Baron Noir (screened as Republican Gangsters in some markets) is a French political drama television series which premiered on Canal+ on 8 February 2016. The series was developed by Eric Benzekri and Jean-Baptiste Delafon.
Contents
Premise
Baron Noir is the political and judicial saga of Philippe Rickwaert, member of Parliament and mayor of Dunkerque, who is driven by an irrepressible thirst for personal revenge. Between rounds of the presidential election, he sees his future collapse when his mentor, the leftist candidate, sacrifices him to save his campaign. Determined to reinvent his career, Rickwaert uses cunning and connections to win political fights against those who betrayed him, creating a new alliance with the closest adviser of his enemy. Formidable but uncontrollable, conflicted between truth and lies, cultivating friendships in all strata of society (including within the police and organized crime), Philippe Rickwaert's life dissolves into a fascinating organised chaos. Rickwaert takes the fight to his opponents - and to his own demons - at every opportunity.
Cast
Main
Kad Merad as Philippe Rickwaert
Niels Arestrup as Francis Laugier (Season 1)
Anna Mouglalis as Amélie Dorendeu
Hugo Becker as Cyril Balsan
Astrid Whettnall as Véronique Bosso
François Morel as Michel Vidal
Recurring
Laurent Spielvogel as Armand Chambolle
Jade Phan-Gia as Françoise Levasseur
Lubna Gourion as Salomé Rickwaert
Scali Delpeyrat as Martin Borde
Philippe Résimont as Daniel Kalhenberg
Eric Caruso as Laurent Mirmont
Erika Sainte as Fanny Alvergne
Maryne Bertieaux as Alison
Guest
Season 1
Michel Voïta as Jean-Marc Auzanet
Jean-Pierre Martins as Bruno Rickwaert
Michel Muller as Gérard Balleroy
Mahdi Belemlih as Medhi Fateni
Patrick Rocca as Alain Chistera
Alban Aumard as Sylvain Buisine
Yannick Morzelle as Bruce Rickwaert
Rémy Stiel as Jordan Rickwaert
Marie Lanchas as Elodie Jacquemot
Alain Pointier as Jean-Pierre Barthélémy
Stéphane Ropa as Boris Valentin
Phénix Brossard as Sébastien
Damien Jouillerot as Toph
Alain Pronnier as Eddy
Jean-Erns Marie-Louise as Ménadier
Brigitte Froment as Maryse
Léon Plazol as Théo
Sébastien Beuret as Arthur
Season 3
Marie-France Alvarez as Malika
Episodes
Development and production
On 29 February 2016, Eric Benzekri, the writer of the series announced that the season 2 will be shot during the next presidential and it was aired in 2018. Season 3 debuted in February 2020.
Reception
The TV Series was very well received by French critics. Le Monde, L'Obs, Les Inrockuptibles, Metro International, Paris Match and Télérama gave the first season 4 out of 5 stars. L'Express and Libération gave 3.5 out of 5 stars.