Can we imagine a world without Johnny Hallyday? This is the question posed by the film “Jean-Philippe”, for which the singer decided to play his own role. A gently fantastic comedy in which Fabrice Luchini did not want to participate.
Jean Philippe : the possibility of a world without Johnny
Many years before Danny Boyle made the Beatles disappear in Yesterdaythe film Jean Philippe had the same concept based on one of the biggest French-speaking stars : Johnny Hallyday. The title refers to his real first name and follows one of his many fans. We know that a huge community has been forged around the singer – his death proved it again with great and moving mobilization.
Shortly before, it was Claude François who was celebrated in Podium with Benoît Poelvoorde who, in the film by Yann Moix released in 2004, wanted to become the best double of the icon of the 70’s – the actor will also resume his role in a short scene of the film on Johnny.
The hero of Jean Philippe is Fabrice (Fabrice Luchini), an average man who likes to collect products derived from his idol. During an evening in a bar, he chains the glasses and ends up in a bad state. Completely drunk, he is attacked by a man who hits him. Transported to the hospital, he wakes up in a world where Jean-Philippe Smet never became Johnny Hallyday!
When Fabrice Luchini revives “Le Taulier”
Fabrice does not understand how this famous rocker does not exist. He does not want to live in these conditions and therefore sets out to find Jean-Philippe Smet. It appears that the man exists but is the boss of a bowling alley who could have turned out in the music if he hadn’t had a motorcycle accident before his appearance on the show Paris Cocktails (the turning point of his career). Fabrice will fight to try to recognize the talent of Jean-Philippe and that everyone can finally enjoy Johnny Hallyday.
Johnny Hallyday is mainly known for his prowess on the microphone, but he was also tempted by passages on the big screen. We have seen it several times in different genres, but the synopsis of Jean Philippe offers him a unique experience, because it really is about who he is. An interesting idea, allowing him to share the poster with Fabrice Luchini. The two met in the 80s, during the filming of family council, a film directed by Costa-Gavras. Together they have a pronounced taste for music and are quick to forge ties.
Fabrice Luchini reluctant
This project would therefore be a kind of consecration for their friendship. Except that Fabrice Luchini is not very thrilled at first sight when the script for the film arrives in his hands. He does not understand how one can imagine a world without the singer and is not very comfortable with the fantastic side of the film. Johnny Hallyday sees it as the ideal actor to play this fan role and will be very happy to learn his involvement after a period of reflection. The actor’s entourage – in particular his wife – will have made him want to accept.
If he had fun imitating him in the private sphere or to make the gallery laugh, Fabrice Luchini confronts the myth more than ever in the context of a film. There was a way to explore their own friendship and a respective admiration, which is felt on the screen with a real chemistry between them. Johnny had not been mistaken in imagining him in this role. No one is able to know what would have given Jean Philippe with another actor but this casting choice has everything implacably obvious.
