A new French crime thriller has put Singapore in the spotlight, but not quite for the reasons viewers might expect. Singapura, a six-episode miniseries released by French television network CANAL+ on 2 November 2026, has attracted attention from Singaporean viewers who have questioned how the city-state is portrayed on screen.
Set within Singapore’s French expatriate community, the series follows a murder investigation involving a group of wealthy foreign residents.
However, while the story is supposed to take place in Singapore, viewers have pointed out that several locations featured in the production look rather different from the real thing.
The discussion has also drawn attention to the show’s production, with reports from local media indicating that much of the filming actually took place in Bangkok, Thailand, rather than Singapore.
According to The Straits Times, the series has prompted viewers to question its visual representation of the city, with its video coverage asking: “Is this Singapore?”
The publication also highlighted scenes that appear unfamiliar to people who know the country.
The contrast has become a talking point online, particularly as the series features spacious properties, unfamiliar streets and residential settings that do not necessarily reflect everyday life in Singapore.
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A French Expat Community at the Centre of the Story
Created by Elsa Marpeau and adapted from her 2013 novel L’Expatriée, Singapura follows Justine, a French investigative journalist who moves to Singapore with her family after accepting a new job.
Hoping for a fresh start, she becomes close to her neighbour Élisa and gradually enters the city’s French expatriate social circle.
Things take a darker turn when a murder occurs in their luxury residential community. As the investigation unfolds, Justine discovers a web of secrets, relationships and betrayals among the French expatriates and their Filipino domestic workers.
She eventually joins forces with Detective Adam Wong to uncover what happened.
The six-part thriller consists of 52-minute episodes and is directed by Danielle Arbid and Lucie Borleteau. Its main cast includes Naïlia Harzoune as Justine, Ariane Labed as Élisa, Soji Arai as Detective Adam Wong, India Hair and Cédric Kahn.
The series was also included in the 2026 edition of The American French Film Festival in Los Angeles, where its North American premiere featured the first two episodes.
