Everything you need to know about the French time travel mystery series Parallels

Get to know about the plot, cast, and other interesting facts about Parallels, now streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.

Time travel and the parallel universes seem to be popular themes in films and TV. Thanks to shows like Loki Stranger Things, and Dark, we honestly can't get enough of this genre. Joining the bandwagon is the French science-fiction-mystery series Parallels. With new episodes already streaming on Disney+ Hotstar, here's everything you need to know if you haven't started watching it yet.

The plot

Parallels is about four childhood friends, Bilal, Sam, Romane, and Victor, who live in a peaceful village in France. One night, while they are celebrating Bilal's birthday, a mysterious event reshuffles everything in the universe. This sends the friends into separate parallel worlds, and the show depicts their struggles as they try to find their way back to the world they used to know.

The main cast

The main cast of Parallels includes Thomas Chomel (Samuel), Timoté Rigault (Bilal), Victoria Eber (Romane), and Maxime Bergeron (Victor). They play the teenage version of the main characters. Since the plot involves time travel, the older versions of these characters are played by Omar Mebrouk (Bilal), Jules Houplain (Victor) and Jade Pedri (Romane). Thomas Chomel plays both the teenage and slightly older versions of his character.

The supporting cast

Naidra Ayadi stars in the show as Sofia Belkebirs, Bilal’s mother and the woman who tries to help the teenagers go back to their normal lives. Other major cast members include Guillaume Labbé (Retz), Romain Francisco (Laurent), Gil Alma (Arnaud), Elise Diamant (Alice), Dimitri Storoge (Hervé), and Agnès Miguras (Vanessa).

The production

Parallels was first announced in February 2021 by Disney+. The show is co-written by Quoc Dang Tran, also credited as the show's creator, and Anastasia Heinzl. It is produced by Daïmôn Films and Empreinte Digitale for the Walt Disney Company.

Quoc Dang Tran has previously written the immensely popular French horror series Marianne for Netflix. His other work includes French dramas such as The Bureau and comedies such as Call My Agent! and Kabul Kitchen.

Filming locations

Considering the plot of the show, Parallels is filmed primarily in France. It is based on an experimental set in the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, located near the French-Swiss border. However, the exact filming locations of the show are still unknown.

The promotional poster

Parallels boasts an incredibly interesting poster divided into two parts. It features the four protagonists on both sides, with one side showcasing them as kids and the other as they are, post the time swap. A sinister and brooding blue shade envelopes the poster setting the theme for mystery and intrigue. The poster is completed with the subtle quote, "To find themselves, they'll have to get lost,” indicating the element of time travel.

As fascinating as time travel and the concept of the parallel universe are, we are sure you will be glad to find yourself in the present after watching Parallels. Catch this six-part series on Disney+ Hotstar.

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