Disney+ - Discover the program of original European productions

By Mulder, 16 february 2021

The Walt Disney Company EMEA has just announced its first original European productions for Disney+, confirming the group's commitment to developing and producing local content. By working with renowned creators and producers as well as supporting new talent, Disney+ will offer a wide range of stories rooted in European cultures that will enrich those of its famous entertainment studios. The first 10 projects launched for Disney+ under the Disney and Star brands are part of an ambitious development strategy, with a stated goal of some 50 European productions by 2024.

France, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands have placed orders in genres as different as drama, comedy and documentary. Other still confidential projects are currently under consideration. These new resolutely European contents will soon be offered on Disney+. The platform thus reinforces, more than ever, its status as a must-see destination where everyone is sure to find the program that suits them, whatever their tastes or desires of the moment.

"Our content development strategy demonstrates our commitment to producing original works adapted to local specificities, with the ambition to attract viewers from all over the world," sums up Diego Londono, EVP, Media Networks and Content, The Walt Disney Company EMEA, ". Disney's expertise in prestigious content for the small screen, and its privileged relationship with the greatest artists in front and behind the camera, will guarantee the attractiveness of the entertainment offer proposed by Disney+ in Europe. "Our top 10 projects reflect our European production strategy," added Liam Keelan, Vice President Original Content, The Walt Disney Company EMEA. "As usual, we are working with top-notch creators and outstanding new talent, because Disney only wants to deliver exceptional stories. »

The projects unveiled today enhance the productions announced on Investor Day last December. With more than a hundred titles announced, Disney+ plans to release, in the coming years, a dozen Star Wars and Marvel series, some fifteen Disney series (live action or animated) and Pixar, and some fifteen Disney feature films (live action or animated) and Pixar. These new products will be added to the premium content that will be released in theaters or on linear channels before being offered on the platform.

Original French productions:
- Oussekine (Star) looks at the terrible events of December 5, 1986, which led to the death of Malik Oussekine, to which no series has ever been devoted. Focusing on his family's struggle for justice, it will plunge into the heart of the 80's to understand the impact this drama had on French society at the time. Produced by Itinéraire Productions, this mini-series in 4 episodes of 52 minutes is created by Antoine Chevrollier (Baron noir, Le bureau des légendes). In the writing, he is accompanied by Faïza Guène, Julien Liltiet Cédric Ido.
- Parallèles (Disney+) follows four teenagers whose lives are turned upside down when a mysterious event propels them into parallel dimensions. They will do everything they can to understand what happened and try to go back. Produced by Empreinte Digitale (Raphaël Rocher and Eric Laroche) and Daïmôn Films (Quoc Dang Tran), this fantastic series full of suspense, mystery and adventure in 6 45-minute episodes is created by Quoc Dang Tran (Marianne Nox) and co-written by Anastasia Heinzl.
- Family Weekend (Disney+) plunges us into the heart of a "super reconstituted" tribe: a father, his exes, his daughters... And his new girlfriend. A chaotic, funny, and irresistible tribe that meets every weekend. Produced by Éléphant (Sandra Ouaiss, Dorothée Woillez and Nathalie Madjar), this family comedy in 8 episodes of 26 minutes is created by Baptiste Filleul. The writing is co-directed by Géraldine de Margerie and Nour Ben Salem.
- Soprano à la vie, à la mort (title not definitive) (Star) tells how the singer Soprano became the star that everyone knows today and highlights the 3 acolytes with whom he built his success. From his first steps in the northern districts of Marseille to the preparation of his new album to his upcoming stadium tour in the summer of 2022, it is also a story of France and rap that is told through the destiny of this icon of French urban pop. Produced by Breathe Film (Groupe Éléphant) & Only Pro, this documentary series includes 6 episodes of 35 minutes each.

Original European productions :
- The Good Mothers (Star): Alessandra Cerreti, a newly appointed young prosecutor, has been given the colossal task of putting the members of the 'Ndrangheta, the Calabrian mafia, under lock and key. To do so, she has the idea of turning their wives and daughters against them. The series tells the story of Alessandra's quest for justice as she tries to undermine the 'Ndrangheta from within, risking her own life and the lives of the women she is trying to save. Italy - Policeman, inspired by real facts. 6 x 45’. Stephen Butchard / House Productions and Wildside
- Boris (Star): Boris tells the behind-the-scenes story of a low-budget medical series. For this new season (which already has 3 in Italy), the team is getting together to produce this time a show for a streaming platform. Technology may have evolved, but for our characters, there is still a long way to go... Italy - comedy. 14 x 26’. Luca Manzi / Carlo Mazzotta / Wildside
- Ignorant Angels (Star): Following the death of her husband in a car accident, Antonia discovers that he was having a homosexual affair with a man named Michele. At first devastated by the news, she finds herself building an unexpected friendship with this man she had never heard of. The two of them get to know each other, to accept and understand each other. Antonia thus discovers her husband's other family, composed of friends with unusual lifestyles and different sexual identities. Italy - drama. Inspired by the film Family portrait (Fate ignorianti). Ferzan Ozpetek / R&C productions.
- Sam - the Saxon (Star): Samuel Meffire was the first black policeman in East Germany. After reunification he became a media sensation and a symbol of modern society, but nevertheless ended up a few years later behind bars and presented as an enemy of the state... Germany - drama in 6 episodes, adapted from a true story. Joerg Winger / De Big Window Productions
- Sultan City (Star): When the patriarch of a respectable German-Turkish family is murdered under mysterious circumstances, his widow's life is turned upside down. But when she discovers that he was at the head of a criminal organization, she realizes that she and her daughters are quite capable of succeeding him at the head of this lucrative activity... Germany - Black comedy, detective, thriller. 8 x 45'. Ayla Gottschlish / AyselYilmaz / Two Moons Pictures
- Feyenoord rotterdam (Star) : Subscribed to the second roles, adored by millions of Dutch people, Feyenoord is a closed and secret world. No Dutch soccer team has ever agreed to reveal its behind-the-scenes secrets before. Now it's done. Netherlands - Sports documentary. 6 x 35’. Lusus

In addition to local productions, Disney France is developing a content acquisition plan that is just as ambitious in terms of both the quantity of films and series (nearly 50) and their quality. Extending the spirit of Star, all of these acquisitions - which have in common a contemporary vision of our society - reflect both the diversity of the subjects and the audiences they address. Federation Entertainment, Newen Connect, France Télévisions Distribution, Mediawan, SND, Orange Studio, Pathé and EuropaCorp are among the first players to have signed agreements with Disney+, further strengthening the essential ties forged over many years in France with production companies and distribution partners.

Some films :
- The artist film produced by Thomas Langmann and directed by Michel Hazanavicius with Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo.5 Oscars: best film; best director; best actor; best music; best costumes.
- Nicolas Bary's timpelbach children with Raphaël Katz and Adèle Exarchopoulos, but also Gérard Depardieu and Carole Bouquet
- Jappeloup by Christian Duguay, with Guillaume Canet, Marina Hands, Lou de Laâge and Daniel Auteuil

Some series :
- Don't do this, don't do that and his famous Bouley / Lepic rivalry led by Isabelle Gélinas, Bruno Salomone, Valérie Bonneton and Guillaume de Tonquédec
- Papa ou maman, an irreverent family comedy by Emilie Caen and Florent Peyre
- CLEM, a young mother camped by Lucie Lucas for 9 seasons
- Red bracelets or the resilience of a group of teenagers affected by the disease, with Lionel Abelanski, Pascal Elbé, Chistiana Reali, Natacha Régnier and Guy Lecluyse
- Profilage, which has already been following groups of French profilers for 10 seasons, with Odile Vuillemin, Guillaume Cramoisan, Vanessa Valence, Philippe Bas and Valérie Dashwood.
- Lazy company or the odyssey of 4 particularly incompetent soldiers during the Normandy landings in 1944, with Benoît Moret, Alexandre Philip, Alban Lenoir and Aurélia Poirier
- Je te promets, French adaptation of the series "This is US", directed by Camille Lou, Hugo Becker, Marilou Berry, Guillaume Labbé and Narcisse Mame, co-produced by TF1 and Authentic Prod.
- A Man of Honor, adapted from the Israeli series Kvodo, withKad Merad, Zabou Breitman, RodParadot, Aure Atika, Eye Haïdara, Nicolas Duvauchelle, Hélène Vincent, Emile Berling, Manon Azem and the exceptional participation of Gérard Depardieu, co-produced by TF1 and Federation Entertainment.
- Moloch, supernatural thriller with Marine Vacth and Olivier Gourmet, co-produced by Arte and Calt Studio

Disney+ is the reference streaming platform for films and content from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic and Star, its brand new world of general entertainment. Part of The Walt Disney Company's Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution segment, Disney+ is a commercial-free platform with a wide variety of original feature films, documentaries, live-action and animated series and shorts, in addition to unprecedented access to its unparalleled catalog of movies and TV content.

(Source: Press release)