Turning a blockbuster action franchise into a thrilling television series is a big job, and the producers of Paris Has Fallen set themselves a high bar. “One of the rules we had,” says series creator and screenwriter Howard Overman, “was it should feel more real than the movies”.
Talking to Overman and series producers Johnny Caps and Julian Murphy via Zoom, it’s clear they knew they had a big job expanding on the legacy of the Has Fallen films. In three movies (so far), Gerard Butler has saved world leaders and gunned down terrorists in a variety of global settings. Without Butler but with an all-new city to save, they knew they couldn’t skimp on the action.
“The key thing for us was that in the eight episodes that each week, we had a brilliant kind of mini movie,” says Caps. “Each week, the audience goes on a kind of roller coaster ride of action and thrills. And because we've got a broader canvas than the movies, we were able to explore our characters more as well.”
MI6 agent Zara Taylor (Ritu Arya) and protection officer Vincent Taleb (Tewfik Jallab). Credit: Urban Myth Films / Millenium IP / Canal+ / Simon Ridgway
For Overman (whose other work includes and Misfits), the series had to walk a fine line: deliver the excitement the audience would expect from a Has Fallen series, while still making something that was unique in its own right.
“The biggest challenge for us was to make sure that we had the depth of character to tell a story that lasted over all eight episodes,” he says. “I think we managed to do that with a really sort of dynamic, interesting double act at the centre. One male, one female, one's French, one's British, so from very different backgrounds.
“Introducing those sort of character elements really distinguished the TV show from the movies. To take the best of the genre in terms of action, but also to make it feel more real and more grounded...
“We would go home with our characters, we would tell their personal stories, but we also made sure that their personal stories intertwined with the main plot,” he continues. “Introducing those sort of character elements really distinguished the TV show from the movies. To take the best of the genre in terms of action, but also to make it feel more real and more grounded, that was really our aim.”
With that in mind the producers weren’t overly dismayed when a planned cameo from one of the movie franchise’s stars fell through.
“We did try and get a cameo,” says Murphy. “But unfortunately, because of the actors strike in America, we weren't able to make that happen. But also we wanted this show to stand on its own two feet. If you've never seen the movies, you should come to this show and be able to enjoy them as a standalone piece. And I think if you've seen the movies and you're a fan of that type of a show, you will enjoy them just as much.”
With both main characters more than capable when it comes to personally disposing of the bad guys, Paris Has Fallen required a pair of lead actors able to sell both the action and the drama. And having decent chemistry with each other wouldn’t hurt.
“We were really lucky with our main casting,” says Overman. “They could do both the physical stuff and the emotional stuff. Both Ritu and Tewfik trained extremely hard. Even on days where Ritu wasn't filming, she'd be down rehearsing fights.
MI6 agent Zara Taylor (Ritu Arya) and protection officer Vincent Taleb (Tewfik Jallab). Credit: Urban Myth Films / Millennium IP / Canal+ / Carole Bethuel
“Ritu and Tewfik developed a really nice chemistry,” he adds. “You'd see them sort of bantering and chatting and teasing each other and messing around off camera. And I think if you can translate that sort of comfort with each other and that natural ease and banter on screen, then you've got something that works really nicely.”
The action in Paris Has Fallen is surprisingly hard-edged for a television series. It’s not gory or over-the-top, but there’s a physicality to many of the scenes that makes you feel the impact of each blow.
When asked about the series’ approach to action, Overman says “we didn't want the violence to be too gratuitous and put people off watching, but we wanted it to feel real and impactful. I think we tread a very good line between making it feel thrilling but making it feel real, that was the key.”
“The principle was that the action should feel like it hurts,” adds Murphy. “It should be very close, and the proximity should always be there. And we try to cut as little as possible. That's the principle that makes the action feel more real, and it keeps up the tension. But it's very challenging.”
Fortunately, with Tewfik they found a leading man more than capable of handling the challenge.
Protection officer Vincent Taleb (Tewfik Jallab) trying to exfil French Minister of Defence Philippe Bardin (Nathan Willcocks). Credit: Simon Ridgway
“Tewfik is quite extraordinary,” says Murphy. “There is no moment in the entire series where we doubled him. He's even doing the driving stunts. He's absolutely exceptional. And because he can fight like that, we can run those takes. I think there's a fight in episode one that's probably a minute and a half that never cuts. That's what's giving you that visceral closeness.”
On the other side of things, right from his first appearance Jacob is clearly going to be an extremely formidable opponent. But there’s more to him than just the usual watch-the-world-burn evil – despite some impressive scars that wouldn’t be out of place on a Bond villain.
“We wanted the visual reminder of what was done to him by the politicians” says Overman. “I think that that's really the guiding principle in terms of what we did with the prosthetic, making it feel as real as possible.”
Everyone involved knew that getting the casting right for their antagonist was essential. Enter Sean Harris.
Jacob Pearce (Sean Harris). Credit: Urban Myth Films / Millennium IP / Canal+
“Sean's one of those actors who has very strong opinions about making things feel real,” says Overman. “One of the things that Sean's very keen to do is really drill down into the character, make sure his motivations are consistent. The one thing that Sean will never do is play a cliched villain.”
That desire to go beyond the expected, and to build something that stands apart from the franchise, is a running theme throughout the conversation. “I think with Sean’s performance, that's what we were always trying to do in this show,” says Overman. “The action should be thrilling and appealing but there should be a level of character depth and story which lifts it to another dimension.”
So what did they end up creating? “It’s a sort of chess game where our guys are battling this villain and are trying to move and counter move constantly throughout the series. I think the audience will get a real thrill from watching that play out over the eight episodes."
By the climax,” he adds, “I think we see Paris as we've never seen it before.”
Stream free On Demand
Paris Has Fallen
series • action • French
MA15+
series • action • French
MA15+
MORE GRIPPING DRAMA
Jeff Bridges brings gravitas and pathos to spy thriller 'The Old Man'
