Mediawan has secured a series of significant licensing agreements for “The Count of Monte Cristo,” an eagerly awaited epic series directed by the esteemed two-time Palme d’Or winner, Bille August.

This visually stunning adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ timeless classic will make its grand debut on the closing night of Canneseries, where it will be showcased out of competition at the Lumière Theatre. The event will feature the presence of August along with key cast members Sam Claflin (“Peaky Blinders”) and Ana Girardot (“The Returned”).

Produced by Palomar and DEMD Productions, both part of Mediawan, “The Count of Monte Cristo” has attracted major broadcasters including PBS Masterpiece in the U.S., UKTV in the U.K., TVE in Spain, RTS in Switzerland, and the Nordic PSB alliance, which encompasses SVT, NRK, DR, YLE, and RUV.

The eight-episode series is also set to air in Eastern European markets, including Poland with TVP, Hungary with TV2, and the Czech Republic with Česká TV. Mediawan is actively negotiating to expand its reach into additional key territories.

In the series, Claflin portrays Edmond Dantes, a 19-year-old sailor wrongfully accused of treason and imprisoned without trial in the grim Château d’If, an island fortress off the coast of Marseille. After enduring years of captivity, he escapes and, adopting the identity of the Count of Monte Cristo, seeks vengeance against those who betrayed him.

“The Count of Monte Cristo” has already premiered in Italy, where it shattered rating records. On Rai1, the miniseries captivated nearly 6 million viewers, achieving a remarkable 30.5% market share. Mediawan reported that these ratings marked the broadcaster’s highest performance in that time slot over the past three years.

The series was commissioned by France Télévisions in France and RAI in Italy, with worldwide distribution handled by Mediawan Rights in collaboration with CAA for North America and Entourage Ventures.

Valérie Vleeschhouwer, Managing Director of Mediawan Rights, emphasized that the show’s global appeal highlights Mediawan Rights’ ongoing commitment to nurturing top talent and premier intellectual properties.

Vleeschhouwer noted that “The Count of Monte Cristo” addresses the “demands of a dynamic global market” for “high-quality premium content.”

Nicola Serra, CEO of Palomar, commended the series’ “wonderful talents,” stating, “Their incredible work has transformed this show into a global event for audiences everywhere. We hope viewers will enjoy it as much as we enjoyed creating it.”

August, the acclaimed Danish filmmaker known for works like “Pelle the Conqueror,” “The Best Intentions,” and “Les Misérables,” filmed the series on location across Europe over a span of five months.

“The Count of Monte Cristo” marks the first international series of its kind to be fully produced and distributed by Mediawan, with financing support from Entourage.