“Maigret,” the newest television adaptation of Georges Simenon’s detective stories, has secured numerous international sales agreements for Banijay Rights, the global distribution segment of the entertainment powerhouse Banijay.
With Mipcom in Cannes approaching and the show’s launch on Masterpiece Mystery! on PBS in the U.S. set for October 5, the six-episode series has been acquired by networks including ABC in Australia, Wowow in Japan, Sky Free in New Zealand, VRT in Belgium, HRT in Croatia, and SIA Tet in Latvia.
This latest adaptation presents Parisian Chief Inspector Jules Maigret as a distinctively young, unconventional detective on a quest to prove himself. It stars Benjamin Wainwright (“Belgravia: The Next Chapter,” “Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim”) in the titular role, alongside Stefanie Martini (“The Gold,” “Last Kingdom,” “Emerald City”) as Madame Louise Maigret. The supporting cast features Blake Harrison (“World on Fire,” “I Hate Suzie Too”), Reda Elazouar (“Sex Education,” “Pirates”), Kerrie Hayes (“The Responder,” “Criminal Record”), Shaniqua Okwok (“The Flatshare,” “It’s a Sin”), and Rob Kazinsky (“Star Trek: Section 31,” “Eastenders”), rounding out “Les Maigrets,” the dedicated team of detectives, with Nathalie Armin (“Showtrial S2”, “Juice”) portraying Prosecutor Mathilde Kernavel.
Produced by Playground, the Golden Globe and BAFTA-winning production studio renowned for “Wolf Hall: The Mirror and The Light,” this new adaptation signifies the inaugural English-language contemporary television rendition of Simenon’s works.
“Set against a vividly depicted modern Paris backdrop, ‘Maigret’ is a captivating reimagining of the legendary detective, coming from a brilliant creative team at Playground,” stated Lyle Bettson-Barker, senior vice president for Australia & New Zealand at Banijay Rights, who facilitated the ABC agreement. “We are thrilled to bring this esteemed crime drama to audiences around the globe.”
David Stern, joint managing director at Playground, added: “Jules Maigret, as envisioned by Georges Simenon, is a timeless figure in the realm of literary detectives. It has been a privilege to adapt the novels for television. Our aim has been to create a series that honors the legacy of these works while introducing the character to a fresh global audience, and we’re immensely thankful to our partners at Masterpiece and Banijay Rights for their support.”
Colin Callender and Stern serve as executive producers for “Maigret” at Playground, with Patrick Harbinson (“Homeland,” “24, The Tower”) acting as lead writer and executive producer for Windhover Films, directing the first two episodes. Faye Gilbert (“The Tower,” “The Bay”) takes the helm for episodes 3 and 4, and David Evans (“Domina,” “Django”) directs episodes 5 and 6. Susanne Simpson is the executive producer on behalf of the leading commissioning broadcaster Masterpiece, alongside Hilary Strong, who is also producing on behalf of Georges Simenon Limited.
“Maigret” is among the many scripted productions featured in Banijay Entertainment’s lineup at MIPCOM this year. Other titles include “Half Man,” created by and starring Emmy-award winner Richard Gadd, produced by Mam Tor Productions (a Banijay UK company) for the BBC, BBC Scotland, and HBO, and “A Woman of Substance,” based on Barbara Taylor Bradford’s celebrated novel, produced by The Forge Entertainment (a Banijay UK company) for Channel 4. Additionally, from The Forge Entertainment for Channel 4, “Falling” marks the new drama from Emmy-winning writer Jack Thorne, featuring Keeley Hawes and Paapa Essiedu.
