Since March 2, 2026, Canal+ has been offering a new series based on Un prophète, the acclaimed film by Jacques Audiard that won top awards at Cannes in 2009. This dramatic thriller series, created by Abdel Raouf Dafri and Nicolas Peufaillit, spans eight episodes of approximately 52 minutes each. It features Mamadou Sidibé, Sami Bouajila, and Ouassini Embarek, weaving a story that transports the world of the original film into modern-day France, exploring themes of incarceration, criminal networks, and power struggles.
The story is set in contemporary Marseille. Malik, a young man from Mayotte, narrowly escapes a building collapse, an event that unexpectedly pulls him into a tumultuous legal ordeal. Arrested for possession of drugs, he is thrown into a detention center where alliances and rivalries shape the daily lives of inmates. Quickly, he realizes that staying alive means fitting in with a gang.
Amidst this harsh world, Malik catches the eye of Massoud, a real estate developer with shady dealings. He offers Malik protection and support in exchange for unwavering loyalty. But behind this seemingly simple offer lies a tangled web of power struggles where Malik is merely a pawn. To survive, the young man must learn to navigate through manipulations, fragile allegiances, and shifting power dynamics.
The series continues in the vein of Jacques Audiard’s influential film, which made a lasting impression on French cinema with its immersive portrayal of prison life and the rise of a inmate within the criminal hierarchy. With this adaptation, seasoned writers Abdel Raouf Dafri and Nicolas Peufaillit—both well-versed in crime and thriller genres—shift the story to a modern setting based in Marseille. The project aims to explore themes from the original film: the forging of identity in a hostile environment, the intricacies of criminal networks, and the transformation of a young prisoner into a master strategist of power.
The serial format allows for a deeper exploration of clan dynamics, the connections between the prison world and the underground economy, as well as the personal journeys of the inmates. Sami Bouajila’s portrayal of Massoud adds a powerful dramatic edge, while Mamadou Sidibé brings to life a central character undergoing significant transformation. The tone shifts smoothly between social realism and criminal thriller, reminiscent of contemporary French series like Engrenages or Braqueurs, which delve into the intricacies of power and violence.
A Prophet
Series | 2026
Season 1 now streaming on Canal+ since March 2, 2026
Drama, Thriller | 8 episodes, 52 minutes each
Created by Abdel Raouf Dafri and Nicolas Peufaillit | Starring Mamadou Sidibé, Sami Bouajila, Ouassini Embarek
Original title: Un prophète
Country: France
Revisiting a film that has become a cornerstone of French crime cinema, the series offers a modern reinterpretation of a prisoner's rise within a system governed by power struggles. Blending social commentary with intense suspense, Un prophète aims to delve into themaking of individual authority amid an environment shaped by violence, fragile alliances, and conflicting ambitions.
Fans of this type of storytelling might also enjoy Engrenages, the French police series that delves into the workings of the justice system and organized crime in Paris, or Braqueurs: la série, a TV adaptation of Julien Leclercq’s film that explores the lives of criminals in a gritty, stylized urban setting.
For more options, check out our curated list of must-see films, series, and TV shows this week, explore our guide to latest releases across all streaming platforms, and don’t miss our daily pick what to watch today in streaming.
