Disney+ has unveiled the trailer for “Becoming Karl Lagerfeld,” the streamer’s highly anticipated original series starring Daniel Brühl as the iconic fashion designer.
Produced by Gaumont (“Lupin”) and Jour Premier, the six-part series chronicles the rise of Karl Lagerfeld through the world of 1970s Parisian high fashion. It will be available to stream on Disney+ in France and international territories, and on Hulu in the U.S., on June 7. “Becoming Karl” world premiered at Canneseries, where it received a standing ovation and warm reviews.
The lushly lensed series opens in 1972, when the 38-year-old Lagerfeld is a ready-to-wear designer, unknown to the general public. He falls in love with a sultry dandy, Jacques de Bascher (Théodore Pellerin), who inspires him to challenge himself and act on his ambition to become the world’s most famous French fashion designer. He faces off Yves Saint Laurent (Arnaud Valois), who reigned supreme with the backing of Pierre Bergé (Alex Lutz), and subsequently becomes the head designer and creative director of Chanel, Fendi and his own label.
Taking place across Paris, Monaco and Rome, the series also depicts the clan rivalries and ego battles of the high-fashion world, as well as the epic partying and decadence, Lagerfeld’s tumultuous love affair with de Bascher and his friendships.
Jérôme Salle, the well-known French director whose credits include “Kompromat,” “Totems,” “The Odyssey” and “Zulu,” directed Episodes 1, 2 and 6, while up-and-coming director Audrey Estrougo (“Authentik,”“Héroïnes”) helmed the other three. Salle is also an executive producer, along with Jour Premier producer Arnaud de Crémiers.
The series is adapted from Raphaëlle Bacqué’s bestseller “Kaiser Karl.” Isaure Pisani-Ferry (“Ganglands”, “Vampires”) created the series with Jennifer Have (“Unfaithful”, ” The Red Band Society”) and Bacqué. Pisani-Ferry also co-wrote all episodes with Dominique Baumard (“Le Jeune imam”, “Ganglands”), Have and Nathalie Hertzberg (“The Goldman Case”).
“Becoming Karl Lagerfeld” also highlights some of the biggest stars of the era, including Marlene Dietrich, who will be played by Sunnyi Melles (“Triangle of Sadness”); Paloma Picasso (Jeanne Damas); Loulou de la Falaise (Claire Laffut, a high-profile Belgian singer and artist); and Andy Warhol (Paul Spera). German actress Lisa Kreuzer, whose eclectic career includes films by Wim Wenders, Patrice Chéreau, Amos Gitaï and the “Dark” series, stars as Karl’s mother, Elisabeth Lagerfeld.
The series was scored by Evgueni and Sacha Galperine (“Oussekine”, “By the Grace of God”). The artistic team brings together a topnotch key crew including cinematographers Mélodie Preel (“In Treatment”) and Mahdi Lepart (“Grown Ups”), costume designer Pascaline Chavanne (“An Officer and a Spy”), and production designer Jean Rabasse (“The City of Lost Children,” “Vatel”). More than 2,200 extras, over 40 different sets and some 3,000 costumes are featured in the series.
“Becoming Karl Lagerfeld” was produced by Isabelle Degeorges at Gaumont, which is led by Sidonie Dumas and vice CEO Christophe Riandee; andde Crémiers at Jour Premier.
Watch the trailer above.
