, demonstrating Prime Video’s willingness to integrate social media stars into their content. Dubois noted, “He’s made a name for himself in less than two years, and we see great potential in him.”
Dubois emphasized the strategy of collaborating with influencers and established producers to connect diverse audiences. The approach has been fruitful, evidenced by the film “McWalter,” which starred Mister V, a popular YouTuber with millions of subscribers.
Additionally, Prime Video is expanding its portfolio with “Les Batards,” a crime comedy set in 1990s Paris. Directed by Mourad Winter, the film follows a young man who discovers he has siblings after the death of his father, a criminal ringleader, and subsequently takes over the family business. The film features an ensemble cast including Florence Foresti and Kad Merad.
Awaiting viewers as a primary source of comedy, Prime Video continues to evolve with its hit format “LOL: Last One Laughing,” which has reached more than 20 territories. The platform revealed its upcoming spin-off titled “LOL in Reel Life,” featuring an intriguing format that captures celebrity contestants in a public setting, unsuspecting of the game.
Additionally, Prime Video presented previews of “Tout simplement fan,” a six-part comedic series that reunites the duo Eric Judor and Ramzy Bedia. This innovative format pranks fans into believing they are part of a new series, intertwining fiction with reality, and boasts a talented cast including Laurent Lafitte and Niels Schneider.
In a move to appeal to young viewers, Prime Video has ordered the series “Paul,” featuring Paul Mirabel as the lead character navigating the challenges of inspiration before his one-man-show. The series, co-written by Mirabel and produced by Iconoclast, bridges humor with heartfelt storytelling.
In terms of acquisitions, Prime Video has secured the adaptation rights for “Tale of Two Cities,” a four-part series based on Charles Dickens’ classic, starring Kit Harington among others.
