Serie - Becoming Karl Lagerfeld: A Glamorous Plunge into the Fashion Universe of the 70s

By Mulder, 16 march 2024

The series Becoming Karl Lagerfeld, soon to be broadcast on Hulu, offers a fascinating immersion into the fashion world of the 70s through the rise of Karl Lagerfeld. Created by Isaure Pisani-Ferry, Jennifer Have and Raphaëlle Bacqué, this French series is eagerly awaited for its release on June 7, 2024. It promises to captivate viewers as it traces Karl Lagerfeld's rise to power in the world of Parisian haute couture.

Daniel Brühl, renowned for his roles in Nothing New in the West and Captain America: Civil War, plays the lead role. Around him, a prestigious cast unfolds, with Théodore Pellerin as Jacques de Bascher, the sultry young dandy and Lagerfeld's lover, Arnaud Valois as Yves Saint Laurent, the haute couture genius, and Alex Lutz as Pierre Bergé, the redoubtable businessman and Yves Saint Laurent's partner. Agnès Jaoui plays Gabrielle Aghion, founder of the Chloé fashion house, while Sunnyi Melles and Paul Spera play Marlene Dietrich and Andy Warhol respectively. Lisa Kreuzer plays Elisabeth Lagerfeld, Karl's mother.

Direction of the series is shared between Jérôme Salle, who directs episodes 1, 2 and 6, and Audrey Estrougo, in charge of episodes 3, 4 and 5. Produced by Gaumont and Jour Premier, the series benefits from a strong creative team, with Isaure Pisani-Ferry at the helm of writing, assisted by Dominique Baumard, Jennifer Have and Nathalie Hertzberg. The script plunges us into 1972, when Karl Lagerfeld, then a 38-year-old ready-to-wear designer still unknown to the general public, meets Jacques de Bascher, an ambitious young dandy who turns his life upside down. This encounter catalyzed his ambition and led to an intense rivalry with Yves Saint Laurent, backed by businessman Pierre Bergé. Becoming Karl Lagerfeld explores the passions, betrayals and ambitions that marked Karl's rise to become the iconic Lagerfeld.

Viewers will be transported to the glamorous settings of Paris, Monaco and Rome in the 70s, where lavish parties and intense ego clashes take place. The story, adapted from Raphaëlle Bacqué's bestseller Kaiser Karl, marks the first time that Karl Lagerfeld's story has been told on screen, offering an unprecedented perspective on his life before becoming the legendary designer we know today. The soundtrack, composed by Evgueni and Sacha Galperine, promises to add an intense emotional dimension to this dramatic saga, reinforcing the already captivating atmosphere of the series.

Under the guidance of Christophe Riandee, Gaumont's Deputy Managing Director, and with production directed by Isabelle Degeorges for Gaumont and Arnaud de Crémiers for Jour Premier, Becoming Karl Lagerfeld promises to be a must-see series for fashion and history enthusiasts. With a top-notch cast, meticulous direction and a captivating story, it will offer an in-depth look at the rise of one of the most emblematic figures in Parisian f/ashion. The series also highlights the fashion and cultural personalities who rubbed shoulders with Karl Lagerfeld at the time. Jeanne Damas, fashion designer and actress in La Sincérité and Rock'n Roll, lends her f eatures to Paloma Picasso, and singer-songwriter Claire Laffut to those of Loulou de La Falaise. Rounding out this exceptional cast is German actress Lisa Kreuzer, known for her eclectic career spanning films by Wim Wenders, Patrice Chéreau, Amos Gitaï and the Dark series, as Elisabeth Lagerfeld, Karl's mother.

All in all, Becoming Karl Lagerfeld is a major production that plunges us into a fascinating era, rich in glamour, ego conflicts, grandiose parties and destructive passions, recounting for the first time on screen how Karl Lagerfeld became a fashion legend. Join us on Hulu on June 7, 2024 to discover this glamorous historical fresco.

Synopsis
In 1972, Karl Lagerfeld, a 38-year-old ready-to-wear designer still unknown to the general public, meets Jacques de Bascher, an ambitious young dandy. This relationship turned his life upside down and catalyzed his ambition. Karl finds himself in rivalry with Yves Saint Laurent, backed by Pierre Bergé. Becoming Karl Lagerfeld explores the passions, betrayals and ambitions that marked Karl Lagerfeld's rise to fashion legend.

Becoming Karl Lagerfeld
Created by Isaure Pisani-Ferry, Jennifer Have, Raphaëlle Bacqué
Executive producers: Isabelle Degeorges, Arnaud de Crémiers, Jérôme Salle
Starring Daniel Brühl, Théodore Pellerin, Arnaud Valois, Alex Lutz, Agnès Jaoui, Sunnyi Melles
Music : Evgueni et Sacha Galperine
Production company : Gaumont Television
Network : Disney+ (France), Hulu (United States)
Release : June 7, 2024 (France, United States)