More than five years after the death of fashion legend Karl Lagerfeld, the industryand the world at largeis still in the process of assessing his legacy.
Last years Met Gala was, of course, devoted to the German designer, who helmed Chanel, Fendi, and his own eponymous brand, and abig-screen adaptation of his lifeis on its way, too, with Jared Leto in the lead.
Joining it will be an extravagant new Hulu seriesand a tantalizing first teaser has now finally been released, showing its dashing lead in character.
Photo: Caroline Dubois
On March 8, 2023,Varietybroke the news that the Spanish-German actor Daniel Bruhl will take on the part of the revolutionary creative director in the six-part showBecoming Karl Lagerfeld(previously titledKaiser Karl).
After his breakout role in the German tragicomedyGood Bye, Lenin!in 2003, Bruhl played the sniper who becomes a folk hero in Nazi-occupied Paris inInglourious Basterds, and received BAFTA, Golden Globe, SAG, and Critics Choice Award nominations for his portrayal of F1 legend Niki Lauda inRush.
He later joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the villainous Helmut Zemo in bothCaptain America: Civil WarandThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and was most recently seen in NetflixsAll Quiet on the Western Front.
Photo: Caroline Dubois
According to its log line,Becoming Karl Lagerfeldwill chronicle the rise of Karl Lagerfeld through the world of 1970s Parisian high fashion.
In 1972, a 38-year-old Karl Lagerfeld aspired to become the most famous French fashion designer, at a time when Yves Saint Laurent reigned supreme.
After meeting and falling in love with Jacques de Bascher, a young dandy, he found himself in competition with Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berge, the head of the most prestigious fashion brand around.
Photo: Courtesy Disney+
Full of clan rivalries and ego battles, partying and decadence, tragic love affairs and magnificent friendships, this is the story of Kaiser Karl, and his frantic quest for recognition.
Its Only the End of the Worlds Theodore Pellerin will co-star as Jacques de Bascher, Arnaud Valois as Yves Saint Laurent, and Alex Lutz as Pierre Berge.
Theyll be accompanied by Agnes Jaoui as Chloe founder Gaby Aghion;Triangle of Sadnesss Sunnyi Melles as Marlene Dietrich; Belgian artist Claire Laffut as Loulou de la Falaise; Paul Spera as Andy Warhol; and Roujes Jeanne Damas as Paloma Picasso.
Photo: Caroline Dubois
A first still, showing Bruhl in profile as Lagerfeldponytail and alldropped on January 11, 2024, and more dazzling images have since followed.
Shooting took place last year in France, Monaco and Italy, with directing duties split between Jerome Salle and Audrey Estrougo.
Meanwhile, Isaure Pisani-Ferry penned the script with help from Raphaelle Bacque, the author of the 2019 biographyKaiser Karl: The Life of Karl Lagerfeld, on which the series is based.
Best of all, the studio has promised viewers that the show will be on a grand scale, befitting its larger-than-life subject matter: there will be more than 2,200 extras, over 40 setsencompassing meticulously recreated apartments, fashion show venues and couture housesand 3,000 costumes dreamt up by French stalwart Pascaline Chavanne.
Look out for the series on Hulu on 7 June, and watch both of the thrilling early trailerscomplete with wild parties, epic runway shows and predictably spectacular interiorsbelow.
