What is Nautilus, the new France 2 series based on Jules Verne?

Inspired by the novel Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, the story focuses on the famous Captain Nemo, played by Shazad Latif.

It's a series that has weathered the storms to reach its destination… Nautilus arrives tonight in the clear, on France 2, for five evenings (2 episodes each week, the entirety is already online on France .Tv). However, originally, it was Disney+ who had ordered this new adaptation of Jules Verne and his 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Except that the streamer decided not to broadcast it, even though filming (which took place in 2022) was finished.

In extremisthe project was saved from the waters by the American channel AMC. In the United States, it therefore benefited from broadcasting on the cable channel, which sold the rights in France to France Télévisions, which will thus offer Nautilus free of charge to viewers disappointed by the end of the Olympics, in the form of a summer saga that will continue until the start of the school year. So what is it about Nautilus ?

Adapted from the 1869 novel, the series takes its name from the very famous submarine belonging to Captain Nemo, hero of the adventures of Nautilus. Indian prince deprived of his throne and his family, Nemo manages to escape from the East India Company, on which he wants revenge. To do this, he steals a submarine and recruits a team made up of multiple prisoners. His goal: to reach the legendary Viking treasure buried in the pillars of Halvar. The story will be told for the first time from his point of view.

The first visual unveiled by the platform reveals Jules Verne's monsters, his universe on the edge of steampunk and lush nature.

In the role of the intrepid Captain, we find Shazad Latif (Penny Dreadful). At his side, sail Georgia Flood (Apples Never Fall), Thierry Fremont (Traveling forward, The Barbarian Weddings), Pacharo Mzembe (Love and Monsters), Arlo Green, Tyrone Ngatai, Ling Cooper Tang (Monolith), Andrew Shaw, Ashan Kumar, Celine Menville and Kayden Price. As well as Anna Torv and Richard E. Grant in guests.

Jules Verne's rich work has been the subject of numerous adaptations over the years. In cinema, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea was adapted in 1954 with Kirk Douglas and James Mason as Captain Nemo. Nine years later, the actor returned in the adaptation of another of the author's novels, Journey to the Center of the Earth. Note also that in parallel with the Nautilus, Arte is banking on a mini-series taken from its Around the world in 80 daysstarring Pierce Brosnan as Phileas Fogg.

Even David Fincher was seduced by Jules Verne and had the titanic project of adapting Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. During his visit to Paris for a masterclass organized by the Cinémathèque française, the latter confirmed that his project had indeed been abandoned, but kept under wraps by Disney with James Mangold. But since 2016 and Fincher's withdrawal following artistic differences with the production, it's been radio silence.

Nautilus is written and produced by James Dormer with Joanna Devereaux, Chris Loveall and Cameron Walsh.