Sci-fi comedy from 'Amelie' director among French projects coming from Netflix

50 Cent has denied having a run-in with French Montana.

Fledgling French podcast studio Paradiso is expanding to the U.S. and has tapped L.A.-based executive Emi Norris to develop a slate of original narrative podcasts, as well as adapt Paradiso’s hit formats for the U.S. and other English-speaking markets. Paradiso is Europe’s first podcast studio to expand to U.S. soil.

It’s been two months since French Montana was rushed to the hospital with cardiac issues, and it looks like his heart is no longer broken. The “Unforgettable” rapper, 35, was spotted sharing some intimate PDA with model Anel Peralta Luciano, 32, as they walked through the Miami airport with huge smiles on their faces.

Franqi French — Photo: Nicholas Karlin

Canal Plus Group is joining forces with Netflix for the first time on an original series with “On The Verge,” a daring L.A.-set comedy created by Julie Delpy, Variety has learned.

Wes Anderson’s star-studded comedic drama “The French Dispatch” will debut in theaters on July 24, Searchlight Pictures announced Wednesday.

Glossy, chirpy and colorful, Netflix’s “Next in Fashion” — debuting Jan. 29 — is one of two new entrants to the televised fashion design competition arena this year. The 10-episode series, hosted by “Queer Eye’s” Tan France and presenter and designer Alexa Chung, also marks Netflix’s first venture into a category that for years has been dominated by “Project Runway.”

Ladj Ly’s Oscar-nominated drama “Les Miserables” won best film, male newcomer and script at the Lumières Awards, the French prizes given by Paris-based members of the foreign press. This 25th edition of the awards was presided over by French actress Isabelle Huppert.

After opening its doors in Paris last week, Netflix is setting up an office in Rome, Variety can reveal.

Tan France and Alexa Chung have revealed that presiding over the aspirations of designers in their new Netflix fashion competition show was difficult.

By Nellie Andreeva, Denise Petski

A mix of comedies such as Isabelle Huppert starrer “Mama Weed” (pictured) and Michaël Youn’s “Divorce Club,” and director-driven titles like Claus Drexel’s “Under The Stars of Paris” were among the most buzzed-about market premieres of the UniFrance Rendez-Vous with French Cinema. The five-day showcase kicked off Jan. 17 with the world premiere of Martin Provost’s “How To Be A Good Wife” with Juliette Binoche” and wrapped Monday.

After delivering two of the highest-grossing French films of last year, Alain Attal’s Paris-based production company Tresor Films (“Sink or Swim,” “Little White Lies 2”) is kicking off 2020 with its most ambitious project yet, Guillaume Canet’s “Asterix & Obelix: The Silk Road.”

Netflix continued to make strides in its European expansion on Thursday, unveiling a swanky multi-floor Paris office and announcing 20 new French shows and movies in the pipeline.

Jan Kounen’s comedy “My Cousin,” starring Vincent Lindon and François Damiens, will be one of the biggest French releases of the year. The film screens Friday at the Unifrance Rendez-Vous in Paris. In an exclusive interview with Variety, he talks about his key motivations for the project.

French director Christophe Ruggia, who was accused in November by the actress Adele Haenel of having sexually harassed her from the age of 12, has been indicted by French authorities after being held in custody for 48 hours, Variety has confirmed.

Ever since France revised its tax rebate for international productions in 2016, local authorities have embarked on a full-court push to attract Chinese projects. In 2019, that campaign saw its most successful expression to date with the arrival of Middle Kingdom mega-production, “The Hunting.”

David Glasser's 101 Studios has acquired the U.S. rights to director Nicolas Bedos' La Belle Epoque, which bowed in Cannes.The French farce stars Daniel Auteuil, Guillaume Canet, Dora Tillier, Fanny Ardant, and Pierre Arditi and is slated for a spring 2020 domestic theatrical release."We were struck by Nicolas' touching yet sharp-minded take on a romantic comedy and the impeccable performance given by Daniel Auteuil, who continues to be a tenacious force in French cinema.