Stendhal's 'The Red and the Black' Revived in New French Miniseries

Stendhal’s classic 1830 novel, "The Red and the Black" ("Le Rouge et le Noir"), has received a new French television adaptation, a four-episode historical mini-series now streaming and broadcasting. The ambitious new production, which was confirmed by outlets like Canneseries and Sortiraparis, delves into the world of 1828 France, marked by political unrest and societal hierarchies.

Victor Belmondo takes on the pivotal role of Julien Sorel, the young protagonist driven by ambition. He is joined by Virginie Ledoyen, who portrays Louise de Rênal, and Camille Razat as Mathilde de La Mole. Other notable cast members include Patrick Timsit, Patrick Mille, Romane Bohringer, Théo Cholbi, Zoé Adjani, Sophie Guillemin, Fred Testot, Stéphane Rideau, Malik Zidi, Jérôme Deschamps, and Salim Kechiouche, according to reporting by MUBI and Film Music Reporter.

Who is behind the new adaptation?

The series is directed by Gaël Morel, with the screenplay and dialogue crafted by Georges-Marc Benamou and Gilles Taurand. Benamou is also credited as the creator of the series. The duo previously collaborated on a television adaptation of Albert Camus's "The Plague." Siècle Productions leads the production, with Arezzo Films serving as executive producer and France Télévisions also participating in the production, Unifrance reported.

What is "The Red and the Black" about?

The story centers on Julien Sorel, a young man from a modest carpentry background, determined to overcome the limitations of his birth in a society ruled by inherited wealth and status. The title's symbolism refers to his internal conflict and the two paths he considers for social ascension: military ambition ("the Red") or a career in the priesthood ("the Black"). Sorel navigates a complex world of passion, power, and political intrigue, becoming entangled in romantic affairs with two prominent women, Louise de Rênal and Mathilde de La Mole. Stendhal's original novel, published in 1830, is a psychological deep dive into a provincial man's efforts to rise through talent, deception, and ultimately, his own undoing.

When did the series premiere?

The world premiere of "The Red and the Black" took place at Canneseries Season 9, where one episode was screened on April 24, 2026, followed by a discussion. The series was also presented at the Italian Global Series Festival. The full miniseries, consisting of four 52-minute episodes, has been available for streaming on france.tv since August 21, 2026, and began its broadcast run on France 2 on Monday, August 31, 2026, at 9:10 p.m.

What about the music and international release?

The original music for the series was composed by Les Garçons, with a soundtrack album released by Glaz Records on August 31, 2026. Looking ahead, Wild Bunch TV is handling international sales for the historical series, which will be offered to global distributors at the 32nd edition of the Unifrance Rendez-Vous, as reported by Hollywood Spy.

This adaptation arrives more than seventy years after Claude Autant-Lara’s film, which starred Gérard Philipe as Julien Sorel. While a British four-part television drama, "Scarlet and Black," featuring Ewan McGregor and Rachel Weisz, aired on BBC 1 in 1993, France had not seen a screen adaptation of Stendhal's "The Red and the Black" since 1998 until this current production.