The world of French cinema is about to get a pulse-pounding new entry with the release of the trailer for Le Lièvre. As reported by Ecran Large, this upcoming feature plunges viewers into a chilling near-future where a clandestine long-distance race offers an ultimate gamble: run to exhaustion, or face a fatal injection of poison. This grim premise immediately brings to mind the survivalist dystopias popularized by Stephen King's The Running Man and The Long Walk, both of which have seen their own adaptations.

At the heart of Le Lièvre is Ian, portrayed by Dali Benssalah, an actor known for his roles in films like L'Arabe, Les Orphelins, and Belladone. Ian's profession is that of a "lièvre" — a pacemaker who sets the tempo for another runner in a race. Driven by personal struggles and a desperate need to prove his worth, he decides to enter the deadly underground competition himself. The stakes couldn't be higher, as the trailer suggests a world where human lives are mere pawns in a brutal betting game.

This marks the feature film debut for writer and director Gonzague Legout, who is tasked with bringing this tense vision to the big screen. The cast also includes veteran talents such as Simon Abkarian, who takes on the role of the menacing game master, alongside Sandrine Bonnaire and Naïlia Harzoune. The combination of a compelling, albeit dark, concept and a promising cast with a fresh directorial voice positions Le Lièvre as a film to watch.

Le Lièvre had its initial screening at the prestigious Angoulême Francophone Film Festival, building early anticipation. Audiences will be able to experience this intense dystopian thriller when it arrives in cinemas on December 2, 2026. Metropolitan FilmExport Sde Quest Films is handling the distribution, promising a gripping cinematic experience.