If Mehdi Bousaidan and Rachid Badouri look straight out of Guy Ritchie’s latest feature film, in checkered jogger tracksuits, it’s because they’re filming in Double-dealinga detective series that they themselves imagined, born from a common passion: detective films of the 1980s and 1990s.
Lethal Weapon (The lethal Weapon) with Mel Gibson and Danny Glover, Die Hard (crystal trap) with Bruce Willis, rush hour (Deadline) with Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker… Mehdi Bousaidan and Rachid Badouri watched these franchises. And two, three, four times rather than one.
“We’re a little ashamed to say that we liked bing-bing pow-pow films,” says Rachid Badouri, met during his lunch hour at Grandé Studios in Montreal. The lines made us laugh. Because we watched these dubbed films. The French voice of Eddie Murphy in Beverly Hills Cop [Le flic de Beverly Hills], it was something! »
I consume a lot of true crime [documentaires criminels]. I spend my evenings watching this.
Mehdi Bousaidan
Expected on Crave next year, the comedy Double-dealing tells the story of Adam (Rachid Badouri) and Mounir (Mehdi Bousaidan), North African actors who earn their living by organizing simulations at the Nicolet police academy. When Sergeant Rousseau (Josée Deschênes) loses two new double agents to organized crime, she decides to hire the merry men to join an ultra-secret division of the police force. All in the hope of discovering the identity of a mole who is sabotaging his work.
“She is taking a big risk by recruiting these two clowns, but she is running out of options,” comments Josée Deschênes, in an interview in the middle of an abandoned warehouse setting serving as headquarters for the secret operation she directs.
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Fabien Cloutier and Josée Deschênes
Gold chain around his neck, Mehdi Bousaidan describes his character as an inveterate but cunning liar (“street smart”). “He lies to get what he wants. With his family (who live in Algeria), he makes people believe that he is a great actor in Quebec, when in truth, he just does small roles. He tries to make ends meet, but it’s difficult. »
For his part, Rachid Badouri plays a serious and responsible father, a proposition which initially frightened the comedian, used to being the one who provokes laughter.
“Adam is so stuck up. He’s funny without realizing it. And that’s what I wanted: to play a character far from myself… and without an accent, for once! »
Frank comedy
Divided into 12 episodes, the series Double-dealing is produced by Jumelage, Frédéric Pierre’s production company. This is a second project selected for the actor and author’s company, after Lakay Nouof which Radio-Canada has ordered a second season.
“I have been playing in a real detective series for four years,” says the interpreter of the investigative sergeant Renaud Magloire in Alerts (VAT).
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The producer of Double-dealingFrédéric Pierre
Every time we make setups, we mess up. We always imagine what a police comedy would look like. So it’s a dream for me to produce this.
Frédéric Pierre
The scenarios of Double-dealing are signed by Jean-François Léger (The eye of the storm, The parents) and Daniel Gagnon (Happiness). According to Frédéric Pierre, the texts are “very punchy” and “well knitted”.
“It’s a frank comedy,” adds Stéphane Moukarzel (Fir trees), who directs the series with Frédéric Nassif (Max and Livia, Patrice Lemieux 24/7). It’s quite basic, but we avoid caricature. Situations create humor. »
These incredible “situations” into which Adam and Mounir will be catapulted are kept secret. Between the lines, however, we guess that they will have to infiltrate a law firm, a pawnbroker’s office, a medieval life-size role-playing game and perhaps even a sect…
“Fire” distribution
Double-dealing also stars Catherine Bérubé (who plays Rachid Badouri’s wife), Maxime de Cotret, Martin Drainville, Douaa Kachache, Mireille Naggar and Nayla Badouri, Rachid Badouri’s daughter. The names of Sandrine Bisson, Chantal Baril, Deano Clavet, Noé Lira, Élise Guilbault, Éric Hoziel and Martin-David Peters will also appear in the credits.
As for Fabien Cloutier, he plays the role of a “slightly heady” police officer, a new member of the undercover operation. According to the scene in which The Press attended, his character isn’t the nicest man in town either.
“He wants to look good, he wants to do well,” emphasizes the actor. Sometimes he tries to be dry, but it fails, because he doesn’t have much power. He likes to give it a go, though. »
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Douaa Kachache, Maxime de Cotret, director Stéphane Moukarzel, Josée Deschênes, Rachid Badouri, Fabien Cloutier, Mehdi Bousaidan, Catherine Bérubé and Frédéric Pierre
Rachid Badouri, who does not have a huge amount of acting experience, finds it hard to believe that a project he imagined in 2019 with Mehdi Bousaidan would bring together so many experienced actors.
“I am surrounded by fiery professionals… When you play with Josée [Deschênes]Fabien [Cloutier] and Catherine [Bérubé], you walk with your butt tight! »
“I have always played supporting roles, and today, I play a leading role,” continues the comedian. It’s pretty incredible. »