Fans of Jean-Pierre Melville’s Army Of Shadows and its 1943 literary precursor by Joseph Kessel, which delves into the French Resistance during World War II, might find it intriguing that the upcoming adaptation will take a completely different direction. According to Deadline, Ronan Bennett, the creator behind the intricate and Redmayne-studded Peacock miniseries Day Of The Jackal, is setting his version in a dystopian near-future England under authoritarian rule. This reinterpretation, supported by both the Melville family and the Kessel estate, involves a six-episode series for Channel 4 and Canal+. The plot centers around a former British Army officer who forms a resistance movement against an American invasion of Britain, which includes some intense close-combat escapes.

Ronan Bennett commented on the thematic core of the series, stating, “Democracy is once again threatened by overt dangers.” He added, “The fight against fascism is—and always should be—a relentless pursuit. We’re exploring themes of commitment, resistance, and rebellion in a future scenario.”

This adaptation marks a significant departure from the original works. Melville’s 1969 film is a meticulous merging of his flair for suspenseful crime narratives with the realistic, understated acts of sabotage and espionage carried out by the Resistance. The film’s main character, Philippe—portrayed with subtlety by Lino Ventura—is portrayed not as a flamboyant spy but as a resolute insurgent who effortlessly parachutes from planes. Kessel’s novel, a blend of personal memoir and historical fiction, draws from his own experiences in the French Resistance. Unlike the characters in his story, Kessel himself never participated in a futuristic revolt against a fascist American regime in the UK.