20th Century Icon Gets Two Biopics: Guillaume Canet and Newly Revealed Belgian Star!

In 2026 and 2027, brace yourselves for a surge of biopics about French historical figures. While we wait for the two-part movie about De Gaulle featuring Simon Abkarian, and Jean Moulin played by Gilles Lellouche, here comes not one, but two competing projects about Robert Badinter. Badinter, who passed away on February 9, 2024, at the age of 95, served as the Minister of Justice from 1981 to 1986 and was instrumental in abolishing the death penalty in 1981, marking a historical milestone.

As revealed by Le Film Français on the cover of its latest weekly issue via a promotional poster, Jérémie Renier will take on the role of Robert Badinter under the direction of Pierre Godeau.

The film, simply titled Badinter, is set to release on November 11, 2026. Filming is scheduled to start in January next year, as indicated by current casting calls circulating online.

This project was first announced several months ago in March 2024 by Le Film Français, but the lead actor had not been disclosed at the time.

Back then, the producer described the project in the magazine, stating, “It aims to showcase the struggle of Robert Badinter, who was also the lawyer for Charlie Chaplin, Brigitte Bardot, and other prominent figures. He joined his colleague Philippe Lemaire at the latter’s request in the Buffet-Bontems case. Roger Bontems was sentenced to death even though he did not commit murder, and his execution spurred Robert Badinter’s campaign against the death penalty in France, despite public opinion being largely against abolition. Elisabeth Badinter was a total support to him during his fight.”

The biopic will focus on this particular episode of his career. The film will be distributed by Pan Distribution and produced by Jean Nainchrik, who previously produced a two-part drama about Robert Badinter, L’Exécution and L’Abolition, directed by Jean-Daniel Verhaeghe and aired in 2009 on France 2.

One Project May Reveal Another

This Badinter biopic isn’t the only one in pre-production! As revealed by Pathé last May, another project led by Guillaume Canet is also set to be filmed in 2026.

It is described as “the true story of the man who led the fight for the abolition of the death penalty in France. A remarkable destiny, a universal legacy.” This film will be written and directed by Simon Jacquet, previously the chief editor for L’Amour ouf, Astérix et Obélix: L’Empire du milieu, and Lui by Guillaume Canet, Le Grand Bain, and Mon Roi.

After portraying Émile Zola in Cézanne et moi and Louis XVI in Le Déluge, Guillaume Canet will now also embody the former French Minister of Justice Robert Badinter. No release date has been announced yet. The film will be distributed by Pathé Films.

Guillaume Canet is soon to start filming Fantômas. In spring 2025, he directed the psychological thriller Karma. The cast includes Marion Cotillard, Denis Ménochet, Leonardo Sbaraglia, and Luis Zahera.

It’s worth noting that France TV recently aired Badinter against the death penalty, the Patrick Henry trial. This is a re-enactment by the actors of the Comédie Française, directed by Caroline Du Saint, still available on the France TV platform.