Disney+ announced during the Canneseries Festival that the six-episode original series “Becoming Karl Lagerfeld” (formerly known as “Kaiser Karl”), produced by Gaumont and Jour Premier, will premiere on June 7, 2024, exclusively on Disney+ internationally and on Hulu in the US.
In 1972, Karl Lagerfeld (Daniel Brühl) was 38 years old and not yet wearing his iconic hairstyle. He was at that time a ready-to-wear designer, unknown to the general public. While meeting and falling in love with the sensual Jacques de Bascher (Théodore Pellerin), an ambitious and restless young man, the mysterious designer dares to confront his friend (and rival), Yves Saint Laurent (Arnaud Valois), a genius of of haute couture, supported by formidable businessman Pierre Bergé (Alex Lutz).
“Becoming Karl Lagerfeld” takes us to the mid-70s, to Paris, Monaco and Rome, to trace the formidable evolution of this complex and emblematic personality of Parisian couture, already driven by the ambition to become a fashion emperor. Between glam, conflicts of pride, grandiose parties and destructive passions, the story of Karl before he became Lagerfeld is revealed.
Adapted from the bestseller “Kaiser Karl” by Raphaëlle Bacqué (published by Albin Michel), this story is presented for the first time on the screen and brings a cast full of famous personalities.
Actor Daniel Brühl (“Nothing New in the West”, “Captain America: Civil War”, “Rush”, “Inglourious Basterds”, “Good Bye, Lenin!”) as the couturier, Théodore Pellerin (“Continental Draft (South )”, “Solo”, “Franklin”, “Beau is Afraid”) as Jacques de Bascher and Arnaud Valois (Most Talented New Actor at the Lumière Festival 2018; “120 BPM”, “Good Grief” “The Girl on the Train”, “My Best Part”, “Spring Blossom”) as Yves Saint Laurent. Alex Lutz (César for best actor in 2019; Molière in 2016 and 2020; “Vortex”, “Guy”, “Romantique”, “Baron noir”, “Strangers by Night”) plays Pierre Bergé. Agnès Jaoui (César for Best Supporting Actress in 1998, 2001 and 2016; “À l'Ombre des filles”, “En Thérapie”, “The Sweet Escape”, “The Taste of Others”) plays Gabrielle Aghion, the founder of the Chloé fashion house, who contributed greatly to its success.
Jérôme Salle (“Kompromat”, “Totems”, “The Odyssey”, “Zulu”, “Anthony Zimmer”) is at the helm of this important series, producing episodes 1, 2 and 6. He shares the role of executive producer with producer Jour Prime Minister, Arnaud de Crémiers. Episodes 3, 4 and 5 are directed by Audrey Estrougo (“Everything's Fine”, “Suprêmes”). Isaure Pisani-Ferry (“Ganglands”, “Vampires”, “Kaboul Kitchen”) is the creator of the series, along with Jennifer Have (“Unfaithful”, “The Red Band Society”) and Raphaëlle Bacqué. Isaure Pisani-Ferry is also the lead writer of the series, co-writing all episodes with Dominique Baumard (“Le Jeune imam”, “Ganglands”, “The Bureau”), Jennifer Have and NathalieHertzberg (“The Goldman Case” ).
The series also highlights the personalities from the world of fashion and culture who confronted Karl Lagerfeld during that time. Legendary actress Marlene Dietrich is played by Sunny Melles, seen in the 2022 Palme d'Or winning film Triangle of Sadness. Andy Warhol is played by Paul Spera (“On the Line”, “On the Basis of Sex”, “Marie-Antoinette”). Rounding out the cast is German actress Lisa Kreuzer (whose eclectic career includes films by Wim Wenders, Patrice Chéreau, Amos Gitaï and the “Dark” series) as Karl's mother, Elisabeth Lagerfeld.
The music of the series was the responsibility of Evgueni and Sacha Galperine (“Ousekine”, “By the Grace of God”, “The Undoing”, “Baron noir”, “The Night Doctor”, “Happening”, “Scene from a Marriage”) .
“Becoming Karl Lagerfeld” was born on the initiative of Christophe Riandee, vice-CEO of the production company led by Sidonie Dumas. The series is produced by Isabelle Degeorges for Gaumont and Arnaud de Crémiers for Jour Premier. The first two episodes of the series premiered at the Canneseries Festival.
