It's a true story. Eugène-François Vidocq was an important figure of French history even though he is not very well known, and has been portrayed on screen numerous times, in films such as the Vidocq (1911), Vidocq (1939), A Scandal in Paris (1946), Le cavalier de Croix-Mort (1948), The Story of the Count of Monte Cristo (1961) and Vidocq (2001) among others.
Regarding the fight scenes, director Jean-François Richet, lead actor Vincent Cassel and the choreographers tried to find a new, unidentifiable style.
Throughout the process of creating the film, director Jean-François Richet had for major influences the universe and the characters of the books written by Alexandre Dumas, as well as some popular novels of the early twentieth century, such as those of Maurice Landay.
Shooting began on September 25, 2017. Between October 19 and November 10, 2017, scenes were be shot on "La Base", the former air base 217 near Brétigny-sur-Orge and Plessis-Pâté in the Essonne.
Production was also installed in the castles of Vaux-le-Vicomte and Fontainebleau in Seine-et-Marne and in the Saint-Maclou cathedral in Pontoise.
Jean-François Richet and his team had the choice to shoot in Prague, a city whose streets resemble Parisian streets and interesting in terms of cost. But the director, supported by the producers Eric Altmayer and Nicolas Altmayer, preferred filming in France.