Slim Film + Television, Federation Entertainment
and the European Alliance / France Télévisions, ZDF and RAI to coproduce
Around the World in Eighty Days
an epic eight-part adaptation of the Jules Verne classic

27 March 2019, Paris / London.

Leading European networks, France Télévisions, ZDF, RAI (the European Alliance) together with Australia’s Seven West Media, today announced the green-light on the exciting, epic eight-part adaptation of Jules Verne’s 19^th Century classic, Around the World in 80 Days from London based Slim Film + TV and Paris-based Federation Entertainment.

Developed by Slim’s Simon Crawford Collins and adapted by renowned writers Ashley Pharoah and Caleb Ranson, the series is a celebratory ‘love letter to the world’ and will be filmed across the globe as a co-production between Slim Film + Television and Federation in association with 247 Films.

French star Ahmed Sylla (The Climb, Chacun Pour Tous) will play one of literature’s most iconic roles, Passepartout, who takes on the adventure of a lifetime. A leading British actor will be announced soon in the seminal role of Phileas Fogg, alongside the casting for the lead female role, that of newspaper reporter Abigail Fix, who joins the wager-led journey she devised in an attempt to make her mark in a man’s world and to emerge from the long shadow of her father.

Ashley Pharoah (Life on Mars, Ashes to Ashes, The Living and the Dead) heads up a top-tier writing team including Caleb Ranson (Child of Mine, Heartless), Debbie O’Malley (Harlots, Humans), Peter McKenna (Red Rock, The Musketeers), Stephen Greenhorn (Doctor Who, Sunshine on Leith) and Claire Downes, Ian Jarvis and Stuart Lane (The Job Lot, In the Long Run).

Film, television and legendary music video director Steve Barron (The Durrells, Treasure Island, Dreamkeeper) will be lead director.

Around the World in Eighty Days was commissioned by Nathalie Biancolli, EVP International Scripted, and Médéric Albouy, Head of Drama Co-Productions, France Télévisions as a landmark English language production.  France Télévisions introduced the project to their European Alliance broadcasting partners; Germany’s ZDF and Italy’s RAI with Seven West Media also backing the production and broadcasting the drama in Australia.

Ahmed Sylla said: “This is an exciting challenge which is as big as my enthusiasm for it. As children we all dreamed of going on such an adventure as imagined by Jules Verne. So it’s an honour to be involved, especially since he was born in Nantes like me!”

Crawford Collins added: “We wanted to explore an era when the world was open for travel for the very first time and journeys were voyages of discovery in every sense.  As we developed the project it felt increasingly pertinent to be reflecting this time of exploration and cultural curiosity, when today we are experiencing the rise of isolationism and the closure of national borders. While the journey itself will provide the epic adventures, the heart of the story is all about second chances; about people who may have lost themselves. Audiences will love following these wonderfully crafted characters as they expand their experiences and horizons to become the best versions of themselves.”

Pascal Breton, Federation Entertainment: ‘’I can think of no better way to launch the Alliance of European Public Broadcasters than with a large-scale international series starring top talents from the UK, France and Germany, and adapted from one of France’s greatest authors of the 20^th century. This exciting family-oriented show is sure to delight families all over the world when it premieres in the 2020 Christmas season, and Federation is delighted to bring together such great European talents and top public broadcasters for this event.’’

Biancolli commented: “When the producers Simon Crawford-Collins and Federation Entertainment pitched this project to us, we were immediately convinced by its international and universal dimension. Jules Verne is a national treasure in France but also a forerunner who very early on imagined stories that have absolutely no borders. It seemed obvious to us to share this incredible idea with our friends of the European Alliance (ZDF / RAI).”

Albouy commented: “This commission is, first of all, a dream for the little boy I was and whose favourite story was this unforgettable novel. It is also a hugely exciting landmark for France Télévisions, and I know that Ahmed will be terrific in the role of Passepartout. As an English language commission, it was imperative that the production be in the hands of experts in their field and with the teams from Slim and Federation we know that this international journey will be a glorious celebration of wit, culture and fortitude which will thrill and entertain audiences of all ages in equal measure.”

Around the World in Eighty Days will film across the globe in summer 2019 and is a Slim Film + Television production, co-produced and distributed by Federation. It has been commissioned by Médéric Albouy for France Télévisions.  Executive producers are Simon Crawford Collins for Slim Film + Television and Lionel Uzan and Pascal Breton for Federation. Further details to be announced in due course.