How Gaumont Cracked the Code for Global TV Hits with French Flair

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In 2013, when Isabelle Degeorges was appointed president of Gaumont Television France, France’s audiovisual sector was facing growing challenges as local audiences were starting to prefer smoother international formats with high-quality production values. This trend would gain momentum when the streaming platforms entered the scene the following year, further intensifying the competition.

One of Degorge’s early actions was to update Gaumont’s production methods, in order to stay relevant and meet the growing demands of the public.

According to Degeorges, we no longer catered solely to a local audience. This necessitated a complete overhaul, from scriptwriting to production design, to resonate with viewers and reinvent the essence of French series. Gaumont discovered this innovative creative strand by intertwining historical local IP with an action-packed storytelling approach that prioritized entertainment. Degeorges highlights this transformation as a “game-changer” for both Gaumont and the broader French TV industry, as “Lupin” skyrocketed up Netflix rankings in 2021.

Degeorges said, ‘Suddenly, we found ourselves acknowledged as the creators of the first French series to gain global success.’ He continued, ‘Suddenly, we were playing in the major leagues.’

According to Degeorges, Gaumont was the company that solved the puzzle – they produced a French success that appealed to people all around the world.

Forthcoming productions feature:
– “In the Shadow of the Forest,” a suspenseful thriller with Benoît Magimel and Mélanie Laurent for Apple TV+,
– “The Deal,” an engrossing docudrama about the U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations, which received the Buyers Choice Award at Series Mania,
– And the ninth season of our acclaimed procedural series, “The Art of Crime,” produced by France Télévisions and distributed by Gaumont in more than 60 nations worldwide.

According to Degeorges, the premium series tend to focus more on character development. This is evident in many of the company’s recent productions. For instance, while ‘The Deal’ primarily revolves around diplomatic negotiations, what truly captivates and makes it compelling are its exceptionally written characters.

Gaumont’s transatlantic ventures have undergone a comparable transformation. Since the year 2020, Nicolas Atlan, president of Gaumont U.S., has been in charge of all activities within the United States, Latin America, and Spain. This encompasses both film and television productions. Under his guidance, the company has optimized development processes, fortified collaborative relationships with talent, and emphasized local storytelling in significant markets like Mexico, Spain, and Brazil. Most recently, Gaumont entered into a co-production agreement with the prominent local player Globo in these regions.

Gaumont found a well-timed shift towards Latin America, providing them with an alternative as the English-speaking market experienced labor disputes and economic sluggishness following the pandemic. This pause in the U.S. gave the studio an opportunity to reorganize, focusing on projects based on books and articles, considering remakes, and still pursuing Latin American productions such as “Desolate Future” for Paramount Television International Studios and “The Biggest Fan” for Netflix.

After the strike concluded, they have managed to secure agreements with almost all significant platforms. Meanwhile, they’ve been developing both standout features and series for various production houses and streaming services.

According to Atlan, “We’re quite satisfied with the recovery.” He continues, “The market is still complex, but since it has stabilized, we’ve managed to regain ground.

In line with this approach, Gaumont is pursuing a comprehensive plan by identifying harmonious collaborations among their international branches and exploring potential remakes of their archive content, customized for specific regions.

As a passionate cinephile, I’m excited to share that we’re not merely duplicating timeless masterpieces. Instead, we’re breathing new life into them! For instance, the 2014 sleeper hit “The Chef,” starring Jean Reno, is inspiring a Mexican adaptation tailored for a unique culinary culture. We’re on the hunt for films with powerful ideas that can be reimagined, collaborating across our company to unearth hidden gems that continue to offer fresh perspectives.

Under his leadership since 2020, Atlan has sought to enrich Gaumont’s U.S. activities with a stronger “French essence” – an artistic style he equates to narrative tales centered around characters and a focus on nurturing directors.

According to Atlan, “We value talent,” is what people understand. Gaumont, with its long-standing record of excellence, gives partners the assurance that their projects are secure and will be completed successfully. Our aim is simple: we want to ensure completion and accuracy in our work.

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2025-05-07 23:13