‘The Count of Monte-Cristo’ Producer Dimitri Rassam Launches Financial-Distribution Powerhouse Yapluka With Backing From Pathe, M6, CMA Media (EXCLUSIVE)

variety.com:

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent On the heels of back-to-back hits such “The Count of Monte-Cristo,” ambitious French producer Dimitri Rassam is launching Yapluka, a new European financing and distribution powerhouse with the backing of French industry leaders, including Pathé, M6 and Rodolphe Saadé’s CMA Media.

Rassam, whose production company Chapter 2 is owned by Mediawan, most recently partnered with Pathé on bigscreen adaptations of Alexandre Dumas’ literary jewels, including “The Count of Monte-Cristo,” which thrived at this year’s French box office, grossing over $75 million internationally so far (ahead of of its U.S.

release), as well as the two-part adventure saga “The Three Musketeers.” With these movies, Rassam, who is passionate about history, accomplished the rare feast of luring mainstream audiences, notably young adults, for costume movies shot in French. “The Count of Monte-Cristo” is now in its 24th week in French cinemas and has so far sold over 9.3 million admissions.

It’s the best score in recent history for a local movie that’s not a French comedy. The soft-spoken producer, who is the son of famed actor Carole Bouquet and iconic producer Jean-Pierre Rassam, now aims at tackling even bigger projects for the international market, as well as help nurturing a new generation of filmmakers and producers who share his vision to “build a strong and ambitious European line up.” The first project right off the gate at Yapluka is “The Iron King,” a sprawling epic movie that’s part of Maurice Druon’s Les Rois Maudits (“The Accursed Kings”) and has inspired “Game of Thrones.” The movie will mark the English language debut of “The Count of Monte-Cristo” writers and filmmakers Alexandre de la Patellière.