Marseille is a French drama television series created by Dan Franck starring Gérard Depardieu. The series is the first French language original production for Netflix, which ordered the project to series on 10 July 2015. The eight-episode first season premiered worldwide on Netflix on 5 May 2016.[2][3] A second season was ordered on 6 June 2016.[4] Production for the second season commenced on 18 April 2017.[5] The second season debuted in February 2018.[6] Netflix cancelled the show after 2 seasons.[7] Depardieu's character was inspired by the longtime Marseille mayor Jean-Claude Gaudin, who dubbed the character "the other mayor".[8][9]
| Marseille | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Political drama |
| Created by | Dan Franck |
| Starring | |
| Composer | Alexandre Desplat[1] |
| Country of origin | France |
| Original language | French |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 16 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Producer | Pascal Breton |
| Production company | Federation Entertainment |
| Original release | |
| Network | Netflix |
| Release | 5 May 2016 – 23 February 2018 |
Plot
editAfter two decades as mayor of Marseille, Robert Taro (Depardieu) enters into a war of succession with his former protégé turned rival Lucas Barres (Benoît Magimel).[10][11] Both men are members of the "UPM" party, based on the centre-right UMP (Union for a Popular Movement). A betrayal ignites a bitter war between a master politician and his hungry young protégé in this sweeping tale of corruption, seduction and revenge. Then, the battle for the heart of Marseille heats up as right-wing nationalists gain power and a shadowy conspiracy targets the city's beloved football team.
Cast and English dubbing
editMain characters
edit| Actor | Character | Voice actor |
|---|---|---|
| Gérard Depardieu | Robert Taro | Michael McConnohie |
| Benoît Magimel | Lucas Barrès | Kyle McCarley |
| Géraldine Pailhas | Rachel Taro | Anne Yatco |
| Nadia Fares | Vanessa d'Abrantes | Karen Strassman |
| Stéphane Caillard | Julia Taro | Cristina Valenzuela |
Side characters
edit| Actor | Character | Voice actor |
|---|---|---|
| Guillaume Arnault | Eric | Johnny Yong Bosch |
| Hedi Bouchenafa | Farid | Kirk Thornton |
| Nassim Si Ahmed | Selim | Tony Azzolino |
| Jean-René Privat | Cosini | Keith Silverstein |
| Pascal Elso | Pierre Chasseron | Dave Mallow |
| Carolina Jurczak | Barbara | Cherami Leigh |
| Eric Savin | Pharamond | Steve Kramer |
| Hippolyte Girardot | Dr. Osmont | Joe Ochman |
| Lionel Erdogan | Alain Costabone | Steve Staley |
Episodes
editSeason 1 (2016)
edit| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "20 Ans (20 Years)" | Florent Emilio Siri | Dan Franck | 5 May 2016 | |
|
There is to be an important vote on a regeneration project of the city's waterfront, which will include a casino. Mayor Robert Taro supports the proposal as it will be his legacy to Marseille; he is counting on the support of Lucas Barrès, his ambitious young deputy, who eventually votes to oppose the proposal. A retired judge, who was also going to support the proposal, is approached and assassinated by gangsters. Taro's daughter Julia, a journalist, is trying to investigate life in the banlieues. | ||||||
| 2 | 2 | "Homme de Paille (Straw Man)" | Florent Emilio Siri | Dan Franck | 5 May 2016 | |
|
Taro is unsure about whether to stand for re-election due to his ill health and declining popularity with voters. His wife, Rachel, learns that she has syringomyelia which will bring an end to her career as a successful classical cellist. | ||||||
| 3 | 3 | "Crocodile" | Florent Emilio Siri | Dan Franck | 5 May 2016 | |
| 4 | 4 | "Intox (Intox Brainwashing)" | Florent Emilio Siri | Dan Franck | 5 May 2016 | |
| 5 | 5 | "Face à Face (Face-off)" | Thomas Gilou | Dan Franck | 5 May 2016 | |
| 6 | 6 | "Liberté, Egalité, sans Pitié (Liberty, Equality, without Pity)" | Thomas Gilou | Dan Franck | 5 May 2016 | |
| 7 | 7 | "A voté (Voted)" | Thomas Gilou | Dan Franck | 5 May 2016 | |
| 8 | 8 | "La Lutte Finale (The Final Battle)" | Thomas Gilou | Dan Franck | 5 May 2016 | |
Season 2 (2018)
edit| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 1 | "Parjure (Perjury)" | Florent Emilio Siri | Unknown | 23 February 2018 | |
|
With the election thrown into turmoil, Lucas finds himself at the center of a political feeding frenzy. Rachel makes a dramatic public statement. | ||||||
| 10 | 2 | "Emprise (Dominance)" | Florent Emilio Siri | Unknown | 23 February 2018 | |
|
As Lucas adjusts to his new role, the death of a public figure rattles the city. Julia digs for information on a mystery man who's suddenly vanished | ||||||
| 11 | 3 | "Conquête (Conquest)" | Florent Emilio Siri | Unknown | 23 February 2018 | |
|
While Robert fights the stadium sale, Jeanne pressures Lucas to beef up the city's security. Julia's suspicions lead her into dangerous territory. | ||||||
| 12 | 4 | "Résistance (Resistance)" | Laïla Marrakchi | Unknown | 23 February 2018 | |
|
Robert forges ahead with Julia's research, Jeanne goes rogue, and Rachel takes a risk to help Tod. Meanwhile, Chahid prepares for his mission. | ||||||
| 13 | 5 | "Capitulation (Capitulation)" | Laïla Marrakchi | Unknown | 23 February 2018 | |
|
As Eric tries to avert a tragedy, Driss makes an unexpected announcement. A crisis leaves Lucas stuck in a difficult -- and vulnerable -- position. | ||||||
| 14 | 6 | "Révélation (Revelation)" | Laïla Marrakchi | Unknown | 23 February 2018 | |
|
Sweeping changes at City Hall inflame tensions across Marseille. Eric tips Rachel off to Julia's ordeal. Jeanne makes an unsettling discovery. | ||||||
| 15 | 7 | "Abandon (Abandon)" | Florent Emilio Siri | Unknown | 23 February 2018 | |
|
As the city again mourns one of its own, Robert vows to track down the culprits. Lucas grapples with Jeanne's news. Eric begins to unravel. | ||||||
| 16 | 8 | "Justice (Justice)" | Florent Emilio Siri | Unknown | 23 February 2018 | |
|
Julia tries a new tactic to recover her memories, Jeanne takes a drastic step to protect her career, and Robert and Lucas plot to save their city. | ||||||
Release
editThe show's first season released worldwide on Netflix on 5 May 2016, and the first two episodes have aired on TF1.[12] The second season was released on Netflix on 23 February 2018.
Critical reception
editIn France, the series received a mostly negative reaction from the press. Pierre Sérisier, writing for Le Monde, called it an "industrial accident".[13] Télérama gave the series a "red card",[14] while Alain Carrazé on Europe 1 referred to it as something from "the 90s" with "cartoonish and ridiculous dialogue".[15]
However, reception outside France was more positive.[16]
References
edit- ^ "Netflix's 'Marseille' to Feature Music by Alexandre Desplat". Film Music Reporter. 20 April 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
- ^ "Marseille – Le 5 mai sur Netflix". YouTube (in French). Netflix France. 17 January 2016.
- ^ "Marseille, la série "made in France" concoctée par Netflix". LesEchos.fr (in French). 28 August 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
- ^ "Netflix Orders Season 2 of French-Language Drama 'Marseilles'". 6 June 2016.
- ^ "Netflix Champions European Entertainment". Netflix Media Center. 1 March 2017. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
- ^ "Marseille: Season Two Coming to Netflix in February". 4 January 2018.
- ^ Faner, Philippe (7 May 2018). "Pourquoi Netflix lâche "Marseille"" [Why Netflix lost "Marseille"]. La Provence (in French). Retrieved 17 May 2018.
- ^ "Depardieu jouera le rôle de Gaudin dans la série de Netflix sur Marseille". france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr (in French). 20 May 2015.
- ^ "Gaudin ironise sur Depardieu, "l'autre maire" de Marseille". Le Point (in French). 1 September 2015.
- ^ "Netflix: premier teaser pour la série "Marseille"". L'Express (in French). 18 January 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
- ^ Tounsi, Chaïma (29 October 2015). "On a visité le tournage de Marseille, première série française de Netflix". AlloCiné (in French). Retrieved 5 March 2016.
- ^ Hopewell, John (19 April 2016). "Netflix, France's TF1 Strike Novel Limited Broadcast Deal on French Original Series 'Marseille'". Variety. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
- ^ "Marseille – Et soudain, c'est le drame". Le Monde Des Séries. Archived from the original on 3 May 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
- ^ Pierre Langlais (5 May 2016). "Carton rouge pour "Marseille", le premier navet "maison" de Netflix". Retrieved 15 May 2016.
- ^ ""Marseille", la série de Netflix : "une saga d'été des années 1990 !"". 2 May 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
- ^ "Cocaine shame: Gérard Depardieu's brash new show Marseille is nothing to sniff at". the Guardian. 5 May 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2022.