France TV orders adaptation of Marcel Aymé’s 1943 short story

France Télévisions has greenlit an adaptation of a short story from Marcel Aymé that was first published in 1943.

Passe-Muraille (The Man Who Walked Through Walls) is being produced by Banijay France’s Marathon Studio and Terence Films for France TV.

The six-part drama, already in-production, has been adapted by Mathieu Missoffe and Julien Gallet, and is directed by Kasia Adamik (Kabul).

The contemporary remake of the 83-year-old story follows a 28-year-old man wasting away in a dehumanising telemarketing job.

When he discovers he has the ability to walk through walls, he believes his luck has finally turned but before he gets a chance to use his power, he witnesses the murder of his older brother.

Forced to set aside his dreams, he has no choice but to use his ability to uncover the truth behind his brother’s death, and perhaps, uncover the truth about himself.

The series will be distributed internationally by Banijay Rights and marks the latest screen adaptation of the short story, which has spawned numerous films including a 2016 TV version from Dante Desarthe.

Malika Abdellaoui, founder and producer at Marathon Studio, said Missoffe had “created a modern and original reinterpretation” of Ayme’s short story.

“Our ambition is to anchor this fantastic fable in the present day, while exploring the invisible walls that shape our lives, whether social, professional, or psychological,” Abdellaoui said. ”France Télévisions is the ideal co-production partner to bring this premium series to a wide audience, and to support Kasia Adamik’s vision as it navigates questions of identity, purpose, and control in today’s world.”

Adamik described Passe-Muraille as featuring “arguably the first superhero in French literature” and said the series would “blend thriller, action, and fantasy into a contemporary story.”

Marathon was launched in 2021, while Terence Films is led by Bertrand Cohen and Stéphane Meunier, and counts thriller Rivière-Perdue, the French adaptation of La Caza, and Monteperdido for TF1, among its series.