If you like narrative storytelling of any kind, either in movies or TV, chances are you’re a fan of writer/director/creator Scott Frank (screenwriter of “Minority Report,” “Get Shorty”), whether you know it or not. Frank had success in movies—he’s a two-time Oscar nominee for writing “Out of Sight” (1998) and “Logan”— and earned the respect of peers like Steven Soderbergh and Tony Gilroy, among many others, but it’s arguably not until Netflix started expanding their movie ideas into series form—which is precisely what Frank did with 2017’s Western “Godless,” that he really started to stretch his wings and shine. After that, Frank wrote, directed, and created “The Queen’s Gambit” (a massive hit for Netflix), and the rest is history. Staying in the TV vein, Frank’s next project is “Monsieur Spade” for AMC and AMC+.
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And if that name rings a bell, yes, it’s a limited series centering around the celebrated private detective Sam Spade, created by writer Dashiell Hammett and came to fame in his 1930 novel “The Maltese Falcon,” which eventually turned into a classic noir film for Humphrey Bogart.
Today, AMC, AMC+, and Acorn TV announced that Frank’s highly-anticipated, limited crime drama, “Monsieur Spade,” is set to premiere on Sunday, January 14.
Starring and executive produced by Golden Globe, SAG, and BAFTA Award-winner Clive Owen (“Closer,” “Children of Men,” “The Knick”) as the hard-boiled private detective Sam Spade, the six-episode drama is co-created, written and executive produced by Emmy Award-winners Scott Frank (“The Queen’s Gambit,” “Logan,” Minority Report”), who also serves as director, and Tom Fontana (“City on a Hill,” “Borgia,” “Oz”).
Additionally, the series announced that Emmy, Golden Globe, and SAG Award-winner Alfre Woodard (“Salem’s Lot,” “The Book of Clarence”) and Dean Winters (“Lost Girls,” “John Wick”) had joined the series as guests stars, portraying Virginia Dell and Father Matthew, respectively.
The previously announced cast includes Cara Bossom (“Radioactive”) as Teresa, Denis Ménochet (“Inglorious Basterds”) as Chief of Police Patrice Michaud, Louise Bourgoin (“The Romanoffs”) as Marguerite Devereaux, Chiara Mastroianni (“On a Magical Night”) as Gabrielle, Stanley Weber (“Outlander”) as Jean-Pierre Devereaux, Matthew Beard (“The Imitation Game”) as George Fitzsimmons, Jonathan Zaccaï (Robin Hood) as Philippe Saint-Andre and Rebecca Root (“The Queen’s Gambit”) as Cynthia Fitzsimmons.
And yes, all those French names should be a clue: the entire series was shot on location in France, where the series is set.
Here’s the official synopsis:
Monsieur Spade centers around the infamous protagonist of American writer Dashiell Hammett’s 1930 classic novel The Maltese Falcon. The year is 1963, and the legendary Detective Sam Spade (Owen) is enjoying his retirement in the South of France. By contrast to his days as a private eye in San Francisco, Spade’s life in Bozouls is peaceful and quiet. But the rumored return of his old adversary will change everything. Six beloved nuns have been brutally murdered at the local convent. As the town grieves, secrets emerge, and new leads are established. Spade learns that the murders are somehow connected to a mysterious child who is believed to possess great powers.
“Monsieur Spade is co-created, written, and executive produced by Frank, who also serves as director and Fontana. Barry Levinson, Teddy Schwarzman, Michael Heimler, Clive Owen, Caroline Benjo, Barbara Letellier, Simon Arnal, Carole Scotta, Carlo Martinelli, and David Helpern also serve as executive producers.
“Monsieur Spade” arrives on January 14. Watch the new trailer below.