Naman Shrestha
Written and directed by Antoine Blossier, Netflix’s ‘K.O.’ is a French action movie that centers around an MMA fighter named Bastien, who is responsible for the accidental death of one of his opponents, Enzo, during an official MMA fight. For the next three years, he lives as a recluse while drowning in guilt and regret over the tragic incident. He gets a chance to redeem himself when Enzo’s widowed wife approaches him to help her find her missing teenage son, Léo.
In a race against time, he embarks on a mission to find and rescue the teenager. Meanwhile, he comes across a young female cop named Kenza. They join forces and do everything they can to bring the crime lords of Marseille to justice. Featuring impressive onscreen performances from Ciryl Gane, Maleaume Paquin, Alice Belaïdi, Faued Nabba, and Mathieu Lestrade, the gripping tale of the Netflix production unfolds in the city of Marseille, which is known for its historic sites.
K.O. Filming Locations
The production of ‘K.O.’ was carried out entirely in France, specifically in Marseille. As per reports, principal photography for the French film got underway in late May 2024 and went on for more than a month, as it was wrapped up in early July of the same year. Given the involvement of an actual UFC fighter, Ciryl Gane, all the cast and crew members were extremely pleased to share the set with him, allowing them to take home many memories after the conclusion of a successful production.
Marseille, France
In order to maintain the visual authenticity of the production, the makers of ‘K.O.’ decided to tape almost all the pivotal sequences in the vibrant French city of Marseille. Whether it is the establishing shots or the indoor fighting sequences, the filming team ensured to utilize every aspect of the city located in the Provence region. As per reports, several key portions were lensed in and around Saint-Pierre, as the cast and crew captured the lively streets of the district to enhance the tension.
During the shooting process, the production team was also spotted shooting important scenes on numerous iconic sites, including Place de la Major, Frais Vallon, and Boulevard Du Redon. Besides that, reports suggest that several other northern districts of Marseille were also turned into film sets for incorporating scenes for ‘K.O.’ Known for its art and history, Marseille consists of many ancient and historic buildings and churches, including the Old Port, the Porte d’Aix, La Vieille Charité, the Abbey of Saint-Victor, the Palais Longchamp, the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations, and more, some of which you might be able to spot in the establishing shots or in the backdrop of exterior scenes.
A nearby mountainous region also seemingly served as a production location for the action film. As for the UFC ring scenes, they were either recreated on a sound stage of a film studio situated in and around Marseille or the production team set up camp inside an actual UFC arena. Despite the busy filming schedule, UFC fighter Ciryl Gane continued his training. He told L’Équipe (translated), “I am an MMA fighter first and foremost. I couldn’t imagine going several weeks without training. When my friends go out for a drink in the evening and insist that I come, I go home to sweat.”
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