Studiocanal alum’s prodco adapts ‘Queer as Folk’ in France

Telfrance Group-backed production outfit Aux Singuliers, launched by former Studiocanal development and acquisitions executive Joris Charpentier earlier this year, is adapting UK drama Queer as Folk for the French market.

The show first aired in the UK on Channel 4 two decades ago, having been produced by Nicola Shindler’s Red Production Company, which was acquired by Studiocanal in 2013. The format is sold by UK-based distribution outfit DRG.

Late last year US cable network Bravo revealed it was developing a reboot of the series, which was created by Russell T Davies and follows three gay men living in the UK city of Manchester.

A North American remake of the show, set in Pittsburgh, originally made an appearance in 2000 on Showtime and ran for five seasons.

Charpentier, who worked at Studiocanal for four years before moving to short-form specialists Blackpills, said the show would “not be a strict adaptation of the characters and intrigues of the Channel 4 series.”

The adaptation, which does not yet have a French broadcaster/streamer onboard, will however take place within the world of the original show and explore what it means to be gay in France.

Charpentier launched Aux Singuliers in January having been a creative manager at Merlin Productions. He had previously spent a year as head of US development at Blackpills.