For the past seven seasons, Lionel Astier took on the role of Angelo Batalla, the superior of ex-Marseille policeman Alex Hugo (played by Samuel Le Bihan). But the 69-year-old actor made the decision to leave as he announced in May 2021. And he revealed why he preferred not to shoot in the hit series from France Télévisions.
Since 2014, Lionel Astier gave the reply to Samuel Le Bihan, in Alex Hugo. The two actors therefore ended up forging strong ties to the point of becoming friends. “We have friendly relations, and a real complicity on the set. We have a genuine connection that we don’t force, which is rare enough to report“, had confided the one who played Angelo Batalla to Allocinated. We therefore imagine that the announcement of his departure was painful for them, as well as for the rest of the team.
Despite the pain, Lionel Astier made this choice in order to sail towards new adventures. “It was a departure that was decided without any conflict (…). Corn I had been playing Angelo Batalla for seven years and I think I had done the trick. It was not renewed enough for my taste and I had the impression of being in repetition“, he confided to TV Star. He also said that the pace of filming had played a role in his decision: “At first, we were doing two episodes a year. There are now four and it cuts me off from my other projects.“So he could have stayed if the same rhythm had continued.
Another departure from Alex Hugo
But destiny decided otherwise. Thus, Samuel Le Bihan will have to say goodbye to his colleague and friend. Near Entertainment TV, the 56-year-old star said he understood the choice of Lionel Astier. “I don’t want it replaced. I don’t want someone to come and be in Angelo’s place, especially to give him the opportunity to come back if he wants to. In life, there are paths that take us in such amazing directions, I want it to be a new path. I don’t want us to get hung up on keeping the same things. Let’s take advantage of this new breath, to reinvent ourselves, to rethink the concept“, he continued.
Viewers will not, however, have to say goodbye to Lionnel Astier right away. According to Samuel Le Bihan, they will shoot another two seasons together. “We will be able to continue to have a little fun together because we have a good laugh. We like to work together“, he had concluded. Another star of the series also announced that she preferred to leave. This is Marilyne Canto, who has played Commissioner Christine Dorval since 2016. “It was not an easy choice because it is a series to which I am attached but it takes time and I want to embark on other adventures. I’m not leaving because I’ve had enough. Not at all. On this episode, I really took great pleasure in showing Christine in her intimacy. The departure of Lionel Astier did not precipitate mine, it happened at the same time. He announced it a little before but it was already recorded in my head“, confided the actress to Entertainment TV.