Akim Returns and Lands Behind Bars Again: Aïssam Medhem Spills on Upcoming Episodes!

It’s a summer filled with peril on “Un si grand soleil.”

Following a year-long hiatus, Akim (played by Aïssam Medhem) makes a highly anticipated and dramatic return. Akim has changed since his last appearance; he’s more tense and impulsive, displaying a darker demeanor than usual.

Driven to seek answers about his breakup with Margot, his anger erupted into a violent confrontation, requiring police intervention and tragically ending with a bloodshed where Akim killed Thierry.

This unexpected twist promises to shake up the daily lives of the show’s characters on France 3.

In light of his intense and dramatic return, Aïssam Medhem, who portrays Akim, opened up in an interview with Allociné.

Allociné: You’re back on “Un si grand soleil” after more than a year. How did your return come about? Was it your decision, or did the production team reach out to you?

Aïssam Medhem: When I left the show, the writers left the door open for my character’s return. So, I reached out to see if they were interested in bringing me back for a storyline. They immediately agreed, and a few months later, after the storyline was written, they contacted me. That’s how it happened.

Was it easy to step back into Akim’s shoes, or did it require some adjustment?

It was harder than I expected. I thought I would quickly fall back into the rhythm, but that wasn’t the case. It was intimidating. Being away from the character for a year and a half is significant, and since Akim had changed a bit, it was initially a bit challenging.

Akim returns to Montpellier darker, more nervous, and far more aggressive. Did you enjoy exploring this new side of him?

I loved it, especially since it fit so well with the script. It was thrilling to delve into all these emotions and embrace this darker side.

Akim’s return is anything but quiet, culminating in him killing Thierry after a heated altercation. Were you surprised by this turn of events and your character becoming so violent?

I was really surprised. It was like, “Wow, they really went there.” I thought it was cool because it meant the writers wanted to see Akim in extreme situations. I felt honored that they trusted me with such a significant storyline.

How did the filming of the altercation scene between Akim and Margot (Clara Botte) go?

It wasn’t a difficult scene to do because Clara Botte and I have a lot of trust and rapport. We really enjoy working together, which makes it easier to let go in scenes. With her, I knew I could push the envelope, and she knew I would be mindful of her. She’s a fantastic scene partner. It was an incredible experience.

From a technical standpoint, Chris Nahon is an outstanding director. He knows how to highlight actors and craft amazing shots. Action scenes are his forte. He has a keen eye for it. We filmed almost continuously. The schedule had three sequences: the altercation, the police arrival, and the scuffle with Thierry. He blended all three into one. In the final cut, it’s not a single shot, but we filmed it as though it was. We shot the three sequences back-to-back, making for very long takes. It was extremely intense but fascinating. I love it because it requires intense focus. It’s challenging because you’re deeply involved in the work and exploration, but it’s fantastic.

Akim ends up in prison. What can you tell us about what awaits him behind bars? Will he find any allies?

He’ll befriend Liam (Sacha Beaubier). Besides that, Akim will manage to carve out a place for himself in prison. They’ll both avoid trouble with some tough characters, and gradually, a bond of solidarity will form between them. Plus, Akim has the perfect alibi for some peace: he killed a cop, and not just any cop. This grants him a sort of immunity among the other inmates.

And outside, who can he count on?

Akim will isolate himself. He’s going to distance himself from those he loves most to protect them.

Do you have any other projects outside the series you can share?

I’m currently developing a series with a friend. It’s a short-format series about a rural road trip. It’s a comedy. We’ve found a director, and now we’re trying to pitch it to producers.