A new iteration of one of the most beloved detectives in fiction is coming to PBS.
The public broadcaster has ordered Maigret, a series based on Georges Simenon’s novels about Jules Maigret, a chief inspector for the Paris police. Production on the series, which stars Benjamin Wainwright as the title character, has begun in Budapest; it will air under PBS’ Masterpiece Mystery! banner.
Simenon published more than 100 novels and short stories about Maigret, selling more books than any other detective series aside from Sherlock Holmes. The new Maigret series, produced by Playground (Wolf Hall, All Creatures Great and Small), is set in the present and will position the character as an unconventional young detective with something to prove, a rising star in the Police Judiciaire who is relentless in his investigations and has both an uncanny ability to get under the skin of the criminals he is chasing and a matchless knowledge of Paris and its inhabitants.
Related Stories
Patrick Harbinson (Homeland, The Tower) is adapting Simenon’s novels and will serve as lead writer and executive producer. Banijay Rights is handling international sales.
“George Simenon’s creation of Jules Maigret holds a firm place in the pantheon of great literary detectives, and we are incredibly grateful to our partners Masterpiece, Banijay, ILP and John Simenon for their trust and support as we endeavor to bring a contemporary Maigret to a new, worldwide audience,” said David Stern, joint managing director for Playground. “Patrick Harbinson’s brilliantly fresh take on this iconic IP is reflective of Playground’s ambition to expand our growing slate of contemporary returning dramas that speak to a global marketplace.”
Added Susanne Simpson, Masterpiece head of scripted content and executive producer, “Maigret will be a perfect addition to Masterpiece’s line up of Mystery! shows. Our partners at Playground have assembled an incredible cast and creative team, and our audience is going to love Inspector Maigret and his unique style of crime solving.”
Along with Wainwright (Belgravia: The Next Chapter), the Maigret cast includes Stefanie Martini, Blake Harrison, Reda Elazouar, Kerrie Hayes, Shaniqua Okwok, Rob Kazinsky and Nathalie Armin.
Simenon’s novels have been adapted for a number of films and TV series worldwide, including an episode of the early landmark series Studio One in the 1950s and a 1992-93 ITV series that starred Michael Gambon and also aired as part of Mystery! on PBS.
Harbinson will direct the first two episodes of the new series, and Faye Gilbert and David Evans will each helm two installments as well. Harbinson executive produces via Windhover Films along with Playground’s Colin Callender and Stern, Masterpiece’s Simpson and John Simenon on behalf of Georges Simenon Limited.
