The French Netflix series Lupin is a hit. This is mainly thanks to lead actor Omar Sy, who revives the French master thief from Maurice Leblanc's books worldwide. With a socially engaged reference to today's France, but without sacrificing the irresistibly entertaining nature of the story. Gentlemen's Watch zoomed in with Sy about his move to the US, the lack of a plan and what it was like to spend 15 minutes alone with the Mona Lisa in one room.
Text Jorrit Niels Photography Marcel Hartmann (Netflix)
"Walking into a virtually deserted Louvre five nights in a row for work and enjoying almost exclusively what is hanging and standing there... Who can say that?" Thus an enthusiastic Omar Sy via our Zoom link.
Speaking to us from his home in Los Angeles, the 43-year-old actor logically does not hide his pride for the successful Netflix hit. Sy: "When you can stand alone in front of the Mona Lisa for 15 minutes and temporarily take over the Louvre.... Really, that was a magical moment."
To say that Sy's new series is catching on is an understatement. With over 70 million viewers, Lupin the first major Netflix hit of 2021, putting it on par with 'streaming greats' like The Queen's Gambit and Bridgerton. Part two of Lupin is planned for this summer.
That 'pulling apart' of the first season is due to the coronavirus. But Sy promises that in the second part of season one, we will get at least as big a spectacle as the Louvre episode. Parisian icons make a 'spectacular return', according to the Frenchman.
Although a truly complete second season has not yet been announced, there is a good chance that it too will come. Writer and co-creator George Kay already floated the idea of a Lupin/Sherlock Holmes crossover. In a recent interview with British Radio Times, he even confirmed that there have been "very early discussions" about that.
But for those who have not yet 'binged' the French series: Lupin is based on Maurice Leblanc's books about the gentleman thief Arsène Lupin. Sy's character Assane Diop is mesmerised by this fictional character and has worked his way up in French society to avenge his late father. To do so, he uses Leblanc's fictional stories to outwit his enemies.
The result is an energetic, exciting and lightning-fast series that does not waste a minute. It is without a doubt Sy, the likeable protagonist, who, as actor and creative director of the series, ensures that it is one of the most irresistible new series of 2021.
We first got to know Sy through his role in the French blockbuster Intouchables. He then did some forays into the US with roles in blockbusters like X-Men, Jurassic World and the Dan Brown film adaptation Inferno, but also continues to deliver successes in France with films such as Samba, Knock and the recent Police.
The Paris-born son of West African immigrants is used to success by now, but realises the cultural importance of an icon like Arsène Lupin. "I had the opportunity to do several big projects and this is one of them. Once it was finished, I only realised the magnitude of what we were making. Then you do begin to hope that the public will like it too! And if the reactions are good, there is a sense of relief, I won't deny that. Initially, there were some reactions as to why a black actor had to play the role. That didn't surprise me at all and I didn't care. The books represent the archetypal Frenchman and I am a Frenchman."
However, it started with a very different desire, outside Lupin.
"Indeed, I had had the ambition for some time to work with Gaumont. That is the first and therefore oldest film company in the world. Since 1895, they have survived despite American competition, world wars, economic crises and even the rise of streaming. Soon they capitalised on this and produced Narcos for Netflix."
You wanted to be part of that history?
"That was a big wish. And they wanted it too. For me, a huge honour. That's how we ended up with a series. Then they asked me a very rare question: 'What would you like to do?' Soon Lupin turned out to be the perfect character. If I had been English, I would have wanted to be James Bond, so then the best French alternative. Lupin has it all. Possibilities for drama, action, levity, seduction, romance. You can play all that, which is great for an actor."
But then why not play Lupin herself?
(laughs) "Logical thinking and we thought long and hard about how to portray a modern Arsène Lupin. In the end, we opted for a diversion. This way, we could also give the book a place in the series. It is an homage to Maurice Leblanc."
Were you a fan of the books yourself?
"Like any Frenchman, I knew Lupin, but only as a phenomenon. And I'm an 80s kid, so I was also familiar with the Japanese manga series about this character. You can best compare it to Tintin: everyone knows it and it is synonymous with adventure. It is suitable for the whole family without being childish. Entertainment with well-written characters and a few unexpected twists, we all need that sometimes in these times.'
What does Lupin say about today's France?
"Leblanc was a keen observer of society and we wanted the series to be the same. That's also in the books. Lupin grew up in poverty and became a gentleman thief to avenge his father. We are telling the same thing, only in the here and now."
In what way, for example?
"My character doesn't need much to disguise himself: he joins the kind of people who don't get noticed and he disappears, so to speak. I really liked the idea of a gentleman thief, but I also wanted to subvert it a bit and give it a social angle. I grew up in the banlieues and have seen things that no one should experience. Racism is a global problem and unfortunately it is still present in France too. At the same time, that part didn't have to come across as too forced. The themes have to come across to the viewer, not detract from the entertaining aspect of the series. I think we managed to keep those messages light without sacrificing effectiveness."
But they are named.
"You cannot and should not deny that. Having a French-African ethnicity is very important in the series. The character's targets are the French establishment and the old elite in very classic Parisian settings. Assane is aware of how traditional French society views him and he often uses those prejudices to deceive his victims. Lupin is made to entertain, of course, but I also want to show what it is like to be French today. Because, the archetype is changing."
Is it represented enough in French cinema?
"Slowly. You can see it getting better. I am proud to do my bit, but I am also cautious. It's tricky. On the one hand, you have a stage because of your fame and you feel the pressure to speak out about injustice. On the other hand, there are people who try to force responsibilities on you. A complicated balance, but at least I am not one to wag my finger. If people see my work, if it makes them think and if it regularly leads to new insights, I think that is great. I make films, or series, to make people feel something and to entertain them. Especially the latter, you have to remember. There are still multiple versions of the country of France. And one France still too often remains closed to the other France. Yet I always try to look at the cracks, the cracks, and try to crawl through them. And change something from there."
You now live in the US. How do you compare that world with the French film world?
"Oh in essence it's pretty much the same everywhere. In America, I get the chance to make the kind of films I grew up with. The big blockbusters. A dream with those huge sets. It's great to experience that, but also to have the opportunity in France to deliver very different work."
Was it also starting from scratch again?
"Not completely of course, but in a way. It is not my mother tongue so that also blocks you sometimes. In France, I was used to having a career with access to opportunities. It was inspiring and humbling to have to step back again here in the US."
LA will not be a punishment.
"Definitely not! We don't live in the city, but full of greenery, overlooking a valley. Wonderful! It's the perfect way to get me out of work mode."
It has been ten years since Intouchables. Wat is the biggest change you have experienced looking back?
"That's mostly something for my family to answer, haha. I hope I have become a bit wiser and have a better awareness of the world around me. That I can contribute by making small changes in the way we tell stories, with a more diverse team. That would be fantastic."
Wash Intouchables a personal turning point for you?
"It's cliché to say, but absolutely. Everything became different then because suddenly I had choices. A wider choice in films. A wider choice in who I wanted to work with. The choice to even work in English. A turning point in another sense is that I also had more microphones under my nose and that made me more careful in what I say. You learn that quickly though, in this world." (laughs)
What advice has helped you the most in your career?
"It's more of a thought: it's not hard to get ahead if you have nothing to lose. When people used to try to make me 'small', I would let it affect me as little as possible. My dream was to become and stay a working actor. So I always kept my eyes forward and kept trying."
What's on your to-do list right now?
(grins) "Oh I let go of that one a long time ago! My life plan from before was so much more modest than how I live and may live now. Every time, I am amazed when something new comes my way. Like Lupin. All I ever wanted was to be happy with a family and make life a little easier for my parents. I have abandoned the illusion that I am stronger than life. So what to do? Make the right choices and enjoy."
Lupin can now be seen on Netflix
Sy's Best
Intouchables (2011)
De l'autre côté du périph (2012)
Mood Indigo (2013)
Samba (2014)
X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
Jurassic World (2015)
Burnt (2015)
Inferno (2016)
Knock (2017)
Transformers: The Last Knight (2017)
Le Flic de Belleville (2018)
The Call of the Wild (2020)
Soul (2020, French version)
Lupin (2020-now)