Following their significant carriage agreement established six months ago, Netflix and TF1, the foremost commercial network in France, are collaborating on “The Countess of Monte Cristo,” a forthcoming period series featuring Audrey Fleurot, renowned for her role in “HPI.”
Fleurot is widely recognized for her performance in the TF1 mystery series “HPI” (which has seen a remake by ABC), as well as for her roles in two previously collaborated period dramas with Netflix and TF1, namely “The Bonfire of Destiny” and “Les combattantes.”
This eight-episode series, which begins filming today in Marta and the Czech Republic, seeks to capitalize on the renewed interest in Alexandre Dumas’ famed literary work “The Count of Monte Cristo,” previously adapted into a cinematic blockbuster by Alexandre de La Patelliere and Matthieu Delaporte, which attracted over nine million viewers at the French box office in 2024.
Djibril Glissant, who worked with Fleurot on “HPI,” along with Leonardo D’Antoni, known for “Narcos,” will direct “The Countess of Monte Cristo,” based on screenplays by Gaïa Guasti, Glissant, Clément Peny, and Florian Spitzer.
In addition to Fleurot, the series features a stellar cast of prominent French actors, including Zabou Breitman, Kad Merad, Dennis Lavant, and Eric Elmosnino.
Promoted as an audacious reinterpretation of Dumas’ timeless tale, the narrative is set in 1815 Marseille, portraying Mercédès Herrera’s unwavering love for Edmond Dantès, a sailor unjustly accused of murder. Their blissful existence is violently disrupted by a treacherous betrayal that sees Edmond imprisoned at Château d’If, with little hope of escape. Heartbroken yet resolute, Mercedes embarks on a desperate quest to free him, but tragedy strikes when Edmond dies during their escape effort. “Captured and imprisoned, Herrera vows to exact revenge on those who ruined her life, including her cousin Fernand, who secretly loves her; the scheming Danglars; and even Héloïse de Villefort, the unyielding spouse of the city’s prosecutor,” details the synopsis.
“The Countess of Monte Cristo” is produced by Anthony Lancret, Pierre Laugier, and Lola Manai at Itineraire Productions, alongside Fleurot and Glissant at Ahia Blanca, with collaboration from Netflix and co-production with TF1.
Dumas’ narrative has also been transformed into a series titled “The Count of Monte Cristo,” led by Palme d’Or winner Billie August and starring Sam Claflin from “Peaky Blinders,” produced by Mediawan.
TF1 and Netflix recently formalized a carriage agreement in June that will allow the streaming service to offer TF1’s five free-to-air channels and on-demand content starting in summer 2026. The two entities have previously collaborated on various productions, including the recent daily soap opera “Tout pour la lumière,” set in a dance academy, which marked Netflix’s entry into daily serials.
