After delving into the police thriller genre with Un ours dans le Jura, Franck Dubosc announced the cast for his new hostage thriller (hardly any comedy), 5h48 place des Martyrs.
It was in 2018 that Franck Dubosc, previously known mainly for his acting résumé, directed his first feature, the comedy Tout le monde debout, which critics received fairly well. His second film Rumba la vie released in 2022 was also well received by critics, who already noted a less comic premise and a more dramatic tone. But it was really in 2025 that he ventured into a much darker register, the thriller with dark comedy in Un ours dans le Jura.
A gamble that paid off, as he even won the César Award for Best Original Screenplay alongside Sarah Kaminsky in 2026. Two years later, he returns with the same co-writer for his new film, 5h48 place des Martyrs. According to him, it will be even darker, but with a touch of comedy. Although he remains the lead in the project, Franck Dubosc has announced a five-star cast to share the screen with him.
Franck Dubosc Sets the Stage for 5h48 Place des Martyrs
It was at the Alpe d’Huez Festival, this past January, that Franck Dubosc revealed the synopsis for 5h48 place des Martyrs. According to his statements, the film will tell the story of Gilles, the driver of the 5:48 bus departing from Place des Martyrs (naturally), in Le Havre. He will offer to take hostage his passengers, workers he transports to their jobs, on the date that works best for them. The filmmaker clarified that this isn’t a black comedy, but rather “a dramatic film in which I will inject a bit of comedy”.
Since then, the director-actor-humorist-screenwriter has revealed the enormous cast (likely the future hostages) of the feature on his Instagram account. Among them, there is Benoît Poelvoorde, already the face of Un ours dans le Jura. But also other prestigious names like Vincent Macaigne, Catherine Frot (César for Best Actress for Marguerite in 2016), Emmanuelle Béart, Denis Podalydès and Kim Higelin.
The filming of 5h48 place des Martyrs began at the end of May, and no release date has been announced yet. In the meantime, Franck Dubosc continues his acting career as D’Artagnan in Michel Leclerc’s upcoming film, Les Caprices de l’Enfant Roi, which is slated to premiere on June 24.
