Jules Verne’s work continues to be a source of inspiration, as evidenced by the new series from his classic “Around the World in 80 Days”. Broadcast on France 2, the program features David Tennant in the lead role.
Around the world in 80 days, a classic signed Jules Verne
You know the famous expression with the old jars and the best jam. It is sometimes true, since it is not necessary to invent original adventure stories when you can rely on the writings of a luminary like Jules Verne. The author has left his mark in the world of literature with immense works. 20,000 places under the sea, obviously, but we must also quote Around the world in 80 days. A story that has already undergone some adaptations, without being wrung out by cinema or television.
It is precisely on the small screen that a new variation presents itself to us, with a co-production set up between France, Germany and Italy. Filmed in English, the series experienced some difficulties during its shooting due to the pandemic, but it is finally able to reach us via broadcast on France 2 on December 20.
A classic to rediscover, with some new features
The program concocted by Around the world in 80 days already says everything just with its title. Indeed, it is about Phileas Fogg, a Briton with an affluent lifestyle who is used to frequenting the very select Reform Club. It is in this place, taken by a surge of vanity, thathe made a bet with other men to go around the world in 80 days. A feat in which no one believes except him. He then embarked on this great adventure around the globe, helped by his servant Jean Passepartout and, in the series, by Abigail Fix.
This latter character has been reworked from the original novel sincehe becomes a journalist while it is normally a policeman who tracks Phileas throughout his journey. A difference which should not be the only one, even if we imagine that the series will above all preserve the spirit of Jules Verne by offering a story that shows us the country.
A Doctor Who headlining
It was David Tennant, known to have been one of the Doctor Who, who was chosen for the lead role. A always reliable actor, who is here accompanied by the Frenchy Ibrahim Koma in the role of Passepartout and by the German Leonie Benesch in Abigail Fix. Around the world in 80 days is a story rooted in an era that goes through the industrial revolution, with the appearance of different means of locomotion. If it is easy today to travel, it was not the case in the second part of the 1800s. So get ready to see our heroes spinning in France, in Asia or even in India.
