The city of Paris is about to face a terrifying new threat – one that lurks beneath the surface of the iconic Seine River. Netflix has released the first trailer for “Under Paris,” a French-language thriller that pits the French capital against an unstoppable shark.
Directed by Xavier Gens, known for genre films like “Frontier(s)” and “Hitman,” the movie is set to debut on the streaming platform on June 5, 2024. The story follows Sophia, a brilliant scientist who teams up with an environmental activist named Mika to warn the authorities about the presence of a massive shark swimming deep within the Seine.
As the city prepares to host the World Triathlon Championships on the river, the stakes are raised, with the film’s trailer teasing a series of shocking shark attacks on the unsuspecting athletes and spectators. In a desperate attempt to avoid a “bloodbath at the heart of the city,” Sophia and Mika must join forces with Adil, the Seine River police commander, to find a solution.
Casting Bérénice Bejo, Nassim Lyes, Léa Léviant, and Iñaki Lartigue in the lead roles, “Under Paris” promises to deliver a thrilling, if somewhat tongue-in-cheek, take on the classic “killer shark” premise. With the film’s setting firmly rooted in the iconic Parisian landscape, the premise of a deadly predator terrorizing the city’s waterways offers a unique spin on the familiar disaster movie tropes.
While the trailer suggests a B-movie sensibility, complete with cheesy dialogue and gruesome shark attacks, the involvement of director Xavier Gens, who has worked on acclaimed projects like the “Lupin” series, indicates the film may offer more than just mindless creature feature entertainment.
“Under Paris” represents Netflix’s continued efforts to develop high-profile international productions, tapping into local talent and stories to expand the platform’s global appeal. The shark-infested thriller joins a growing slate of French-language originals, further establishing the streamer’s commitment to diverse storytelling.
As the summer of 2024 approaches, Paris’ residents and tourists alike may find themselves wary of taking a dip in the Seine, as “Under Paris” threatens to deliver a frightening – and undoubtedly entertaining – aquatic adventure.
