Apple Acquires Canal Plus’s Hit Series ‘Calls’ for English-Language Remake

By Elsa Keslassy

LOS ANGELES (Variety.com) – Apple has acquired English-language remake rights to the French short-form series “Calls” which was commissioned by Canal Plus in France.

Created by Timothée Hochet, “Calls” is an innovative and suspenseful series allowing audiences to experience short stories through real-life audio sources and minimal visuals. Each 10-minute episode features audio recording found after mysterious tragic events.

On top of the remake rights, Apple has also acquired the first season of the French original which showcases voices of well-known actors including Camille Cottin (“Call My Agent!), Marina Foïs (“L’Atelier”), Mathieu Kassovitz (“The Bureau”), Kyan Khojandi (“Bref”), Jérémie Rénier (“My Way”), Gaspard Ulliel (“Saint Laurent”).

“Calls” was produced by Lorenzo Benedetti’s Studio Bagel for which co-developed and co-produced the series through its new label Creation Decalée. The series won the Mipformat prize at MipTV in April.

Apple will be partnering up with Canal Plus on the remake version of “Calls.”

“Calls” is a spinoff of a horror short film which Hochet made in 2016.