The Count of Monte Cristo TV Mini Series

In 2024, a new television miniseries adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ classic novel, “The Count of Monte Cristo”, was released under the original French title “Le Comte de Monte-Cristo”. This adaptation was directed by Bille August and featured a notable cast, including Sam Claflin as Edmond Dantès, Jeremy Irons as Abbé Faria, and Ana Girardot as Mercédès.

The series follows the story of Edmond Dantès, a young sailor who is falsely accused of treason and imprisoned in the Château d’If off the coast of Marseille. After years of confinement, Dantès escapes and assumes the identity of the Count of Monte Cristo, meticulously planning his revenge against those who betrayed him.

Produced by Mediawan, Palomar, and DEMD Productions, the miniseries was filmed across various locations, including the Palais-Royal in Paris, as well as sites in Turin, Milan, and Malta. The production aimed to provide a modern twist to the classic tale while remaining faithful to Dumas’ original work.

The series premiered at the 19th Rome Film Festival on October 19, 2024. It subsequently aired in Switzerland on RTS 1 on December 15, 2024, and was made available online in Sweden via SVT Play on December 18, 2024. In Italy, it was broadcast on Rai 1 starting January 13, 2025. The series is scheduled to be broadcast in France later in 2025.

This adaptation has been noted for its high production values and a strong international cast, bringing a fresh perspective to the timeless themes of betrayal, revenge, and redemption central to Dumas’ masterpiece.

After many TV adaptations of the novel “Oh another one…”, some would say, came out. But times we live in now, they just need one more classic I would say. It is a good reminder and teacher. We would have all rights to judge it if it would be done poorly but not this one. Personally, I liked the movie from 2002 and Jim Caviezel playing Dantès. I still remember the duel at the end.

But there is a very little that I could rate with an average number of stars in this piece. Taking Jeremy Irons to play Abbé Faria character was a great §deal! But Claflin’s work on Edmond Dantès character is excellent too!

Besides this, the rest of the crew did a great job, costumes are simply great as well as the camera which is simple but good enough keeping it totally in line with one classical piece such is this one.

Eight episodes is not much these days but it is enough to tell the story like this one. I enjoyed!