The Returned, freshly imported from Frances Canal + this year, was handsome, enthralling, intelligent drama.
In your opinion, what made the series such a success?
Firstly, the writing.
The producers also, and great directors.
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For me, I think the success is because it represents a new French identity.
We make a lot of TV shows but nobody wants to see French TV.
I mean, did you ever want to watch French TV beforeThe Returned?
I used to quite likeBurger Quiz?
[Hurriedly] But no, absolutely, I see your point.
So I think its kind of new for that market of people.
Lets talk about your character, Simon, then.
His daughter Chloe christens him the angel, but isnt he more of a devil?
Well, who is entirely an angel and who is entirely a devil?
Its the same for all characters.
Its almost impossible to imagine what it would be like to be this guy and come back.
Can you imagine it?
You find your wife with another man and your child already grown-up.
Its just impossible, impossible.
There was a lot of ambiguity about the character and I loved that about him.
Its just the character.
How was Simons character first described to you?
If he actually killed himself, then he was somebody depressed and sad.
I think every character in the series has their own questions and anger and joy.
In the end, there are kind of two groups, the dead and the undead.
Can we talk about the young actor [Swann Nambotin] who plays Victor?
England is a little bit obsessed with him.
The little boy, yes, hes great.
Its an extraordinary performance.
Is he scary on set?
Apart from that, hes a pretty normal boy who does a lot of dumb stuff.
Hes a great, normal kid.
I think he is perfect for the part.
[Laughing] What was that?
It was edible special effects!
I actually wanted to make it even more gross and they refused.
How would you have made it even more gross?
[Laughs]
Do you enjoy disgusting people then?
No, I like to shock.
We didnt do it a lot.
You English people are shocked over nothing!
Ive been doing nude scenes since I was sixteen, for me its not a big taboo.
But I mean, Im very sorry if you were shocked [laughing].
Ill get over it Im sure.
Tell us about working with the writer/director Fabrice.
He was always changing little things during the shoot, so that was really fantastic.
He has great humanity and he managed to keep it all very real.
He fought a lot to keep some ideas in, and I think it was a great success.
Have you seen the original Robin Campillo film on which the series is loosely based?
Was it a deliberate choice to avoid it?
Do you think youll watch Paul Abbotts English remake when it arrives?
I think so, yes.
I dont like remakes because its kind of, for me, industry stuff.
You know, its making money out of something that already exists.
And I love TV shows, so of course I will watch it.
Which TV shows do you love in particular?
Im pretty fond of English TV shows, recently Ive watchedBlack Mirror,Luther,Sherlockand many more.
I think English TV is one of the most promising in the world.
It has its eccentricities.
Yes, but I love it.
Do you find youre now being offered more English-speaking roles because of the success ofThe Returned?
At the moment, my English is not as perfect as it would need to be.
So yes, Im receiving a lot of offers through my agent, but nothing concrete for now.
The first step will be for me to speak perfect English with no French accent and then well see.
I swear I dont know any secrets because I havent read a line of the second series.
The producers and the writer have been very secretive as you might imagine about whats going to happen.
So I cant answer anything.
I just dont have the information.
None of the actors know whats going to happen in series two then?
The writers and producers know, but we dont.
When do you think youll find out?
When I get my script.
Im really looking forward to getting my first script.
They said I should be able to read it before Christmas.
And the plan is to film series two in February 2014?
They want to shoot sometime early in 2014, either February or March.
The idea is to air at the end of the year, at Christmas 2014.
Will you stay withThe Returnedas long as it continues?
If theres a series three or four say?
Yes, of course.
If the show goes on, of course.
But I will go on with this show for as long as it goes.
Pierre Perrier, merci beaucoup!
The Returned series one comes to DVD on Monday the 9thof September.
Read our spoiler-filled episode reviews and more,here.
