The debate over an AI “actress” is raging, but Lupin and Narcos studio Gaumont is taking a measured take on the controversial medium as the world’s oldest studio turns a venerable 130 this year.
Nicolas Atlan, Gaumont’s L.A.-based President of U.S. and the colorfully titled ‘SPLATAM’ (Spain and Latin America), addressed the hot button topic today at Iberseries & Platino Industria in Madrid, Spain, along with giving an update on several new projects and the future of Netflix dramas Narcos and Lupin.
Atlan didn’t talk directly to the furore over Hollywood’s interest in AI actors and actresses, but said: “Of course, we look at it. There are two concerns: We have a big catalog, so the copyright and the IP is a concern, and we are very careful.
“At the same time, we see it as a tool. For animation, it’s going to be a big tool. In production, it is going to be a very important tool, too, so it’s how to use the technology to tell stories that travel all around the world.”
The industry is alight with debate over Tilly Norwood, the AI actress created by comedian technologist Eline Van der Velden. Over the weekend, Deadline reported several talent agencies were circling Norwood.
Back in Madrid, Atlan announced Celine Dion, Omar Sy, Benjamin Lavernhe, Antoine de Caunes, Clémence Poésy, Pom Klementieff and Alain Chabat for the French-language voice cast of Paul McCartney’s animated film High in the Clouds.
Adapted from McCartney’s eponymous 2005 children’s book, the 3D animated family film follows the adventures of a teenager squirrel called Wirral who accidentally sparks a revolution against Gretsch, the bossy diva-owl who has banned all music from his town.
Atlan, who comes from an animation background, noted McCartney had created eight original songs for the film, which is in “in the middle” of production. Himesh Patel and Hannah Waddington lead the English-language version, with McCartney and fellow Beatle Ringo Starr also contributing.
Atlan was standing in for Sidonie Dumas, the Gaumont CEO, who had been scheduled to speak but was kept away by what Atlan called a “work problem.”
The company is best known for the likes of Netflix dramas Lupin and Narcos, and is also producing upcoming Aimee Lou Wood BBC series Film Club out of the UK. Gaumont is celebrating its 130th birthday this year, which makes it the oldest production studio in the world.
Future of ‘Narcos’
Atlan was quizzed on Narcos, which turns ten years old in 2025. Reflecting on its impact, he said: “It put us on the map in the U.S., for sure. “It opened a new way of watching TV, even though buyers are still afraid of doing another show in another language.”
Asked if he had news on the the Latin American drug-crime drama, which has run seasons set in Colombia and Mexico, Atlan said: “I wish. We’re working on different approaches for Narcos. It is [whether] there is appetite from Netflix or not, or can we do it with someone else? We don’t know yet, but we for sure are looking at different approaches.”
Similarly, there was no concrete update on the future of Netflix’s other Gaumont hit, Lupin, which has just wrapped shooting on Season 4 in France. “We just finished this one,” said Atlan.
Gaumont has announced a string of new projects this week, and Atlan noted Gaumont had “finished shooting in Mexico” on Netflix’s soccer world cup feature Mexico ’86. It stars Diego Luna and is written and directed by Gabriel Ripstein. Other new projects include two with Kate del Castillo, Point Blank and La Chef. The former is an action thriller from Alexandro Aldrete directed by Salvador Espinosa, while La Chef is a buddy comedy from U.S. actress Emma Ramos.
Gaumont is also working on a Spanish-language adaptation of Gaumont Germany’s Die Wespe, which ran to three seasons on Sky Deutschland before the pay-TV giant pulled out of original commissioning. The show had been planned for another two seasons. Elsewhere, Gaumont USA is co-producing Me Engana Que Eu Gosto with Brazil’s Coiote and working on D_LUX through a partnership with Brazilian VOD player Globoplay and production houses Ventre Conspiraçao.
Gaumont’s latest series, Apple TV+ thriller drama The Hunt, last week unveiled a first look. Known in France as Traqués (fka A L’Ombre des Forêts) comes from César-nominated director Cédric Anger, who is creator and director, and stars Benoît Megimel and Mélanie Laurent.
Atlan also addressed the filmmaking culture at Gaumont, which he categorically said was still driven by content, rather than technology. “When I arrived at Gaumont animation, I was trying to explain what we could do with this budget or that,” he recalled. What I loved is Sidonie always said, ‘Great, but what’s the story? If people want to come to us the main thing is going to be the story and what’s behind it.”
He added that Dumas stressed to her staff that Gaunmont is build on “130 years of emotion,” but added, “Even though we’re 130 years old, she doesn’t want us to live in nostalgia.”
Iberseries began this morning at the Matadero complex in Madrid, Spain. Commissioners from the likes of Disney+ and HBO Max are scheduled to speak, along with names such as Silicon Valley co-creator John Altschuler.
The post Gaumont US Chief Addresses AI Concerns And Updates On Paul McCartney Animation, ‘Narcos’ & ‘Lupin’ – Iberseries appeared first on Deadline.
