French Actor Patrick Bruel on Making TV Debut in Spy Thriller ‘State of Alert’ Helmed by ‘Tehran’ Co-Director for Keshet, TF1 (EXCLUSIVE)

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Known French performer Patrick Bruel, famous for both acting and singing, will be appearing on television for the first time as the main character, a highly respected secret agent, in the political suspense series “State of Alert,” which takes place in Paris.

I had the privilege of being involved in the production of a gripping thriller, which was adapted from Dov Alfon’s renowned novel “A Long Night in Paris,” known as “Unité 8200” in other circles. This captivating project was brought to life by Elephant International and Keshet International, the team behind “Rough Diamonds.

This fall, the thrilling series “State of Alert” is set to air on TF1. The show was skillfully directed by Dan Sachar, who has previously worked as a second unit director for 36 episodes of “Fauda,” and also co-directed several episodes of “Tehran.”

“State of Alert” will be shown on TF1 later this year. This show was made by Dan Sachar, who has worked on “Fauda” and “Tehran”. He directed 36 episodes of “Fauda” and also co-directed some episodes of “Tehran”.

Much like Netflix’s “Zero Day,” the series “State of Alert” resonates with a contemporary techno narrative and global political undertones. In this thriller, Bruel portrays Zeey Abadi, an Israeli spy who journeys to Paris for a tech summit. Unforeseen events unfold as he delves into an investigation linking stolen software, the demise of a Russian journalist, and a vanishing three days prior to the visit of a senior Israeli official in the city. The high-stakes operation propels him back towards an old flame, Fleur Giroud (Natacha Lindinger from “Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky”), a French anti-terrorism officer and mother, whose personal life becomes endangered during the probe.

Alfon, who penned “A Long Night in Paris,” has a background with the Israeli intelligence agencies and currently serves as the chief editor at a prominent French daily called Liberation.

Ever since achieving stardom in the 1990s, Bruel has emerged as one of France’s most recognized artists. He’s released eleven solo albums and continues to perform at sold-out shows worldwide, all while maintaining a successful acting career. Although he’s featured in over 47 films, “What’s in the Name” stands out for earning him a Cesar nomination. However, “State of Alert” is his debut as the main character in a TV series. As Series Mania approaches, Bruel spoke to EbMaster about how this project particularly appealed to him on multiple fronts.

Bruel remarks, “Playing a secret agent in a global thriller was enjoyable, and it’s the sort of role I used to fantasize about as a child while watching movies. Being given the chance to portray Zeey Abadi felt incredibly fortunate because he isn’t just another typical action hero; there’s an emotional complexity and depth to him that allows for growth throughout his relationship with Fleur, the French police officer.

Bruel commended the exceptional creative crew responsible for the series, including co-creator Leora Kamenetzky (“False Flag”), David Dusa (“Flowers of Evil”), and Negar Djavadi (“Mon Ange”), for developing a richer storyline and dynamic characters beyond what was in Alfon’s book. Furthermore, they skillfully constructed the narrative around Bruel’s character and that of Lindinger.

He mentions that the story skillfully combines excitement and tension with a heartwarming narrative involving Zeey and Fleur. His character isn’t a warrior or marksman; instead, he possesses an analytical and adaptive speed slightly beyond the norm, which influences all his interactions. Initially, in the series, his character is quite guarded and cold, but as it progresses, he becomes more open and warmhearted.

Bruel expresses his admiration for Sashar, stating that he was the mastermind behind two seasons of the popular series “Tehran”, which makes you understand the intensity and precision of his work style. He adds that Sashar was receptive to their ideas but ultimately had a clear vision of what he wanted. Bruel notes that while the job of an actor might not fundamentally change between film or TV, the difference lies in the fact that “we don’t have the freedom to shoot 15 takes or alter the script on set.” Sashar’s artistic approach required a heightened awareness where every moment and take could be significant, according to Bruel.

Bruel honed his ability to speak fluent Hebrew for the part in “State of Alert.” Initially, he had a basic understanding, but was far from being fully fluent. He worked closely with a coach to perfect his accent and learn to speak quickly, as Hebrew is a language that requires rapid speech. Prior to this, the actor, who is bilingual in Spanish and English, had mastered Italian for Sebastiano Riso’s drama “Una famiglia” and appeared in Amanda Sthers’s film “Holy Lands,” which was in English and featured James Caan and Tom Hollander.

The production of the TV show took place from August to November, primarily in Paris. Initially, it was planned to film some scenes in Israel, but due to the October 7 attack in Southern Israel, the filming was moved to Greece instead. Bruel stated that the unfortunate events were deeply saddening, yet they didn’t affect the strong relationships formed between French and Israeli cast members on set.

He mentioned that any talks about the events in Israel needed to happen off-set, before and after filming, to ensure uninterrupted production. He also noted that the topic of ‘State of Alert’ was completely separate from the situation in Israel.

Under ‘State of Alert,’ TF1 is working on an ambitious international expansion plan. This thrilling series was produced by Sandra Ouaiss from Elephant, while Avi Nir and Karni Ziv from Keshet Media Group, along with Keren Shahar and Atar Dekel from Keshet International, served as executive producers. The star-studded cast includes Gaia Weiss (“Vikings,” “Alien: Containment”), Cyril Guei (“Hitman”), Tsahi Halevi (“Line in the Sand,” “Fauda”), and Bruel and Lindinger.

On March 27, “State of Alert” will make its debut at Series Mania, with creator Bruel and other cast and team members in attendance. Internationally, the series will be distributed by Newen Connect.

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2025-03-25 19:17