Benedict Cumberbatch is an executive producer on The Annecy Murders

Benedict Cumberbatch will produce a new six-part series based on true events called The Annecy Murders. Inspired by the infamous Chevaline murders, the series will follow the unsolved case that gripped the world when, on September 5, 2012, a British-Iraqi engineer, his wife, her mother and a French cyclist were shot dead on a scenic road near Lake Annecy in France. Two young girls, aged 4 and 7, survived, unnoticed by emergency services for hours.


Benedict Cumberbatch

The incident sparked a massive investigation involving hundreds of investigators and nearly a thousand witnesses in multiple countries, including France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Israel, Switzerland and Iraq. But the unsolved mystery was thrust back into the spotlight last summer when French authorities reopened the investigation, fueling further public and media speculation.

Carrousel, the production and financing company founded by Louis Leterrier, Omar Sy and Thomas Benski, is joining Cumberbatch’s Sunny March and Bob Cooper’s Landscape in bringing the drama to the screen.

“We were pulled in right away,” said Cooper. “It’s rare for a true story to unfold with so many twists and cliffhangers. The case is haunting, the mystery compelling, and the international threads gripping. At its core, The Annecy Murders is a story of obsession.”

EP Cécile Gaget of Carrousel Studios added: “This was a no-brainer for Carrousel. With the recent reopening of the case, the international resonance, and the unique cultural perspectives on the investigation, we are committed to delivering a powerful and authentic narrative. Carrousel’s role in financing and physically producing the series in France underscores our dedication to innovative storytelling.”

The limited series will begin filming in France and the United Kingdom in early 2026. Plot and casting details are being kept under wraps.