'Hormones' and Beyond: Arte France Unveils Ambitious TV Projects for the Future

Arte France, known for its work on award-winning productions such as 'Sentimental Value', has announced its involvement in the new series 'Hormones'. This series is produced by TOP – The Originals Productions, the same production company behind the acclaimed espionage thriller 'The Bureau'. The script for 'Hormones' is by Noé Debré, co-writer of the Palme d'Or-winning film 'Dheepan' and 'Stillwater', starring Matt Damon. In addition, the series features the collaboration of novelist Joachim Schnerf and the production company Moonshaker Films, owned by Studio TF1, responsible for hits like 'Le Brio'.

The six-episode series, set in 1930s Netherlands, explores the story of a German researcher who discovers sex hormones and develops the first contraceptive pill, testing it on workers at an abattoir with their consent. The series promises to be a reflection of the Europe of the time, on the verge of entering World War II, and addresses issues relevant to the present day.

Within the framework of the Series Mania event, Arte France also revealed the shooting dates for two expected productions. 'L'homme au manteau de sing', directed and co-written by Mathias Gokalp, will begin production in late summer or early autumn. The series is based on the true story of the friendship between the flamboyant art forger Fernand Legros and the magistrate in charge of resolving the case. The plot promises to explore the thin line between truth and lies, art and imposture. On the other hand, 'Deux fois disparu', produced by Arte France, Unité and 9.15 Films, will begin filming in May and is created by the Belgian creative team behind 'The Break' (2018) and 'Good People'.

This noir series, starring Cesar Domboy from 'Outlander' and Guillaume Pottier, promises to be realistic and captivating.

The 2026 Arte event made it clear that, despite the downsizing in other broadcasters, Arte maintains great ambitions. Arte France CEO Bruno Patino emphasized the need for Europe to respond to the dominance of American streaming platforms through alliances and diversity. Arte, with its six-language broadcast capability, allowing 75% of Europeans to watch it in their mother tongue, continues to grow. In 2024, Arte recorded 3.3 billion views, up 19% from 2023, and 38 million subscribers to its social networks, up 20% from the previous year. Part of this growth comes from alliances with like-minded broadcasters, such as Movistar Plus+ from Spain.

Arte selected six series for Series Mania this year, demonstrating its commitment to ambitious and socially relevant titles.

The event also offered previews of 'To Kill a Bear', a mystery inspired by true events in the Spanish Pyrenees, and 'Happiness', a series about the life of a young Iranian exile in France. Pouria Takavar, creator and director of 'Happiness', shared the difficult situation of young Iranians facing uncertainty and repression. Takavar recounted how many young Iranians, artists, athletes and students, are now in prison and face the possibility of being sentenced to death.

The series explores themes of exile and the struggle of Iranian women, offering a moving perspective on life in exile and the search for identity.