Gone are the gray days of the Parisian offices of the DGSEand a place in the sun forAfrica The producer of the hit series The Office of Legends announced to theAFPon Tuesday, November 5, 2024, that a project was “under development” to continue the series following in the footsteps of French agents working under false identities… but this time, on the African continent.
Africa, a “good playground
“The working title is The Africa Office. We already have several scenarios, but for the moment it remains a project in progress. development “said Alex Berger at Abidjanwhere he takes part in the Salon international du contenu audiovisuel (Sica). “The relationship between Francehistorical, with the West African countriesIt’s a good playground,” he explains.
“France’s geopolitics are geared more towards Africa, the post-war era and the Middle East. Françafriquethe events in Nigerin Burkina or in MaliThese are things that interest us,” he added, referring to the three countries. Sahelian countries who have experienced putschsin recent years, and have turned their backs on France.
An international success
Flagship series of Canal+ The Office of Legends for five seasons – the last already dating back to 2020 – followed the adventures of undercover French agents in theabroadin countries such asIran or the Syriain particular. It has been sold in over a hundred countries and praised for its realism by the DGSE, the French intelligence service. intelligence where his fictional characters evolve.
“The idea was to be able to leave enough time between the two series to avoid a simple sequel. I don’t think it will be a season six… though!” says Berger. The producer however, refused to give a start date for an eventual shooting or the precise country in which the plot is set.
“When we started developing the idea in 2021, there were five plausible countries for our story,” Berger explains, noting that the list has now been whittled down after the Sahelian putsches. “We’re in no hurry. Our obsession is to be plausible and credible”, he added, pointing out that he had “three projects which have African countries as their center of gravity”.
A US remake with Michael Fassbender and Richard Gere
Parallel, The Agencya ten-episode American remakewill be broadcast on United States from the end of November 2024 and soon in France on Canal+, with no precise date yet revealed. Michael Fassbender will play an agent of the CIA forced to leave his undercover life and return to the Londonwhose leader is played by Richard Gere. “It’s tremendously well done, it’s very serious,” said Alex Berger, who attended the shoot.