If Mehdi Bousaidan and Rachid Badouri look straight out of Guy Ritchie’s latest feature film, in checkered jogger tracksuits, it’s because they’re filming in Double Jeu, a detective series that they themselves have imagined, born from a common passion: detective films of the 1980s and 1990s.
Lethal Weapon with Mel Gibson and Danny Glover, Die Hard with Bruce Willis, Rush Hour with Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker… Mehdi Bousaidan and Rachid Badouri watched these franchises. And two, three, four times rather than one.
“We’re a little ashamed to say that we liked bing-bing pow-pow films,” says Rachid Badouri, met during his lunch hour at Grandé Studios in Montreal. The lines made us laugh. Because we watched these dubbed films. The French voice of Eddie Murphy in Beverly Hills Cop was something! »
Expected on Crave next year, the comedy Double Jeu tells the story of Adam (Rachid Badouri) and Mounir (Mehdi Bousaidan), Maghrebian actors who earn their living by organizing simulations at the Nicolet police academy. When Sergeant Rousseau (Josée Deschênes) loses two new double agents to organized crime, she decides to hire the merry fellows to join a top-secret division of the police force. All in the hope of discovering the identity of a mole who is sabotaging her work.
“She is taking a big risk by recruiting these two clowns, but she is running out of options,” comments Josée Deschênes, in an interview in the middle of an abandoned warehouse setting serving as headquarters for the secret operation she directs.
Gold chain around his neck, Mehdi Bousaidan describes his character as an inveterate but cunning liar (“street smart”). “He lies to get what he wants. With his family (who live in Algeria), he makes people believe that he is a great actor in Quebec, when in truth, he just does small roles. He tries to make ends meet, but it’s difficult. »
For his part, Rachid Badouri plays a serious and responsible father, a proposition which initially frightened the comedian, used to being the one who provokes laughter.
“Adam is so stuck up. He’s funny without realizing it. And that’s what I wanted: to play a character far from myself… and without an accent, for once! »
Divided into 12 episodes, the Double Jeu series is produced by Jumelage, Frédéric Pierre’s production company. This is a second project selected for the actor and author’s company, after Lakay Nou, of which Radio-Canada ordered a second season.
“I’ve been playing in a real detective series for four years,” says the interpreter of investigative sergeant Renaud Magloire in Alertes (TVA).
The screenplays for Double Jeu are written by Jean-François Léger (The Eye of the Storm, Les Parent) and Daniel Gagnon (Le Bonheur). According to Frédéric Pierre, the texts are “very punchy” and “well knitted”.
“It’s a frank comedy,” adds Stéphane Moukarzel (Sapins), who directs the series with Frédéric Nassif (Max et Livia, Patrice Lemieux 24/7). It’s quite basic, but we avoid caricature. Situations create humor. »
These incredible “situations” into which Adam and Mounir will be catapulted are kept secret. Between the lines, however, we guess that they will have to infiltrate a law firm, a pawnbroker’s office, a medieval life-size role-playing game and perhaps even a sect…
Double Jeu also stars Catherine Bérubé (who plays Rachid Badouri’s wife), Maxime de Cotret, Martin Drainville, Douaa Kachache, Mireille Naggar and Nayla Badouri, Rachid Badouri’s daughter. The names of Sandrine Bisson, Chantal Baril, Catherine Brunet, Deano Clavet, Noé Lira, Élise Guilbault, Éric Hoziel and Martin-David Peters will also appear in the credits.
As for Fabien Cloutier, he plays the role of a “slightly heady” police officer, a new member of the undercover operation. According to the scene that La Presse witnessed, his character is not the nicest man in town either.
“He wants to look good, he wants to do well,” emphasizes the actor. Sometimes he tries to be dry, but it fails, because he doesn’t have much power. He likes to give it a go, though. »
Rachid Badouri, who does not have a huge amount of acting experience, finds it hard to believe that a project he imagined in 2019 with Mehdi Bousaidan would bring together so many experienced actors.
“I am surrounded by fiery professionals… When you play with Josée [Deschênes], Fabien [Cloutier] and Catherine [Bérubé], you walk with your butt tight! »
“I have always played supporting roles, and today, I play a leading role,” continues the comedian. It’s pretty incredible. »
