Leading French drama producer GMT Productions is developing a four-part mini-series, Napoleon, which is set to Christian Clavier (Asterix & Obelix, The Visitors) in the title role.

The big-budget historical drama will be co-produced by French public broadcaster France 2 and will be filmed in both French and English. The script is being written by Didier Decoin.

Napoleon is also likely to involve GMT's regular partners, Germany's KirchGroup/Taurus Film and Italy's Mediaset. The two companies have already partnered with GMT on the $16m, four-part French-language mini-series The Count Of Monte Cristo, starring Gerard Depardieu.

Count has been so successful that GMT has secured a three-year, four-title commitment from Kirch and Mediaset which also involves Depardieu's own DD Productions. The second title in the deal, the $12m, French-language Balzac - A Life For Passion, also starring Depardieu, is already completed while the third - a French and English-language adaptation of Victor Hugo's Les Miserables starring John Malkovich - is currently in production.