R91 Turns France's Charles de Gaulle Into a Murder Scene

France's nuclear aircraft carrier becomes a locked-room murder scene in R91, the first series jointly acquired by Amazon Prime Video France and free-to-air network M6.

The deal was detailed by Variety on 7 October 2026. It gives the thriller two French homes at once. One is subscription streaming. The other is free television.

Alban Lenoir leads the cast as Paul Fischer, a military investigator. Elodie Yung co-stars as Helena Duval, the ship's second-in-command. Their inquiry unfolds where no one can leave.

That trap is the Charles de Gaulle, France's nuclear-powered flagship. The ship is also known as R91 and Le Charles. Its hull number gives the series its title.

The joint purchase is a first for the two buyers. M6 is a free-to-air channel, meaning anyone with a television can watch without paying a subscription. Prime Video France is a subscription streaming service. A co-acquisition, meaning two broadcasters share rights to the same show, lets R91 play on both.

Outside France, SND will handle international sales, meaning it sells broadcast and streaming rights to buyers in other countries. That role makes SND the shop window for the series abroad.

Behind the camera, Henri Debeurme is producer, co-creator and co-writer. He created the series with Mathilde Arnaud and Yoann Legave, who share creator and writing credits. The production company is Next Episode Productions, part of UGC Group.

The shoot went to sea. The production filmed for 15 days on the water, including time aboard the real Charles de Gaulle during military exercises. That put cameras on working decks and corridors. Access on that scale is rare for a drama.

R91 was set for its world premiere at the La Rochelle Fiction Festival. It arrives with festival pedigree. It was named a Series Mania Industry winner alongside Red Pants and Chacachá!, as reported by Variety. That earlier report described R91 as a high-concept thriller, meaning a drama built around one bold, easily explained idea.

What makes this stand out is the setting. Most murder mysteries close the doors of a house. This one closes the decks of a nuclear carrier under way.