Before the long-awaited wedding of Greg and Eliott, scheduled for Friday in “Here it all begins”, Mikaël Mittelstadt returns for us to his return to the series and to the way in which this final intrigue was imagined, which will mark his real departure.
The time for farewells has (almost) come for Greg and Eliott in Here it all begins. In two days, the emblematic couple of the culinary soap opera will say “yes” in front of the whole of the Auguste Armand institute, during an exceptional episode which will come to close three years of love story in apotheosis and will mark the departure by Mikaël Mittelstadt and Nicolas Anselmo, present since the very first episode.
Was this very beautiful conclusion and this long-awaited wedding planned since the “departure” of Greg, who took everyone by surprise at the end of last year on TF1? As for Eliott and Hortense, will they be able to reconcile in time so that the announced double marriage is indeed celebrated?
Before discovering the wedding of “Greliott” on the screen this Friday, July 14 at 6:30 p.m. in Here it all begins, Mikaël Mittelstadt confides in his return to the series on the occasion of this final intrigue in the form of a gift to the fans, on the symbol that this marriage represents, and on what awaits us in the last three episodes of this ark.
AlloCiné: When you left Here everything started at the end of last yeardid you already know that a return was planned this summer for the wedding of Greg and Eliott?
Mikael Mittelstadt : It had been mentioned, but when I played Greg’s departure for Tokyo, for me it was really my departure. The authors did not write the departure knowing that six months later I would return.
During a small party at the end of filming, it had been mentioned with a few authors, we had discussed the possibility of my coming back, to concretize the end and the culmination of the story of Greg and Eliott. It was about that, but, honestly, when I finished filming in November, in my head, it was over, it was the end clap.
For you, this marriage was the perfect end to these three years of love between the two characters?
Completely. From a symbolic point of view, it’s great, it’s the apotheosis of Greg’s path, in terms of identity, acceptance vis-à-vis the father, the parents. There was no better way to close their respective stories to both. And then it’s cool weddings, it ends well, it’s happy, it’s joyful.
A gay wedding at 6:30 p.m. on TF1 is a strong symbol. Are you proud to carry this plot and this message?
Of course, even if with Nicolas we said to each other the other day that we had somewhat forgotten that it was a gay wedding at 6:30 p.m. on TF1. For us, it’s so obvious these two characters who love each other that we kind of forgot that. But of course, it’s very nice to show it. However, I think that before being a gay marriage on TF1, it is above all the union of two characters with linked destinies who want to seal each other so that they can then fly away.
Screenshot/TF1
Were you surprised by the idea of the screenwriters to turn this marriage into a double marriage? Or, on the contrary, did you have the feeling that the wedding was too expected and that you had to surprise?
When reading, I was surprised by two things: the kilt (laughs) and the double marriage. It’s true that to hold a slightly original plot, we have to bring something new. Otherwise the character comes back, everything is fine and it’s not interesting. Or else we have to imagine new conflicts between Greg and Eliott, and we’ve had quite a few so far (laughs).
The authors wanted to play the daring card and try a new concept, it’s great. And that allowed us to shoot quite a bit with Catherine Davydzenka and Marvin Pellegrino, who are great. I had a lot of giggles with Marvin on that arch.
This last arch marks your departure, but also that of Nicolas Anselmo. Did the two of you consult when you decided to turn the page Here it all begins and fly away to other adventures?
We both expressed, independently, our desires to move on. I expressed it slightly earlier than him, so that’s why I left the series at the end of last year. But it had also crossed Nicolas’ mind and he wanted to follow suit soon after. Except that, from a narrative point of view, it was complicated with the stories of diplomas.
So we thought it would be more obvious if Nicolas first took a first break of a few weeks, when Eliott left to see Greg in Japan, that he came back, that there was the train accident, and for Greg to return for their final storyline. So we didn’t really consult each other, but we were happy to leave together.
Screenshot/TF1
How did you feel coming back to the set after six months of absence?
It was terrifying because I felt like I hadn’t left. It was very strange, even if we were all happy to see each other again. From a point of view of rhythm, automatisms, nothing had changed. It’s a bit like home after all this series. There is even a technician who had worked on a filming session in October, when I was still there, then who took a six-month break and came back when I came back. So he didn’t know I was gone (laughs). It was quite funny.
In the Thursday July 13 episode, Greg and Mehdi join forces to reconcile Eliott and Hortense. Will they achieve it?
They will go for broke. They will take matters into their own hands because they know them both very well. They want this positive event, a symbol of joy, to materialize.
At the same time, Greg makes a decision with serious consequences: he gives up Japan for Eliott. Was it important for you that he understand that Eliott has somewhat hidden behind his desires, behind those of Benoît Delobel too?
Absolutely. And behind the fact that he gives up Tokyo out of love for Eliott, I think there are also Greg’s own desires that stand out. When his father asks him what he really wants, he replies “I just want Eliott to be happy actually”.
Despite his journey since the beginning of the series, he may not have been able to put it that way yet, but his desire really lies in the happiness of this other person. And no longer with the idea of pleasing his father or pleasing himself. It’s important because it’s thanks to Eliott that he understands it and thanks to this story in Japan. We are again on an initiatory quest which is being accomplished. After that they will end up opening an ashram in India (laughs).
Is this proof of Greg’s ultimate love for Eliott after all?
Completely. We are on very very heavy there.
Find the second part of our interview with Mikaël Mittelstadt on Friday on AlloCiné, on the occasion of the broadcast on TF1 of the long-awaited episode of the wedding of Greg and Eliott.