Nautilus: 5 Things To Know About The France 2 Series

Starting Monday, August 12, France 2 will broadcast the new series Nautilus with two episodes per week. This fiction, freely inspired by the universe of Jules Verne, invites you to dive into a great maritime adventure with your family. Here are 5 things to know about this new epic journey.

1- This series is loosely based on Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.

The novel Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea is perhaps the most iconic story in Jules Verne's Extraordinary Voyages collection. Since its publication in 1869, this adventure novel has been adapted numerous times, in cinema and television, as well as in theater, comic books, and Disneyland park attractions...

The first film adaptation was a silent French movie by Georges Méliès dating back to 1907. However, the most well-known version is undoubtedly the 1954 film produced by Disney studios, featuring James Mason and Kirk Douglas. With the series Nautilus, set to premiere on France 2 starting Monday, August 12 at 9:10 PM, Disney has produced an entirely new version loosely inspired by Jules Verne's novel.

This British and American series was initially intended for release on Disney+. Ultimately, it is France 2 that acquired the rights for broadcast in our country, much to the delight of French viewers.

2- It differs from the original work in several ways.

Unlike Jules Verne's novel published in 1869, the Nautilus series adopts the point of view of Captain Nemo. In this version, the famous captain is a deposed Indian prince who seeks revenge on the British East India Company.

In India, this powerful company exploits workers to build ships as well as a top-secret submarine. Among them, a certain Nemo is determined to escape. After fleeing aboard the Nautilus with a motley crew of prisoners, Captain Nemo attacks the ships of the East India Company. With technology far superior to other ships of the time, the prototype submarine he stole causes damage and is mistaken for a sea monster.

In addition to seeking revenge, Captain Nemo is determined to reach the pillars of Halvar to seize a Viking treasure. But to do so, he must earn the trust of his crew and evade the clutches of the ruthless East India Company, ready to do anything to stop him. The whole forms a grand adventure story perfect for a summer getaway!

3- It offers action-packed and humorous entertainment.

This free adaptation of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea offers a delightful blend of adventure, humor, and grand spectacle. From the very first episodes, action scenes follow one another at a brisk pace.

This series consists of 10 thrilling episodes to watch with the family. You can catch them on France 2, with two new episodes airing each week. However, if you are among the Jules Verne fans eager to board the Nautilus, you can also watch this exclusive fiction in its entirety on france.tv.

The series has been available on France Télévisions' free streaming platform since August 5, 2024. Don't delay, as it will only be online for about a month, until September 2, 2024.

4- It is characterized by a steampunk aesthetic.

In addition to delighting us with a plot full of twists and turns, Captain Nemo's new adventures are a visual success.

In this new eponymous series, the design of the Nautilus is reminiscent of the Disneyland Paris attraction, and the famous submarine is just one example of the fiction's steampunk aesthetic.

As a reminder, steampunk is a subgenre of science fiction offering stories set in the 19th century or early 20th century but based on the use of advanced technologies for their time.

The steampunk style borrows the codes and aesthetics of the Victorian era. It is inspired, among other things, by the works of Jules Verne but is not limited to literature as it can also be found in cinema, TV series like Carnival Row, and drawings.

5- It benefits from an international cast.

This fiction, which was filmed in Australia, also delights viewers with its rich gallery of characters. Indeed, an entire crew gravitates around Captain Nemo, played by Shazad Latif (seen in Star Trek: Discovery).

As a British and American production, the series Nautilus benefits from an international cast, among which we can highlight the presence of two French actors. Thierry Frémont portrays a passionate engineer, while Céline Menville, seen in Emily in Paris and Tout pour Agnès, is perfect in the role of Loti, a woman with delightful cynicism.