The new series has been adapted from bestselling book, Kaiser Karl, by Raphaëlle Bacqué.
We finally have our first look at Daniel Brühl as the German fashion designer in upcoming series, Becoming Karl Lagerfeld, which will explore his rise to the top of the fashion world.
Brühl is most notably known for his roles in Good Bye, Lenin!, Rush and in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Helmut Zemo. In this new series, though, Brühl transforms into the “emperor of fashion” and first look images for the series reveal quite the transformation.
As well as a sneak peek at the series, we also now have a newly released trailer which teases some of the ’70s-set drama to come, accompanied by Blondie’s Heart of Glass.
The new six-parter is based on bestseller Kaiser Karl by Raphaëlle Bacqué and will tell “the story of Karl before Lagerfeld”, set to take us on a journey through “glamour and clashes of egos, grandiose parties and destructive passions”.
Read on for everything you need to know about Becoming Karl Lagerfeld.
Becoming Karl Lagerfeld release date
The new series will premiere on Friday 7th June exclusively on Disney Plus and will also stream on Hulu in the US.
The series will consist of six episodes, with all episodes landing at once so you won’t have to wait to binge-watch this one!
Becoming Karl Lagerfeld cast
As well as Brühl leading the cast as Lagerfeld, he is joined by Théodore Pellerin (Beau is Afraid) as Jacques de Bascher and Arnaud Valois (The Girl on the Train) as Yves Saint Laurent, another prominent French fashion designer that Lagerfeld had rivalry with, despite the pair also being friends.
Alex Lutz (Strangers by Night) plays Pierre Bergé, longtime business and life partner of Laurent while Agnès Jaoui (The Sweet Escape) plays Gabrielle Aghion, the founder of the house of Chloé who made a major contribution to Lagerfeld’s fame.
The full cast list for Becoming Karl Lagerfeld is as follows:
- Daniel Brühl as Karl Lagerfeld
- Théodore Pellerin as Jacques de Bascher
- Arnaud Valois as Yves Saint Laurent
- Alex Lutz as Pierre Bergé
- Agnès Jaoui as Gabrielle Aghion
- Jeanne Damas as Paloma Picasso
- Claire Laffut as Loulou de La Falaise
- Sunnyi Melles as Marlene Dietrich
- Paul Spera as Andy Warhol
- Lisa Kreuzer as Elisabeth Lagerfeld
What is Becoming Karl Lagerfeld about?
Unfolding across Paris, Monaco and Rome in the ’70s, this series is set to take us to the early stages of Lagerfeld’s illustrious career before he reached the dizzying heights of fame many of us recognise him for.
Beginning his career in the ’50s, Lagerfeld worked for several top fashion houses including Balmain and Chloé before joining Chanel in 1983, going on to achieve worldwide success as its creative director by bringing new life to the brand’s ready-to-wear lines. But who was he before all of that?
Well, Becoming Karl Lagerfeld is a story told on screen for the first time about Lagerfeld’s career, loves and life.
As per the synopsis: “In 1972, Karl Lagerfeld (Daniel Brühl) is 38 and not yet wearing his iconic hairstyle. He is a ready-to-wear designer, unknown to the general public. While he meets and falls in love with the sultry Jacques de Bascher (Théodore Pellerin), an ambitious and troubling young dandy, the most mysterious of fashion designers dares to take on his friend (and rival) Yves Saint Laurent (Arnaud Valois), a genius of haute couture backed by the redoubtable businessman Pierre Bergé (Alex Lutz).
“Becoming Karl Lagerfeld plunges us into the heart of the 70s, in Paris, Monaco and Rome, to follow the formidable blossoming of this complex and iconic personality of Parisian couture, already driven by the ambition to become the Emperor of fashion.
“Between glamour and clashes of egos, grandiose parties and destructive passions, discover the story of Karl before Lagerfeld.”
The series is also set to highlight the “fashion and cultural personalities who rubbed shoulders with Lagerfeld at the time”, including designers like Loulou de La Falaise and Paloma Picasso, the designer and daughter of artist Pablo Picasso.
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Is there a trailer for Becoming Karl Lagerfeld?
There is! The trailer offers up a first look at Brühl’s Lagerfeld, who confesses to preferring to lead a life of anonymity and realises that there are people around him who don’t want him to succeed.
Watch the trailer for yourself below.
Becoming Karl Lagerfeld comes to Disney Plus on Friday 7th June and will also stream on Hulu in the US – sign up to Disney Plus for £7.99 a month or £79.90 a year now.
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