Biopic of Johnny Hallyday: the producer explains the departure of Raphaël Quenard

“Raphaël is a friend, I respect him a lot, and we made a decision by mutual agreement”

Staging Johnny’s life is no easy task… It’s THE biopic that’s causing a lot of talk in French cinema. Directed by Cédric Jimenez (BAC North, November, Dog 51), the event film experiences many twists and turns.

“ It is with regret that I inform you today that I will not play Johnny in his biopic. The demands linked to the production of the film Mystik, which I co-directed, as well as the promotion of the American Dream (…) do not allow me, within the allotted time, to devote myself fully to the preparation required for such a role » the actor taught us Yannick last January on his Instagram account.

Shortly after, it was the name of Benjamin Voisin (nominated for the Césars for best actor for his role in The Stranger) who appeared to replace Quenard in the biopic of French rock super star Johnny Hallyday. According to Closerthe latter was even validated by the singer’s widow, Laeticia, despite her disappointment at not seeing the actor of Junkyard dogwhom she had personally chosen to play Johnny.

A turnaround experienced as a massive blow to production, taken by surprise. A source close to the film had nevertheless informed the editorial staff of First that the film will indeed see the light of day: “The project is far from being stopped, quite the contrary” before adding that the filming date, scheduled for early June, was not changed and specifying that “everything is going well”.

Johnny Hallyday biopic: “The project is far from being at a standstill, quite the contrary”

Asked for Society, the producer, Hugo Sélignac finally explains this affair which caused a lot of noise in the press: “Above all, this story taught me that Johnny Hallydayit’s separate. (…). It happened at C to you, Daily, Hanounaat J8 p.m.… Journalists called me threatening me, telling me that if I didn’t answer them, they were going to reveal the name of the replacement Raphael, even if they knew nothing about it. A lot of false things have come out about this story, I see in the press that we are angry, that he didn’t work enough. The truth is much less thrilling. Raphaël is a friend, I respect him a lot, and we made a mutually agreed decision: between his second film, his second book and the three films he had to promote, he didn’t have the time necessary to prepare for such an important role. His name was announced very early, which is not my habit. We already know who will replace him, and this time, we won’t do it the same way.”

The production indeed seems to have learned from its mistakes, because although the name of Benjamin Voisin has indeed been mentioned in the media, the producers have not yet confirmed anything…

An eventful biopic therefore, which traces the story of a personality apart.

Johnny should be released on December 8, 2027 in French theaters.

Biopic of Johnny: Laeticia Hallyday validated Benjamin Voisin