Netflix made a long-rumored project official today: 2020 French original movie School Life (La Vie Scolaire) is returning, within the same environment as the original movie but this time as an 8-episode show. Who is returning from the original movie and what else do we know about the project?
The Garcia Lorca middle school in Saint-Denis (France), which was home to 2019 movie School Life (La Vie Scolaire), will reopen its doors again through a new original series for the streamer. Co-directed by French artist Grand Corps Malade and Mehdi Idir, the movie got a very warm reception when it was released in late summer 2019 in French theaters, with close to 2 million tickets sold. Then, it went on to be released in April of 2020 in most international territories on Netflix.
Note: Most regions of Netflix saw the movie depart in April 2024.
The movie seems to have a good standing with French Netflix subscribers; it had no trouble landing in the lead when it was first added in France in 2022, then again in late January. Then, Grand Corps Malade, who is still very much in demand on stage and in movies, clarified in February in Télé Loisirs that a TV show was being written, though he said he would have no involvement in it to focus on recording his next album; instead, Mehdi Idir would shepherd it and direct.
Today, Netflix teased the arrival of the new series globally with the poster below.
What is School Life about?
“Another school year for Samia, the very committed vice principal of the Garcia Lorca middle school in Saint-Denis. But this year will be defined by personal and professional upheaval: between a new head of school who does not share the same views on education as her, the issues of an out-of-control third grade class and her ailing couple, Samia will have a lot on her plate… Until things begin to unravel.”
Who is returning from the movie?
In an undeniable display of confidence and solidarity, all of the adult cast of School Life is set to appear in the new series. That includes Zita Hanrot as Samia, who has been seen in many Netflix projects, including The Hook Up Plan and Ad Vitam. But the official cast also includes comedian Alban Ivanov, who will once again play Dylan; Soufiane Guerrab as Messaoud; Moussa Mansaly as Moussa; and Redouane Bougheraba as Redouane.
Newcomers include two young comedians, Jennaïa and Esther Gajos; and Marie-Julie Baup, who was seen in Monsieur Aznavour (the previous movie by Idir and Grand Corps Malade) as Édith Piaf. As with the movie, we also can expect many young amateur comedians to play students in the Garcia Lorca classes; a wide casting call was held in the last few weeks.
On the producing side, Gaumont, who coproduced and distributed the movie, is not involved; but original producers Mandarin (through TV division Mandarin Television) and Kallouche Cinéma return for the series. Mehdi Idir cowrote the 8 episodes (40-minute format) of this season with Mickail Yildiz, Clara Bourreau, Thomas Keumurian and Mathieu Pichard-Rivalan; Idir, Yildiz, Bourreau and Pichard-Rivalan are also credited as cocreators. Idir is also set to direct the entire season on his own.
The show has been shooting since mid-July in the Ile-de-France area; no timetable is set, though it is safe to say we can expect it somewhere in 2027.
Did you enjoy the original School Life movie? What are you expecting from the new series? Let us know in the comments below!
