How did Zorro return to the screen?
Jean Dujardin: “It was my brother Marc’s company, Collectif 64, which obtained the rights. He then contacted Benjamin Charbit and Noé Debré to direct the series, and make it a story with adventure, stunts and humor, a bit like in the 1960s and the series that we all saw being kids, but by modernizing the style, obviously. It was only once the writing of the episodes began that I was introduced to this project. I obviously said yes because what I read was clever, and offered a contemporary rereading of Zorro and his universe. »
Was this update necessary?
Grégory Gadebois: ” Yes. When I read the script, of course I laughed. But what hooked me were these “clever little things” behind the jokes. What it says about social struggle, life as a couple, double identity… It is these modern reflections that give meaning to this story of Zorro. And even if the characters remain the same, by adapting them, we renew them and give them meaning again. »
Speaking of the characters, we discover a Don Diego de la Vega reluctant to become Zorro again. For what ?
Jean Dujardin: “Because Zorro is everything Don Diego hates. Zorro is the easy choice, while Don Diego has been struggling for years to rebuild his city, for his couple. He is a frustrated man who only manages to express himself through his alter ego. »
Furthermore, we discover a Sergeant (Garcia, but for legal reasons, the name is never pronounced, Editor's note) much smarter than before…
Grégory Gadebois: “And this is his great tragedy: he has become almost too intelligent for himself. In the story, he is 99% right about Zorro, but the remaining one percent refuses to make the connection between Don Diego and Zorro. This is obviously where the comic sense of the character lies. »
Zorro and the Sergeant remain characters from many people's childhoods, including yours. What is the effect of playing these figures that everyone knows?
Jean Dujardin: “This is where I regret, at 52, no longer having the same virginity of spirit as at 8 years old. I am now corrupted by life. But when I do a sword fight, a horse race, I find a childish part of myself. It’s also for these moments that we do this job. »
Grégory Gadebois: “And then Jean had a disadvantage compared to us, which was that he was Zorro, while we played with Zorro. We were playing with our childhood hero. It was almost more fun for us! (laughs) »
The series was filmed in Spain in natural settings. Did that make sense?
Jean Dujardin: “Obviously, because it brings the feeling of grandeur and adventure. This is what allows the series to avoid being comical. Even if what we shot is funny, it has to remain funny. Zorro above all. »
Zorro with Jean Dujardin, Audrey Dana, André Dussollier, Eric Elmosnino, Grégory Gadebois, and Salvatore Ficarra. Broadcast on Mondays, December 23 and 30 on France 2, at 9:10 p.m. Episodes available online and free on France.tv until January 29. Series also visible on Paramount +.
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