Netflix draws a big cartridge with "Lupine": a series in ten episodes carried by Omar Sy, shot in nearly a year in Paris and in the Parisian suburbs, created by the British George Kay, screenwriter of the series "Criminal" and "Killing Eve ”, and co-directed by Louis Leterrier, the filmmaker of“ Transporteur ”.
This fiction, the first five episodes of which are available this Friday - the others will not be for several months - does not feature Arsène Lupine, but Assane Diop.
Fan of the hero of Maurice Leblanc, this quadra intends to avenge his father, who died after being accused of a theft he would not have committed.
Omar Sy, who is also artistic producer of “Lupine”, tells us about this blockbuster.
Was it you who suggested to Gaumont, producer of the series, to create a fiction around Arsène Lupine?
OMAR SY.
We were looking for a project, and after some discussions, Gaumont asked me what I would like to play.
The answer didn't take long to arrive: Arsène Lupine, it was the best toy for me.
I grew up with manga on Lupine.
With him, there is drama, a little lighter side, sometimes funny, action… Everything I like.
We started to develop this story and we were joined by an incredible team: George Kay, Louis Leterrier, all the cast
(Editor's note: Ludivine Sagnier, Nicole Garcia, Clotilde Hesme ...)
, but also the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay … There was really something special about the way everyone got involved.
The City of Paris has also helped you a lot ...
Yes, I think the City of Paris was happy to accompany us.
Because with the support that is Netflix, we know that the series will shine internationally.
So we all wanted to be good ambassadors for Paris.
What was it like to shoot at the Louvre?
Unbelievable.
The shoots always take us to unusual places, but the Louvre was special.
I have a crazy memory: I was alone with the Mona Lisa for a quarter of an hour.
I timed!
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VIDEO. At the Louvre, constraints but "the guarantee of access very close to the Mona Lisa"
The scenario contains references to racism and colonialism, like when your character steals the jewels of an old woman "in memory of the Belgian Congo" ...
Yes, it was important to talk about these things in small touches.
This passage with the old lady is also a tribute to Maurice Leblanc: Lupine does not steal just anyone.
It's not Robin Hood, but almost.
Your character never stops disguising himself.
Did you like it?
It was super fun.
In addition, after the "SAV"
(Editor's note: sketch show that Omar Sy played with Fred Testot on Canal +)
, there was a little nostalgia in changing skin, playing someone in three seconds, to find
gimmicks
.
Paris and in particular the Louvre occupy a central place in the series.
Emmanuel Guimier
Becoming a serial hero, how excited are you?
Weren't you afraid to get bored?
It was a first for me.
I was excited by the project, its ambition.
Playing the same character over a longer period of time meant that the game had to be measured differently.
I wanted to see if I was capable of it… I was afraid of getting bored, but there were breaks: first for the shooting of “Jurassic World”
(Editor's note: Omar Sy took over his role for the new part of the saga)
, then because of the confinement.
Each time, I was very happy to come back to "Lupine".
What series do you watch?
The first was “the Sopranos”.
“Game of Thrones” returned me.
And there, I just finished “the Lady's Game”, which I found extraordinary, very surprising.
The cinemas are closed without a reopening date.
Does this worry you?
Yes.
The theaters which are closing, it is not good news, the shootings which stop even less.
We are adapting and we hope that it will return to the norm fairly quickly.
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Do you understand this closure?
I do not understand anything at this time.
I do not allow myself to comment on this because one cannot analyze in a state of shock.
It's been eight years since you moved to Los Angeles.
You don't plan to come back to France?
It's not planned.
But I don't feel like I'm gone, I spend time here, I work here anyway.
There, I am very happy to present a French series, produced in France with a French cast, shot in Paris, in French ... I live abroad, but I remain very “cocorico” despite everything.
According to the annual Ifop survey for the JDD, you remain the second favorite male personality of the French.
Does this affect you?
Of course it's touching.
I am very honored.
But I put it into perspective.
I don't think I'm responsible for this.
People decide it in spite of me and if they decide the opposite tomorrow, I won't be able to do anything either.
You will return to an America presided over by Joe Biden.
It's good news?
We'll see in February if that changes anything.
American politics, I watch it because I live in the United States and my children grow up there, but no more than that.
I am still more concerned with what is happening in France.
READ ALSO>
The US Congress officially validates Joe Biden's victory
And what do you think of what is going on here?
(Laughs)
.
Good try.
But I will not talk about politics.
What do you do after an XXL role like "Lupine"?
We do “Lupine 2” right away!
I would like, in any case ...
"Lupine", a spectacular series
The writers of "Lupine" play with us like the gentleman robber of his victims: a sleight of hand and the hero becomes a hacker, acrobat, martial arts champion, able to escape an army of police officers while he rides a bicycle in the middle of Paris… Some strings are as thick as rope.
Despite this, Omar Sy's pleasure is contagious.
More charismatic than ever, the actor has fun in this chameleon character, facetious and unpredictable.
Moreover, in this series whose action scenes have nothing to envy to American blockbusters, the capital is beautifully filmed and the scenes at the Louvre breathtaking.
The more beautiful, the more it goes.
EDITOR'S RATING: 3.5 / 5
“Lupine, Part I”
, series created by George Kay.
Five episodes of 42 to 52 minutes each.
With Omar Sy, Vincent Londez, Hervé Pierre, Shirine Boutella… Available on Netflix this Friday.