The streaming service has plenty of original series stateside, but this political thriller is its first Gallic effort. Netflix said today that it will premiere Marseille, an eight-episode tale of power, corruption and redemption in the French port city, late next year in all territories. Created and written by Dan Franck and produced by Federation Entertainment, it centers on Robert Taro, the 25-year mayor of Marseille who will face in the coming elections the man he chose as his heir. The ambitious youngster is aiming high, and both candidates will fight mercilessly as they deal with drug lords, politicians, unions and the city’s political players. Casting is to be announced.

“Creating a series for an enormous audience and without any constraints will let us push to its limits a story about the Shakespearean theater of politics in a city where Alexandre Dumas and Jean-Claude Izzo, among others, have planted many spears,” Franck said. “Netflix has given us a blank page to create a House of Cards in French that breaks through unspoken hypocrisy.” Said Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos, “Marseille is an ambitious, diabolically smart fictitious exploration of local politics in one of the world’s most vibrant and fascinating cities.” Production is set to start in the spring entirely on location in France.