Canuck partner enters Versailles

A Canadian producer and distributor has joined Canal+ and Zodiak Media’s multimillion-dollar drama Versailles, while one of the show’s directors has been named.

Montreal-based Incendo will be a coproduction partner on the 10×52′ series, with France’s Canal+, Zodiak and Paris-based Capa Drama. Jail Lespert (Headwinds) will helm the first two episodes.

The English-language historical drama is being written and exec produced by David Wolstencroft and Simon Mirren. It has been in development for five years but a number of script treatments, including attempts by Mad Men scribes Andre and Maria Jacquemetton, have previously been rejected by the network.

The latest reworking by the UK partnership of Mirren (Criminal Minds) and Wolstencroft (Spooks), revealed by C21 earlier this year, portrays the lavish character of Louis XIV, Europe’s longest serving and most colourful monarch.

Filming will start in France in August with post-production taking place at Incendo’s Canadian offices. Zodiak’s distribution arm, Zodiak Rights, is selling the show worldwide and is in talks with other international partners, while Incendo will shop the series in Canada.

Fabrice de la Patellière, head of French drama and coproductions at Canal+, said the “ambitious” series was part of the broadcaster’s aim to produce series with more international coproduction partners.

“Simon Mirren and David Wolstencroft’s take on this landmark chapter in our history is a guarantee of originality and unique modernity for us all,” de la Patellière added.