Studiocanal has dropped the high voltage teaser for “Chien 51,” a dystopian thriller directed by Cedric Jimenez, starring two of France’s most bankable actors, Adèle Exarchopoulos (“Beating Hearts”) and Gilles Lellouche (“The Stronghold”).
Jimenez is best known for directing the contemporary thrillers “The Stronghold” and “November,” which played at Cannes. In “Chien 51,” he once again explores the work and minds of cops but this time in a near-future environment ruled by AI.
“Chien 51″ reteams Jimenez with French producer Hugo Selignac at Chi-Fou-Mi (a Mediawan company) and distributor Studiocanal. It’s based on Laurent Gaudé’s 2022 futuristic thriller novel by the same name.
The film unfolds in a not-so-distant Paris. The city is divided into three zones that separate social classes, with checkpoints regulating movement between them. An AI called Alma has revolutionized the police system and controls it. It recreates crime scenes and calculates the probability of guilt, influencing the direction of investigations. When Alma’s inventor is murdered, Salia and Zem, two cops from different zones who are polar opposites, are forced to collaborate on the investigation.
The movie marks Jimenez’s most ambitious movie to date and boasts a budget in the €40-million ballpark. The 18-week shoot took place on location in Paris, as well as in Marseille and in a studio where set were built. One of 2025’s most anticipated French movies, “Chien 51” will boast extensive visual effects and stylish set designs with some spectacular scenes involving up to 500 extras.
Rather than setting the film in far-off future, Jimenez told Variety in a recent interview that he envisioned “Chien 51” in a world that amplifies present-day societal trends that he perceives, including growing social divides and restrictions on freedom, as well as the AI in public services.
Jimenez penned “Chien 51” with “November” co-writer Olivier Demangel. Studiocanal is handling international sales on the film and will distribute it in theaters.