Amazon Prime Video ramps up investment in French originals

Amazon Prime Video has greenlit seven new French Amazon Original productions.

Unveiling the titles at its Prime Video Presents France 2022 showcase event in Paris, Amazon Prime also offered first looks at previously announced local originals and exclusives, and revealed the list of sports talent that will anchor its upcoming coverage of Roland-Garros in France next month.

The new originals announced are Alphonse, Medellín, Hawa, Classico, Cosmic Love, Ourika, and Killer Coaster, which the company said marked a new step in its commitment to increasing investment in French TV production, with more announcements to follow soon.

Alphonse, a comedy series starring Jean Dujardin and directed by Nicolas Bedos will be streamed in France and worldwide in 2023.

Comedy movie Classico is produced by Federation Entertainement & Yvette Production and will launch exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories in 2022.

Dating show Cosmic Love will also stream this year. ‘Urban western’ Ourika will come next year, while coming of age movie Hawa will be available this year, as will comedy drama Miskina. Colombia set drug crime drama Medellin will stream in 2023.

“Today, we unveiled a series of outstanding projects underlining the strength of our commitment to French customers and offering the largest and best content selection they can find. These exciting originals, exclusives, and live sports announcements also underline how we more than ever are a force for good for the French audiovisual industry, promoting diversity in front and behind the camera, and we’re just getting started,” said Brigitte Ricou-Bellan, country manager, France, Prime Video.

Georgia Brown, head of European Amazon Originals, Amazon Studios, said that the “announcements are another step in our mission to bring the most exciting French TV series and movies to Prime members and underline our commitment to investing significantly in France. And there are still a lot more to come.”

Thomas Dubois, head of French Amazon Originals, Amazon Studios, said that “from drama, dating, action, comedy to exciting new formats on wide-ranging topics like music and football superstars, there isn’t a genre or topic we aren’t considering right now”.