The autumn of platforms | Foreign offering in 10 titles

Big names (Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchett), big franchises (Star Wars, Batman), big sequels (The diplomat, The Lord of the Rings)… Foreign platforms will not offer anything small in the coming months.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

Considered the most expensive series of all time, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is back in business. According to a new trailer released last week, the second season of the epic drama will feature the Siege of Eregion, a climactic battle in JRR Tolkien’s universe. The sequel will also see the return of Sauron (Charlie Vickers), who, without an army or allies after being driven out by Galadriel (Morfyyd Clark), is trying to regain his strength. According to Amazon figures, a whopping 100 million people watched the first season.
On Prime Video, from August 29

The Perfect Couple

After having a fling with Zac Efron in A Family Affaira mediocre romantic comedy hosted by Prime Video, Nicole Kidman tries to improve her annual batting average by appearing in the credits (as an actress and producer) ofA perfect couple. Directed by Susanne Bier (The Undoing, Bird Box), this miniseries adapted from Elin Hilderbrand’s novel tells the story of a young woman who is about to marry an heir to one of Nantucket’s wealthiest families. But when a person is found dead and an investigation is launched, secrets emerge and everyone becomes a suspect.
On Netflix, from September 5

Agatha All Along

Three years after the enormous popular and critical success of WandaVisionMarvel Studios offers Agatha every timea spin-off series based around the character played by Kathryn Hahn. Reassuring detail: Jac Schaeffer, the creative force behind WandaVisiondirects the first episode. In this new adventure, the “heroine”, powerless since her confinement in Westview, New Jersey, takes the Witches’ Path, a mythical road made up of tests that one must pass to regain one’s former powers. She is accompanied by a mysterious goth teenager. Joe Locke, Sasheer Zamata and Aubrey Plaza also have roles.
On Disney+, from September 18

The Penguin

Released in theaters in 2022, The Batman had proven disappointing. Far too long and dark, the action film starring Robert Pattinson and directed by Matt Reeves had failed to rekindle our flame for the bat man, a flame that Christopher Nolan had nevertheless kept alive from 2005 to 2012, with three feature films. Will this eight-episode miniseries based around the Penguin, a character that Colin Farrell defended in the cinema, be able to excite us? We’re keeping our fingers crossed. Presented in the United States on HBO, it recounts the rise of the funny sparrow in the criminal universe of Gotham City.
On Crave, from September 19

A Very Royal Scandal

After two seasons ofA very British scandal (a first with Hugh Grant, a second with Claire Foy), the production company Blueprint offers a “royal” variation: the behind the scenes of the explosive interview that Prince Andrew (Michael Sheen) gave to Emily Maitlis (Ruth Wilson) in 2019, about the links he had with the businessman and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This televised tête-à-tête created a shockwave in the United Kingdom. Downside: a film dealing with the same subject, aptly titled Scoopwas released in the spring on Netflix.
On Prime Video, from September 19

The house

The offer of American platforms being mainly… American, foreign titles obviously attract our attention, especially when a Quebecer is behind the camera. French fiction, The house focuses on the behind-the-scenes of a fashion house caught in the middle of a scandal involving its star designer (Lambert Wilson). The designer’s former muse then tries to save the brand, which a competitor (Carole Bouquet) is trying to acquire. The 10 episodes are directed by Fabrice Gobert (The Revenants) and Daniel Grou, aka Podz (19-2), who continues his fine career in France after having directed episodes of Lupine.
On Apple TV+, from September 20

Disclaimer

On paper, this seven-episode miniseries is mouth-watering. Written, directed and produced by Alfonso Cuarón (Rome), it tells the story of a famous investigative journalist, played by Cate Blanchett, who receives a novel from an anonymous author, which exposes her most terrible secrets. Distraught, she will try to discover the true identity of the writer before he destroys her life. Adapted from the bestseller by the American author Renée Knight, published in 2015, the psychological thriller Revealed also stars Kevin Kline, Sacha Baron Cohen and Lesley Manville.
On Apple TV+, from October 11

The Diplomat

We devoured the first season of The Diplomat in a matter of days, in the spring of 2023. Nearly a year and a half later, the sequel is finally here. Given the twists and turns of the last episode, it’s safe to say it’s about time! The most recent series from writer and producer Debora Cahn (The West Wing, Homeland), The diplomat follows the journey of Kate Wyler (Keri Russell), the new US ambassador to the United Kingdom, who takes up her post in the midst of an international and marital crisis. A few well-known actors join the cast of the drama, including Allison Janney, who will play the American vice president.
On Netflix, from October 31

Senna

Formula 1 fans already know what they’ll be doing when the 2024 season concludes at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in early December: they’ll be weaning themselves off the show with this miniseries that chronicles the career of legendary racing driver Ayrton Senna. The six episodes promise to reveal unsuspected facets of the Brazilian champion, who died in mid-race in May 1994 when his Williams car hit a concrete wall at 300 km/h in Imola, Italy. Vicente Amorim and Julia Rezende are directing the series, which Senna’s family has given their consent to.
On Netflix, from November 29

Star Wars: Skeleton Crew

Disney continues to exploit the Star Wars universe. Three months later Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxya new brick edition from the world imagined by George Lucas, the American giant offers Star Wars: Skeleton Squad. In this first season, four young people are accidentally propelled into a journey through the galaxy far, far away. With Jude Law, Ravi Cabot-Conyers and Ryan Kiera Armstrong. On the directors’ side, we note the presence of Jon Watts and Bryce Dallas Howard. Attention those interested: the second season ofAndoranother spin-off series from Star Warswill be released in 2025.
On Disney+, from December 3