France 2 / Elzévir / 2e Ligne: filming of the series "Dans l'ombre", with Swann Arlaud and Melvil Poupaud

Elzévir Films (Marie Masmonteil) and Deuxieme Ligne Films (Marie Dubas) began shooting Dans l'ombre (6 x 52') on Monday April 17, announced France 2, the sponsoring channel, on the same day. It is an adaptation of the book of the same title, written by former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe and his former special adviser Gilles Boyer, currently an MEP, the production of which was announced in October (Satellifacts, October 18, 2022).

This political thriller is written by Pierre Schoeller, Lamara Leprêtre-Habib and Cédric Anger, with Edouard Philippe and Gilles Boyer. Pierre Schoeller, who notably directed the film L'Exercice de l'Etat, is also the showrunner and co-director, with Guillaume Senez.

The plot follows César Casalonga, passionate about his job as a political adviser where he excels as a strategist and his boss, Paul Francoeur, whom he has accompanied for twenty years in the ascent which should lead him to the presidency of the Republic. This objective is finally in sight when Francoeur wins the nomination of his party after a primary which opposed him to his competitor Marie-France Trémeau. The victory is close and is all the more beautiful. While it is time for the union between the staffs of the two candidates, César receives an anonymous phone call which informs him that the primary has been rigged. He will have to quickly face the facts: a fraud has been committed. There follows a mad race against time in the middle of the presidential campaign, while the traps set by their political opponents – some of whom may come from their own camp – multiply: César and Marylin, the director of communication of Francoeur, supported by the close guard of the candidate, must shed light on the fraud before the press or the opposing camp seize it. But paranoia wins the entourage of the candidate and the faults of the team are becoming more and more visible.

Dans l'ombre is performed by Swann Arlaud (César Casalonga), Melvil Poupaud (Paul Francoeur), Karin Viard (Marie-France Trémeau), Evelyne Brochu (Marylin), Philippe Uchan (the Major), Sofian Khammes (Texier), Baptiste Carrion-Weiss (Jérémie Caligny), Eric Paradisi (Démosthène), Maud Wyler (Leïla Argument), Clara Antoons (Iris Francoeur), Etienne Beydon (Benjamin Pinguet – son), Gautier Boxebeld (Mukki), Boris Terral (Senator Pinguet – father), Muriel Combeau (Olympe – HAP leader), Catherine Salée (the Valkyrie)…

Filming continues in Paris and Hauts-de-France until August 2.