SPOILER ALERT: This story contains spoilers from Season 5 of “Emily in Paris,” now streaming on Netflix.
Darren Star had come a long way with his eye-candied romantic comedy series “Emily in Paris,” which was first met with a Parisian shrug when it bowed on Netflix in 2020 and has now been embraced by millions, including French President Emmanuel Macron, who named Star Knight of the Legion of Honor for his contribution to the country earlier this week.
When Star set off to create “Emily in Paris,” he didn’t anticipate that it would become such a pop-culture juggernaut that would boost the French economy — driving double-digit growth in tourism — and trigger a feud between political leaders (such as Macron and Rome Mayor) over filming locations.
“You can’t imagine something like that,” Star tells Variety of the show’s cultural and economic weight during a sit-down interview at the mythical Hôtel Plaza Athénée in Paris. “What I wanted to convey was this excitement about visiting another country and coming to Paris, because America is such a big country and not everybody travels,” he says.
In Season 5, which he calls his favorite so far, Star has deliberately given “Emily in Paris” more edge, letting his characters stumble.
“I actually wanted failure to be part of the story,” he says. “It can’t always be success, success, success. I wanted this Rome chapter, but I also wanted Sylvie to fail because it’s not easy trying to manage a business in two different countries.”
He’s also turned on the heat in a major way, bringing the show closer to “Sex and the City.” One of the most unexpected plot twist of the show is Ashley Park’s Mindy engaging in a steamy romp and having sizzling chemistry — with Emily’s ex, Alfie (Lucien Laviscount).
“I think of them (‘Emily in Paris’ and ‘Sex and the City’) as two separate animals completely,” he says. “But to me, ‘Emily in Paris’ was always more of a romance, a romantic comedy. It’s the characters who have evolved. I think that it’s definitely, let’s say, becoming more adult, more passionate.”
And while Lucas Bravo’s Gabriel looks noticeably hunkier with a Californian tan and big muscles in Season 5, he’s no longer Emily’s boyfriend, as she embarks on a new romance with her Italian beau, Marcello (Eugenio Franceschini). Whether Gabriel returns again remains open, though Star says, “I can’t imagine the series without Gabriel.”
Season 5 also introduces colorful newcomers, like Minnie Driver, who plays a a penniless princess turned hustler who unexpectedly becomes Agence Grateau’s white knight. Star says she’s “set to return” if Season 6 gets greenlit by Netflix. “She took what I wrote and just took it to the next level,” Star says of her performance.
As for the future of “Emily in Paris,” Star says he’s nowhere near done with the show. He will keep going “as long as they’ll have us.” “I think when characters have a lot of life to them, they feel so real. They’re always going to have stories,” he says.
You said Season 5 was your favorite so far. Why?
Except for the first one. Because in the first one, everything was so new. But in this season, there’s just like new energy. The characters have so much growth. We see a lot more vulnerability. Emily matures a lot. I love seeing Sylvie’s character express more vulnerability and insecurity. I think, psychologically, we learned a little bit more about both of them.
I was really surprised that you’re showing these characters do things that Americans tend to consider taboo behavior, like cheating.
Because I always love to see characters make mistakes. It’s how you learn, and it’s human. It humanizes our characters. I wouldn’t say that Mindy was cheating, if that’s what you’re referring to?
I mean, she’s cheating on her friend.
She’s cheating on her friend, not telling her, and it’s just something that happens and something she thought was not going to have any repercussions. And she’d keep quiet and not imagine the feelings that might develop and how it would play out. And a lot of the things she did were an effort to protect Emily. But in those situations, it’s like trying to keep things secret that just backfire.
Those flaws make the characters more relatable.
Yeah, absolutely. I think that was what was behind us and even talking to the actors about it, talking to Lily and talking to Ashley. Ashley was a little nervous. “Oh, my God. I don’t want to betray Mindy!” But the idea that they would have a rift between them that would get resolved also can have the effect in the end of deepening their friendship.
That actually reminded me of “Sex and the City” because it’s such a big show about female friendship.
And friendships sometimes they follow a rocky path. And I think the friendships that endure are the ones that can overcome those obstacles. By this fifth season, the show has to grow more. It can’t just stay still. I think also the audience, they know the characters, and it’s nice to challenge the audience, as well and have the character not always behave in the most scripted, predictable ways.
I remember when you did Season one, you got a lot of pushback. Some people thought it was too stereotypical.
I think Season 1 was so much — whether you call it stereotypical or not — about a young woman without a lot of experience who hadn’t traveled, who’s coming to Paris for the first time with her American sense of over-enthusiasm and pretty much zero knowledge of Paris or France. She was fairly ignorant but tried to make up for that with her excitement about being in Paris. That’s what so much of season one was about. By season five, it can’t be about that anymore because she’s accustomed to being in Paris. She’s comfortable here. Emily’s learning French. And so it becomes more about the characters and their journey.
Speaking of characters evolving, Gabriel looks stunning in this season. He said that he went to the gym to get the muscles and to look tan. Where did the decision to make him even hunkier come from?
Well, that’s his decision, I don’t put any of those demands on my actors! I don’t say, “You have to go to the gym.” That’s all on Lucas Bravo, and he looks fantastic. The focus of the season wasn’t about Emily and Gabriel, which has also really changed the energy of the show. Emily had a new love interest for the entire season, and Gabriel did play a part in the show. I think that also their scenes together had a little nostalgia to them, which spoke to the idea that the show has matured, that these characters already have a past together. It doesn’t mean that there’s not a future, but the fact that they have a past means that they already have a relationship with some depth and memories and good times and bad times.
That scene at the train station, at Le Train Bleu, was touching because it feels Lily and Lucas are also speaking about their time together on the show.
Yes, I love that scene. They’ve been through a lot together. What came through to me in that scene is the love that they sincerely have for one another.
CAROLINE DUBOIS/NETFLIX
Is Gabriel going to come back in “Emily in Paris” or is he gone forever?
I can’t imagine the show without Gabriel.
Okay, so he’s going to come back.
Yes, we don’t have a Season 6, but I’m always curious to follow Gabriel’s journey and how it intersects or not with Emily’s.
Is Gabriel like Emily’s “Mr. Big”?
I don’t want to always think it has to follow the same playbook. But yes, he’s certainly a big love of Emily’s life. Whether they’re meant for each other, that’s not the question.
You also brought new characters in this season, like Minnie Driver, who plays such a good hustler. How did you think of her?
She’s hilarious. I know Minnie Driver personally. I know her work. I’m a big fan of hers. And so when I developed the character, I just thought she would just be the perfect person to step into those shoes. And I think she just nailed it beyond what I hoped, actually. She just completely got it. I feel like she took what I wrote and took it to the next level.
So you’re making her a recurring character, right?
If we have a Season 6, she’s set to come back.
Michèle Laroque is also a great find!
Love her. I was familiar with her, but really, it was our casting director, Juliette Ménager, when we wrote this character, she said, “Michèle Laroque!” and immediately I was like, “Yes, please! Let’s see if she’s available.” And she was, and I think she’s just perfection on the show.
Juliette Ménager told me you’re highly involved in casting and sometimes it takes you seconds to determine if the actor is the character or not.
I have a strong sense of it. I do. Because in my mind I see the character, I don’t necessarily see the actor. But when I see the character and then the actor who matches what my vision is, I know it’s the right fit. Sometimes it doesn’t matter what’s on the résumé of an actor.
I heard you had envisioned someone different to play Sylvie and ultimately chose Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu who nails it.
I did. In that case, I envisioned somebody younger than Philippine. When I saw Philippine, it made me rethink the character because I just felt like Philippine was so terrific and just embodied that sense of the ideal, of that unapproachable French woman who has that incredibly chic, untouchable quality that would intimidate any American.
She was so good in this season, she showed some range!
I love writing for her.
GIULIA PARMIGIANI/NETFLIX
When she’s in the editing room, chain smoking, it was hilarious.
We had probably 30 minutes of that that could have been in the show. Because she just went crazy. This season, I love exploring Sylvie’s insecurities because she’s an intense character, we don’t always get to see behind the curtain of what makes her tick. We’ve only seen her put together, but we don’t see the insecurities and some of the neuroses that are behind the scenes.
She started off as a crazy French boss in Season 1, and now she’s almost endearing.
I’ve always been rooting for Sylvie, even at the beginning!
The fashion this season seems a bit more toned down, understated.
Yes, it was conscious. I think Rome is a little looser and not as structured as Paris, let’s say. And Emily who is also coming into her own is a little more confident in her style.
So the show is partly set in Rome. I was really surprised that the Rome adventure fails, and we see them going back to Paris. I kept wondering, is it because President Macron declared his love for Emily (and said he would fight to bring the show back to Paris)?
No, I mean, I was really flattered and amused that they (the French President and Rome Mayor) were fighting over Emily in Paris. But in reality, there was never a moment where the show was going to become Emily in Rome in any real permanent way. It’s always Emily in Paris.
I actually wanted failure to be part of the story. It’s like it can’t always be success, success, success. I wanted this Rome chapter, but I also wanted Sylvie to fail because it’s not easy trying to manage a business in two different countries. She bit off a little more than she could chew. But also, I think this season, the storyline starts in Rome and does continue in Paris and then ends in Venice. It wasn’t like the storyline in Rome ended and then in Paris, we’re just off to something completely different. There’s still a connection between what happens in Rome and what happens in Paris.
Brigitte Macron actually made a cameo in Season 4! Could Emmanuel Macron be next?
I asked him! So we’ll see what happens.
And so you’ve just received the Legion of Honor for your contribution to France, which is so huge!
It was an incredible honor. I was so moved and humbled by all of it. I received it from President Macron, and it was just an incredible moment, really.
Did you ever imagine that this show would have such a huge impact, culturally and economically, on France?
No, you can’t imagine something like that. I was thinking, how can I write a show that’s going to connect with the audience? First of all, I’m never 100% happy as a writer. You’re always like, “Oh, it could have been a little better.” But I just wanted to do a show that was in my heart and hoped it connected with the audience.
Did “Sex and the City” have such a big impact on New York?
I don’t know that it had this impact. I know that I hear about it. People would say, “I moved to New York because of ‘Sex and the City.’” I do hear that a lot. But President Macron said was that 38% of tourists coming to Paris were coming because they were inspired by “Emily in Paris.” But really, for me, the reason that the show had a purpose for me in the sense that I wanted to really express my love of travel, my love of Paris, and to inspire people to travel. In that sense, that’s what I hoped the show would do, and it did. That is incredibly gratifying to see that it had that effect because what I wanted to convey was this excitement about visiting another country and coming to Paris, because America is such a big country and not everybody travels. I don’t even know the percentage of people that have passports in the U.S. But I just wanted a show that would inspire young people to travel.
Do you think you’ve also inspired Mike White to come to France for the fourth season of “The White Lotus”?
I don’t know, Mike White doesn’t need me to inspire him! I’m a huge Mike White fan, and I love “The White Lotus,” and I know him, and I think he’s just a brilliant guy.
How many more seasons of “Emily in Paris” do you think you’ll do?
I don’t know, as long as they’ll have us.
You have many more stories in your head?
You know what? It’s not that I have so many stories in my head. When characters have a lot of life to them, they feel so real. They’re always going to have stories.
Season 5 is so much sexier than previous ones and has a bit more of that “Sex and the City” edge.
Well, really, I think of them as two separate animals completely. But to me, “Emily in Paris” was always more of a romance, a romantic comedy. It’s the characters who have evolved. It’s always been there for Sylvie. It’s definitely, let’s say, becoming more adult, more passionate.
