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An exclusive interview with executive producer, writer, and director PATRICK HARBINSON discussing his contemporized series adaptation of Georges Simenon’s iconic detective novel series, MAIGRET.<\/p>\n
SYNOPSIS:\u00a0 Reimagined for a global audience, the iconic\u00a0MAIGRET returns, his signature coat and pipe in hand, but with a fresh and invigorated lens. Young and idealistic, Maigret must navigate the gritty banlieues of modern-day Paris to the glamorous circles of the wealthy and influential. The new spin on the timeless masterpiece blends moments of humor and empathy with high-stakes cases and moral complexities, all while seamlessly fusing the rich depth of Simenon’s legendary novels with a present-day pace and sharp wit.<\/em><\/p>\nFollow along as Chief Inspector Maigret (Benjamin Wainwright) and his team of maverick but loyal detectives, \u201cLes Maigrets,\u201d solve a series of complex crimes in Paris. Maigret\u2019s unconventional methods and unique sense of justice put him at odds with his superiors and the judicial system he is supposed to represent. Maigret must outwit some of Paris\u2019s most cunning and violent criminals while dealing with his own troubled past. <\/em><\/p>\nMAIGRET is executive produced and written by PATRICK HARBINSON, with episodes one and two directed by Harbinson, and stars Benjamin Wainwright, Stefanie Martini, Blake Harrison, Reda Elazouar, Kerrie Hayes, Shaniqua Okwok, Rob Kazinsky, and Nathalie Armin.<\/p>\n
As you will hear in this exclusive interview, PATRICK HARBINSON is articulate, passionate, and charming as he discusses MAIGRET.<\/p>\n
Detective Jules Maigret is a beloved character both on the pages of Georges Simenon’s 75 novels, and on the big and small screens with some 30 adaptations as far back as the 1930s.\u00a0 So one must ask PATRICK HARBINSON, why do another television adaptation and why now?<\/p>\n
As Harbinson tells it, the inspiration for reimagining MAIGRET came from a deep appreciation and fascination with the original novels. He was particularly struck by the unique perspective and soul of Maigret\u2014a detective more interested in understanding the person behind the crime than just solving cases. A specific line about tragedy being commonplace, as well as evocative early passages from the books, captured his imagination and set the tone for the adaptation. This reimagination was driven by a desire to explore these character-driven elements and bring emotional depth and empathy to both the detective and those involved in his cases.\u00a0 Of course, then the question became, which books do you adapt?\u00a0 \u00a0For Harbinson, the decision on which MAIGRET books to adapt involved reading through many of the 75 original novels\u2014starting from the beginning and noting stories that stood out.\u00a0 Drawn to specific lines and images that captured Maigret\u2019s essence, especially those that gave insight into his character\u2019s soul, helped him hone in on his selections.\u00a0 Notably, for episodes one and two, a poignant line about tragedy in “The Lazy Burglar” helped determine its adaptation.\u00a0 After narrowing down potential choices and reading 15\u201320 books, the final selection was also endorsed by Patrick’s collaborators.<\/p>\n
As Patrick discusses the adaptation, from the outset, he chose a contemplative style which proved to be both a goal and a challenge, demanding a careful balance between introspective moments and compelling storytelling.\u00a0 His biggest concern was that the series might become “too contemplative” or slow, especially when compared to previous adaptations. The key challenge was finding the right balance: honoring Maigret\u2019s introspective and thoughtful nature while keeping the plot moving and engaging.\u00a0\u00a0To achieve this, Patrick worked closely with Ben Wainwright, who plays Maigret, encouraging him to \u201cbrood quickly\u201d\u2014to let the character think deeply, but without dragging the pacing.\u00a0 The writing process involved creating moments where the audience could share Maigret\u2019s reflective mindset, but ensuring these were carefully placed so as not to slow down the narrative.\u00a0 Describing it as a “continuous juggle\u201d to find that balance, Patrick admits he is still perfecting it, feeling the show found a particularly effective rhythm by episodes five and six.<\/p>\n
While admitting that the casting process was a “nightmare”, albeit rewarding and enjoyable, they auditioned more than 130 actors for the role of Maigret before deciding on Wainwright.\u00a0 The supporting roles brought their own difficulties, especially given the need for genuine chemistry between the characters.\u00a0 With the cast in place, Harbinson found that the actors brought new depth to their roles, which then allowed him to adapt the script to showcase their individual talents.<\/p>\n
With MAIGRET, Patrick found himself venturing into new territory: that of a director.\u00a0 Not unfamiliar with directing and having been executive producer on countless acclaimed series like “24”, “Law & Order: SUV”, “Homeland”, as well as writer for “Homeland”, “The Tower”, and “Fearless”, to name a few, he decided to direct the first two episodes because there was an unexpected change just four days before shooting began, leaving the team without a director.\u00a0 \u00a0After a “brief consideration”, he felt it was the most sensible solution, given his deep familiarity with the scripts and the cast.\u00a0 While it was intimidating, Patrick found the experience clarifying and ultimately rewarding.<\/p>\n
And with directing comes developing the visual grammar and emotional tonal bandwidth of the show.\u00a0 Calling on the collaborative talents of cinematographers Adam Fillenz and Emily Barr, they focused on intimacy and point-of-view, especially by keeping the camera close to Maigret to let viewers see the world through his eyes.\u00a0 Wide shots were used sparingly, primarily to maintain a sense of closeness and emotional connection within the team and between Maigret and his wife, Louise.\u00a0 It was agreed to prioritize Maigret’s perspective, selecting interesting and dynamic angles to reflect both the beauty and grittiness of the city (Budapest standing in for Paris).\u00a0 The goal was always to ensure the visuals supported the emotional depth and storytelling, with camera movement and shot selection serving to amplify the series\u2019 tone and closeness rather than distract from it.<\/p>\n
Described by Patrick as “challenging and introspective”, with the editing process with MAIGRET, as both director and writer, he found himself more defensive of the material compared to previous experiences as a showrunner.\u00a0 Normally, he would have distanced himself from the material before reviewing a director\u2019s cut, but this time, he was directly involved. This led him to personally re-edit the first episode months later, continually seeking to get it right.\u00a0 A key takeaway was the importance of staying true to the characters and ensuring all dialogue felt authentic and real. The process was one of ongoing revision and self-reflection, but ultimately aimed at delivering a story and performances that felt genuine and believable.<\/p>\n
TAKE A LISTEN. . .<\/strong><\/h2>\nby debbie elias, exclusive interview 10\/15\/2025<\/p>\n
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New episodes of MAIGRET air Sundays through November 9 at 9\/8c on MASTERPIECE Mystery! on PBS.\u00a0 Episodes are also available to stream via PBS and PBS MASTERPIECE on Prime Video.<\/b><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n
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