Assault On Precinct 13 helmer Jean-François Richet just recently saw a thrilling foray with Mel Gibson pic, Blood Father, and is now back on track after filming is latest period venture, The Emperor Of Paris. Richet pens the script witn Eric Besnard in reunion with his Mesrine leading man, actor Vincent Cassel of The Brotherhood Of The Wolf and The Crimson Rivers fame who here stars in the title role based on the real-life legendary ex-con-turned-sleuth in his latest screen iteration following treatments in 1939 and 2001.
At the height of Napoleon’s reign, Vidocq – the only man who successfully broke out of prison 27 times – is a legend. Left for dead after his latest, dazzling escape, the ex-con is lying low as a modest cloth merchant. When his past catches up with him, he is framed by former cellmates for a murder he didn’t commit. To prove his innocence and his good faith, he makes a deal with the police: In exchange for his freedom, he will hunt down all the thieves and murderers on the streets of Paris. From convict to sheriff… Vidocq becomes, without intending to, the Emperor of Paris.
Olga Kurylenko, Freya Mavor, August Diehl, Denis Ménochet and James Thiérrée are among those rounding out the cast for the film which has since nabbed multiple territories amid sales at the American Film Market. Gaumont, who reps worldwide rights, is distributing the film in French cinemas on December 19.
