24/12/2019 - Nicolas Bedos is shooting the 3rd chapter of his secret agent’s satirical adventures, a Mandarin production sold by Gaumont and starring Jean Dujardin, now flanked by Pierre Niney

The first round of filming has wrapped on OSS 117: From Africa With Love [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Nicolas Bedos, following a Parisian film shoot spanning 15 November - 20 December. The team will return to work on 20 January, in Kenya, with Jean Dujardin leading the cast (crowned Best Actor in Cannes in 2011 and awarded the 2012 Best Actor Oscar for The Artist [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Michel Hazanavicius
film profile], nominated in the same category at the 2007 and 2012 Césars, at his absolute best in this year’s Deerskin [+see also:
film review
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interview: Quentin Dupieux
film profile] and nominated Best Actor at the 2020 Lumières Awards for An Officer and a Spy [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]) and stepping back into the offbeat and satirical shoes of secret agent Hubert Bonisseur de la Bath for the third time, following on from OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (2.3 million admissions in France in 2006; four César nominations in 2007 and one victory in the category of set design) and OSS 117: Lost in Rio [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (2.5 million viewers in France in 2009 and two César nominations in 2010). Taking up the reins from Michel Hazanavicius, who directed the first two works, this is Nicolas Bedos’ third feature film following on from Mr and Mrs Adelman [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (two César nominations in 2018, notably in the category of Best First Film) and La Belle Époque [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Nicolas Bedos
film profile] (presented out of competition in Cannes, already earning itself three nominations at the 2020 Lumières Awards and clocking up over 1.2 million admissions in France).

Also shining bright among the cast is Pierre Niney (Best Actor César 2015 for Yves Saint Laurent [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Jalil Lespert
film profile] and nominated in 2017 for Frantz [+see also:
film review
trailer
Q&A: François Ozon
film profile]; hitting cinemas next year in Lisa Redler), with Wladimir Yordanoff (An Officer and a Spy, Poliss [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Maïwenn
film profile]) and Fatou N’Diaye (Angel [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Koen Mortier
film profile], A Sunday in Kigali) likewise on board.

The script, written by Jean-François Halin (nominated for the 2007 Best Screenplay César courtesy of OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies) and once again based upon the character inhabiting Jean Bruce’s novels, is set in Africa in the 1980s, but the production team are keeping the finer details of the plot under wraps for the time being.

Produced by Éric and Nicolas Altmayer on behalf of Mandarin Production, OSS 117: From Africa With Love is co-produced by M6 Films and Gaumont (who will also distribute the film in France as of 3 February 2021, as well as heading up international sales). The feature film has been pre-purchased by M6 and Canal+, with cinematography in the hands of Laurent Tangy (nominated in his category at the 2018 Césars for Sink Or Swim [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]).

For the record, Mandarin recently enjoyed box-office success with School Life [+see also:
trailer
interview: Zita Hanrot
film profile] by Grand Corps Malade and Mehdi Idir (1.8 million admissions in France), whilst their post-production slate includes Adeline Picault’s comedy T’as pécho? [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (produced with Scarlett Production and starring Ramzy Bedia in Vincent Macaigne in the cast) and François Ozon’s Summer of 85 (read our article).

(Translated from French)