This is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated French projects to arrive: Jean Dujardin becomes Zorro for Paramount+ and France Télévisions.
The “horseman who emerges out of the night » is back this year with two projects. In addition to the Spanish series broadcast on Prime and W9, there is of course this Zorro with Jean Dujardin, which is the event of this new school year with its broadcast on Paramount+ (and France Télévisions later in the season).
You’re bound to hear about it and since we were lucky enough to see it, we’ll tell you what we think… and it’s probably not what you would have imagined.
The essentials
In 1821, Don Diego de la Vega becomes mayor of his beloved city of Los Angeles, which he intends to make prosperous. However, the municipality is facing financial problems due to the greed of a local businessman, Don Emmanuel. And in the face of injustice, the mayor’s powers prove insufficient… Diego has not called upon his double Zorro for 20 years. But in the name of the general interest, he has no choice but to take out his mask and his sword. Very quickly, Diego will encounter difficulties in reconciling his dual identity as Zorro and mayor, which puts a strain on his marriage with Gabriella, who is unaware of his secret. Will Diego be able to save his marriage and his sanity in the midst of chaos?
Bringing such an iconic pop culture character back to life was a challenge and it required a team capable of taking on the mission. Between Benjamin Charbit (Under ControlGagarin, Notre Dame, The Savages, In Liberty) and Noé Debré (Parlement, Stillwater, Dheepan) to creation, and talented directors like Jean-Baptiste Saurel (Parallels) and Emilie Noblet (Bis Repetita, Parliament, The 7 Lives of Léa), the series was on the best track. The latter even called on its composer Julie Roué to bring to life the spirited and superb music of the credits in particular for which she perfectly knew the legacy of the great TV credits. If we add its wild casting (Jean Dujardin in the lead), Zorro has everything to seduce. Yes, but it’s more complicated than that!
We like
Zorro is a beautiful series. On every level! From the costumes to the photography, visually, this new iteration of the masked avenger is truly sublime. The wide open spaces, day and night, are remarkably staged; the sets are particularly neat and the actors are enhanced by successful costumes – including Zorro’s outfit, this version of the character preferring to opt for a classic approach (when the Spanish series chose to modernize it).
Similarly, in a series (or a movie) that makes sword fighting the climax of the stories, it is important not to miss the same in images. Not only do the directors brilliantly accompany the hero’s sword fights, but these fights are perfectly choreographed, giving a lot of scope to each scene of the series.
Another positive point, Dujardin’s choice to camp is absolutely perfect. Classy and with the charm of these old-school actors (he has a little Errol Flynn side here in the series), Jean Dujardin slips wonderfully into the boots of the “fox”, even resembling Guy Williams (Disney’s Zorro) when he is masked, from whom he has copied both the dazzling smile and the gestures during the fights. It is even a contribution of Jean Dujardin himself to the character as Benjamin Charbit explains to us, (co-creator of the series (in an interview to be discovered soon). It is difficult to imagine a better choice than the actor for this role. We even remember that Eric Judor had this same idea in an episode of Plane treeThere are few actors in France who would have been able to represent Zorro so well.
Finally, treating this iconic character as a vigilante in a superhero story is also a very nice idea. There is a little side Batman taking up the cape years later in his interpretation. The series also deals with the doubts about the decision to resume the fight, the questions of Diego who wants to be recognized for what he is, and not for the hero he represents. Whether in the eyes of the inhabitants of Los Angeles but also and especially in the eyes of his wife who rediscovers the passion of the beginnings in the arms of her alter-ego.
We don’t like
Despite a sublime visual result and an interesting treatment of certain characters (like Sergeant Garcia who became an outstanding profiler), it is rather a real feeling of disappointment that animates us after having seen the series. If Zorro really has panache, Diego is particularly badly treated. As we said earlier, seeing him torn between the desire to resume the fight and that of aspiring to something else is perfectly understandable, but seeing him often pass for an idiot more often than he should, distorts a character who feigned a lack of courage to, like Superman, hide his identity. But as we see in an episode where he attacks a casino, it is no longer with desire, it is even with the brakes on the four irons that he throws himself into battle. Worse, he only thinks of one thing: saving his marriage. Dramatic spring of an episode why not, of a season it is too much and it drags too often. The same goes for his wife (Audrey Dana) who also swoons too often in front of this hero. All the more unfortunate since a real modernity has been brought to the character for the one who could be his “Robin”, a bit like Catherine Zeta-Jones in Banderas’ Zorro.
But it is much more broadly the overall treatment too comedy oriented which takes us completely out of the story. If there has always been lightness in the Zorro series, often aimed at a family audience, lightness does not necessarily mean not taking anything seriously. An aspect of the series that had caught our attention from the trailer with a very “OSS” side in the treatment of the character of Diego, with a series of labored and overly insistent jokes. As if the main subject – really interesting – was never really taken seriously. A problem that we often encounter in French fiction when the subject aims to seize an unusual register.
The series therefore starts off on a good footing, but the whole thing quickly goes “Pschitt” by laughing at all the situations too often. This can be felt, for example, when Diego puts the costume back on and mentions the fact that he doesn’t fit in it as well; or when, faced with Bernardo who has become like Bond’s Q, he tries out a new weapon that is half sword, half whip, too cartoonish to be taken seriously. When all it would have taken to give the series a little Mysteries of the West which would have been more effective. But no, whatever the subject, you have to stay in a kind of French comedy that makes fun of everything. It’s a shame, we would have liked to be more involved in this universe and we regret the construction in “serial to follow” mode of the 1957 series.
Also read: We rediscovered… the first episode of Zorro (vl-media.fr)
The Return of the Masked Avenger: Jean Dujardin Shines as Zorro in Paramount+ and France Télévisions’ New Series
This year, fans of the iconic masked hero Zorro are in for a treat as two new projects bring the legendary character back to life. While a Spanish series is currently airing on Prime and W9, French fans are eagerly anticipating the arrival of Jean Dujardin as Zorro on Paramount+ and France Télévisions. As one of the most anticipated French projects of the year, this new iteration of Zorro promises to deliver a fresh take on the beloved character.
The Essentials
In 1821, Don Diego de la Vega, played by Jean Dujardin, becomes the mayor of Los Angeles, determined to bring prosperity to his beloved city. However, the municipality is facing financial woes due to the greed of local businessman Don Emmanuel. As injustice prevails, Diego is forced to dust off his Zorro persona, which he had put away 20 years prior. As Zorro, he must navigate the challenges of his dual identity, all while keeping his secret from his wife Gabriella. Will Diego be able to save his marriage and his sanity amidst the chaos?
A Dream Team Behind the Scenes
Bringinging Zorro back to life required a talented team of creators, including Benjamin Charbit (Under Control, Notre Dame, The Savages, In Liberty) and Noé Debré (Parlement, Stillwater, Dheepan). Directors Jean-Baptiste Saurel (Parallels) and Emilie Noblet (Bis Repetita, Parliament, The 7 Lives of Léa) bring their expertise to the series, while composer Julie Roué crafts a spirited and superb score. With a stellar cast, including Jean Dujardin in the lead, Zorro has all
