“Emily in Paris in Rome doesn’t make sense.†So sayeth French president Emmanuel Macron in an interview with Variety. Or should it be Variété? Macron was asked about a wide range of issues — from Céline Dion performing at the Paris Olympics to regulating AI and deepfakes. But obviously, the most pressing issue was whether Emily Cooper will ever return to her beloved France. “Emily in Paris is super positive in terms of attractiveness for the country. For my own business, it’s a very good initiative,†Macron said. “We will fight hard. And we will ask them to remain in Paris!†Okay, but can France compete with the Italian filming credits that have seen shows like The White Lotus, Ripley, and Mr. & Mrs. Smith filming there?
Season 4 of Emily in Paris saw Emily taking a Roman holiday, after getting her heart broken by her French bf. It also saw Emmanuel Macron’s wife, Brigitte, make a cameo (for which she brought her own wardrobe). When asked if Monsieur Macron would ever guest on the show, he demurred. “I’m less attractive than Brigitte!†he said.
Circling back on those tax incentives, the Italiano ones might be going away. Per Variety, Italy had a 40% tax credit. But the new far right government in Italy has been revising the tax code. Macron recently fought back a far right challenger of his own, Marine Le Pen. Macron acknowledged that France’s pro-art government, what he called “creative biodiversity,†would be at risk under a far right regime. “I don’t think it can ever be taken for granted. Decisions could be made in a rash manner. I don’t think everyone is pleased that France has such a lively, pluralistic, irreverent culture,†he said. “There are films I like, and films I don’t like. There are films that sometimes even attack what you do. And that’s great. That’s the strength of a country.†That and Instagram posts about croissants.