Freddie Highmore, best known for his chilling turn in Bates Motel, is reportedly in talks to take on another dark icon—this time as a reimagined Edgar Allan Poe in the upcoming French period detective series Edgar & Augustine, according to Variety.

Set in mid-19th century Paris, the series will pair Highmore with acclaimed French actress Audrey Fleurot (Spiral, Call My Agent!). The fictional story imagines Poe arriving in the City of Light, only to cross paths with Augustine, a brilliant and sharp-witted female detective inspired by Poe’s own literary creation, C. Auguste Dupin.

Dupin, who first appeared in Poe’s 1841 short story The Murders in the Rue Morgue, is widely considered the blueprint for all modern detectives—predating both Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot. Edgar & Augustine promises to blend historical fiction with gothic intrigue, while paying tribute to Poe’s influence on the genre.

The series has been in development for over six years, spearheaded by Elizabeth Kesses at EJK Productions. It’s being written and showrun by Patrick Renault, with production slated to begin in summer 2026.

Gaumont, the studio behind Netflix’s Lupin, will produce the show for French network TF1, with a major streamer expected to join as a co-financier. Given Gaumont’s previous collaborations, Netflix is rumored to be in the mix.

While it’s still early days for Edgar & Augustine, expect this stylish detective series to draw attention as casting finalizes and production begins.