Netflix’s New Series: A Tribute to Singer Adored by Millions in France!

Third time’s a charm! After writing and directing a film for the platform in 2021 (8 rue de l’humanité) and starring alongside Jennifer Aniston in Murder Mystery 2, comedian Dany Boon is gearing up for his big return to Netflix with his very first original series: Johnny Biloute.

In a recent interview with Télé-Loisirs during his appearance at the Just for Laughs festival in Montreal, the actor, screenwriter, and director opened up about the behind-the-scenes of this surprisingly personal project.

A Tribute Series to Johnny Hallyday

The series Johnny Biloute initially stemmed from the grief following the death of singer Johnny Hallyday in December 2017, with whom Dany Boon was very close: “I was fortunate to be among Johnny’s friends. He loved my films, which I always showed him at the end of editing. We would have screenings for him, Laeticia, and their children. Those were fabulous moments because he would laugh heartily.”

This friendship was supposed to continue on screen with a never-realized feature film project, The Rain Circus, on which Dany Boon had worked extensively: “I had an idea for a film, a parody of Cirque du Soleil, in which he would play a circus owner. […] Unfortunately, it never came to fruition.”

Ultimately, after the shooting of Murder Mystery 2, Netflix chief Ted Sarandos approached him to create a series for the platform. Dany Boon saw it as an opportunity to showcase his friendship with Johnny Hallyday in a roundabout way, by focusing on those who strive to keep his memory alive, his fans: “I started writing a story set in the North, featuring ‘Ch’tis bikers’. I wanted to pay tribute to Johnny through his fans.”

Their past friendship will undoubtedly lend the series a particular depth of emotion and authenticity. The series Johnny Biloute is currently in post-production and is set to premiere soon on Netflix.