BBC Acquires Ambitious French Sci-Fi Series ‘The Sentinels’
The BBC has acquired the eight-part French drama The Sentinels from Studiocanal. This series merges elements of war drama and science fiction, drawing inspiration from the graphic novels Les Sentinelles by Xavier Dorison and Enrique Breccia, and presents an alternate narrative of World War I.
The storyline follows Gabriel Ferraud, a severely injured soldier who is recruited into a clandestine French military initiative aimed at developing super-soldiers. After receiving an injection of a mysterious serum, Ferraud gains extraordinary abilities, including enhanced strength, speed, and resilience. He subsequently joins an elite unit known as the Sentinels, but as the war escalates, he uncovers a chilling truth that could change the course of the conflict.
Louis Peres stars as Ferraud, joined by Thibaut Evrard, Kacey Mottet-Klein, Carl Malapa, Olivia Ross, and Ouassini Embarek.
Produced by Federation Studio France and Espirits Frappeurs, The Sentinels was originally created for Canal+. The series is directed by Thierry Poiraud and Édouard Salier, with Lionel Uzan and Thierry Sorel producing for Federation, alongside Delphine Clot and Guillaume Lemans for Espirits Frappeurs.
Nick Lee, Head of BBC Programme Acquisitions, described the series as “a fully immersive war drama, drenched in adrenaline.” He praised the adaptation of the graphic novel, highlighting its “blend of steampunk meets RoboCop.” Lee emphasized the show’s depth and emotional resonance, stating, “Prepare for something totally different and unforgivingly entertaining.”
The show premiered with a simultaneous release on Canal+ in over 30 countries in Europe, Africa, and Asia last year, marking the company’s first multi-continental launch. It has since aired in various regions, including Australia, Belgium, Germany, Canada, Denmark, Greece, Portugal, Spain, and Turkey.
In the UK, The Sentinels is set to be available on iPlayer and BBC Four later this year.
