Must-See Action Comedy: “Bagarre” Reunites Nassim Lyes and Julien Royal in Cinemas Now!

Following “En Passant Pécho” and “Nouveaux riches,” director Julien Royal teams up again with Nassim Lyes for the feature film “Bagarre,” currently showing in theaters.

In the film, Lyes plays Naim, a lover in life and a beast in battle. Forced to join “Allo Bagarre,” a street fighting service that resolves disputes with fists, to pay for his sick dog’s treatment, Naim struggles when he realizes that conflicts are better solved through dialogue.

A Cast Blending Comedy and Art Cinema

Nassim Lyes is joined by Hedi Bouchenafa, Anaïde Rozam, Ramzy Bedia, Marina Foïs, Audrey Lamy, Hakim Jemili, Arriles Amrani, Manon Azem, Ichem Bougheraba, and Hatik. Julien Royal, son of François Hollande and Ségolène Royal, discusses in the press kit the joy of bringing together actors from pure comedy backgrounds and more artistic cinema to create a diverse yet cohesive world.

Inspired by an “Urban Legend”

The concept for “Bagarre” originated from a supposed advertisement for an on-demand fighter service that Julien Royal and Nassim Lyes came across, which seemed dubious but humorously promising.

From this “urban legend,” they envisioned an action comedy that twists the very idea of violence to ironically champion a message of non-violence.

The duo began to craft the screenplay together, with Nassim Lyes explaining in the press kit: “We brainstorm a lot together based on an idea. Once we agree on a story, Julien starts to lay it out, adding lots of elements. Once we have the structure, we extensively use voice notes to flesh out scenes and dialogue.”

A Longstanding Collaboration

Nassim Lyes speaks about his long-term friendship and professional relationship with Julien Royal, spanning over two decades: “Julien and I each have our strengths. He’s literary and has a deep knowledge of art cinema and classic French films, like Godard. He enjoys action films and big comedies just as much as I do. We don’t prioritize one type of cinema over another. That’s what being a true cinephile is about. We connect on so many references.”

A Physically Demanding Role for Nassim Lyes

This role is one of the most physically demanding for the actor, who spent weeks perfecting the choreography for a rooftop fight scene, which was partly reimagined on the day of filming.

Julien Royal praises his actor’s unique profile: credible in a boxing ring while still being a powerful comedic presence. Nassim Lyes adds: “We always incorporate a bit of self-mockery in our films. We never take ourselves too seriously. In this film, it’s stinky feet; in ‘Nouveaux riches,’ it was a wig covering baldness; in ‘En passant pécho,’ Cokeman channels his sexual frustration into sexualizing his refrigerator.”

And it’s precisely this quality that distinguishes the film: an action man’s physique with the soul of a naïve child, which makes it entertaining. “There aren’t many of us who can play exaggerated comedy with the dials turned up to the max and still be believable in a boxing ring. The field is wide open,” Nassim notes.

A Popular Comedy Deeply Rooted in French Society

Nassim Lyes also thanks Hugo Sélignac, producer of Julien Royal’s films, for recognizing his potential in the new French cinema landscape. He recounts, “At the beginning of my career, an agent told me: ‘Wow, you’re way too muscular for French cinema, you need to do something about that.’ Instead of fitting the mold, I decided to carve out my own style, somewhat like Dwayne Johnson did in the U.S. Even if it risks ridicule by comparison.”

Beyond the comedic mechanics, “Bagarre” also reflects Julien Royal’s affinity for unexpected, popular themes deeply ingrained in contemporary French society, whether it’s the gig economy, class relations, or social violence.

“Bagarre” is currently available in theaters. This marks Julien Royal’s first feature film released in cinemas. His friend comments: “It’s a gamble. I was ready to do an Adam Sandler, who’s been thriving on Netflix for seven years. But Julien wanted to experience the theater, which I can understand. Even though it’s not obvious for us. Our audience is on Netflix, we know it, we’re not fooling ourselves. Netflix is easy, and we’re part of the package. But Julien is a filmmaker, and the prestige of the cinema means something to him. I respect and understand that.”