Cozy French Crime Drama Featuring a Detective Who Talks to Animals Comes to London Screens
EXCLUSIVE: Animal Instinct, a new addition to the cozy crime genre from France, will soon debut. The narrative centers on a veteran police officer who, after awakening from a coma, discovers he has the ability to communicate with animals. He enlists these new allies to assist in solving cases.
With the trailer generating significant excitement, anticipation is building for the premiere of Animal Instinct on French free-TV network France 2 this evening. France TV Distribution has acquired the sales rights for the 90-minute television movie, planning to feature it as a highlight at the London Screenings next month.
The film features French actor and comedian Fred Testot in the lead role, accompanied by a cast that includes Ophélia Kolb from Call My Agent!, as well as Benicia Makengele, David Salles, Lilea Le Borgne, Justine Viotty, Iliana Belkhadra, and R. Jonathan Lambert.
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The plot blends elements of Columbo and Dr. Doolittle. The protagonist, Jeff, is a member of a plain-clothes law enforcement unit who suffers a life-threatening incident during a stakeout and subsequently falls into a coma. Upon awakening, he gains the remarkable ability to understand animals, allowing him to collaborate with them while seeking redemption both as a top-notch cop and a father.
Samantha Mazeras penned the screenplay for Animal Instinct, while Slimane Baptiste Berhoun directs. The project is produced by Paris-based Dim Sum Entertainment.
Cozy crime series have become increasingly popular on the international market, and France is emerging as a key player in this genre. Another title distributed by FTD, Bright Minds—also known as Astrid et Raphaëlle—recently garnered top honors at France’s TV Export awards. Other successful shows, such as Gaumont’s L’Art Du Crime, Federation’s Tropiques Criminels, and TF1’s High Intellectual Potential, continue to attract interest from global buyers.
