Georges Simenon's Maigret on BritBox

BritBox releases the first two of four Simenon episodes today with Rowan Atkinson as Maigret. Rowan Atkinson is, of course, known for his comedic character Mr Bean. In this production, Rowan plays the moody French detective and does a good job. As Jules Maigret, Atkinson’s principal asset is stillness. Playing the iconic 1950s French detective in ITV’s adaptation of the best-selling crime novels by Georges Simenon, the actor succeeds in conveying as many emotions when he is silent as lesser performers manage in an entire speech.

BritBox profiled comedic actor Rowan Atkinson in February before airing the exclusive U.S. premiere of his first dramatic role in the detective drama Maigret.

The subscription streaming service from BBC Worldwide and ITV looks back at some of Atkinson’s most popular roles. The service already streams “Blackadder,” and in February adds “Not the Nine O’Clock News” and “Canned Laughter.”

Atkinson gets serious today in “Maigret,” a new series based on author Georges Simenon’s iconic, pipe-smoking policeman who has become one of this century’s classic fictional sleuths.

From The Independent - Rowan Atkinson as Maigret:
The actor, who has also starred in such globally popular comedies as Johnny English and Blackadder, says: “The thing I thought I could do was Maigret’s thoughtfulness. It’s his ruminative and quite compassionate side, I suppose, which is interesting. Because he is definitely not an egotist, he is not a performer, he is not an eccentric, he is not a weirdo.

Read a great article about Maigret's Paris and Simenon at CrimeFictionLover
https://crimefictionlover.com/2017/02/maigrets-paris/

Rowan Atkinson stars as Maigret

If you're lucky enough to get ITV1 (U.K.), you'll be able to watch the new Maigret starring Rowan Atkinson. This is, of course, Georges Simenon's Inspector Maigret. There will be two Maigret specials in 2016, each 2 hours long. The first to air will be Maigret Sets a Trap (March 28).

Here are some great articles about the new productions. Be sure to scroll down to see the trailer.

Rowan Atkinson on Inspector Maigret, the artistic value of comedy, and playing an ordinary Man. (From the Independent) 

Inspecting Maigret: Rowan Atkinson puts on his thinking hat (from The Guardian)

Rowan Atkinson on ITV's Maigret: "I really wasn't sure I could do it."  (from The Guardian)

Hope these will migrate across the pond.

Maigret starring Rowan Atkinson

If you're lucky enough to get ITV1 (U.K.), you'll be able to watch the new Maigret starring Rowan Atkinson. This is, of course, Georges Simenon's Inspector Maigret. There will be two Maigret specials in 2016, each 2 hours long. The first to air will be Maigret Sets a Trap (March 28).

Here are some great articles about the new productions. Be sure to scroll down to see the trailer.

Rowan Atkinson on Inspector Maigret, the artistic value of comedy, and playing an ordinary Man. (From the Independent) 

Inspecting Maigret: Rowan Atkinson puts on his thinking hat (from The Guardian)

Rowan Atkinson on ITV's Maigret: "I really wasn't sure I could do it."  (from The Guardian)

Hope these will migrate across the pond.

New Maigret TV Movies starring Rowan Atkinson

Rowan Atkinson will star in new ITV adaptation of Maigret. The Mr Bean and Blackadder actor is set to play the famous French detective Jules Maigret in two stand-alone dramas.

from RadioTimes:

ITV has announced a new adaptation of George Simenon's novels about Parisian sleuth Jules Maigret. The books were originally adapted by the BBC in the 1960s, before Michael Gambon stepped into the detective's shoes in an ITV version in 1992.

Rowan Atkinson will play Maigret in two stand-alone, 120-minute films for the channel. Both dramas will be set in 1950s Paris, with screenwriter Stewart Harcourt adapting the books Maigret Sets a Trap and Maigret's Dead Man.

Atkinson said, "I have been a devourer of the Maigret novels for many years and I'm very much looking forward to playing such an intriguing character, at work in Paris during a fascinating period in its history."

The novelist's son John Simenon has given Atkinson his backing, saying: “Maigret has been part of our family for almost nine decades, and we are bringing together one of the best-known characters in world literature with one of the greatest international stars.

"I have no doubt my father, like me, would have approved of Rowan’s casting and been very excited to see him inhabit his most renowned creation.”

HT: EuroCrime