Between shows like “Halston,” “The New Look,” “The Collection,” and Ridley Scott’s movie “House Of Gucci,” stories about the fashion empire seem to be on the neverending rise. And in the era of Peak TV—which hasn’t really subsided despite reports to the contrary—it seems like almost anyone is worthy of their own mini-series. To that end, one of the most famous icons of modern fashion, eccentric German designer Karl Lagerfeld, is getting the biopic treatment, or rather, origin story in the new Hulu mini-series, “Becoming Karl Lagerfeld.”
The 70 Most Anticipated TV Shows & Mini-Series Of 2024
Lagerfeld was one of the larger-than-life figures in fashion with his trademark look of white mane, ponytail, black gloves and dark sunglasses. Having worked for Fendi, Chanel, and then his own label, Karl Lagerfeld, from 1984 on, the designer passed away at the age of 85 in 2019, and now is apparently the right moment to tell his story.
The perfect actor has been cast, too. Daniel Brühl, known to modern audiences as Baron Von Zemo in the “Falcon And The Winter Solider” Marvel mini-series, among many other roles, stars as a young Lagerfeld in the early 1970s, making his way into the world of fashion, years before he became a titan of the industry.
The series was created by Isaure Pisani-Ferry, Jennifer Have, and Raphaëlle Bacqué. Isaure Pisani-Ferry is also the series’ lead writer, co-writing all episodes with Dominique Baumard, Jennifer Have, and Nathalie Hertzberg. The series also stars Théodore Pellerin, Arnaud Valois as designer Yves Saint Laurent, Alex Lutz, AgnèsJaoui, and Sunnyi Melles as American starlet Marlene Dietrich.
Here’s the official synopsis:
In 1972, Karl Lagerfeld (Daniel Brühl) is 38 and not yet wearing his famous catogan. 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).
Directors of the series include Jéröme Salle (eps 1-2-6) and Audrey Estrougo (eps 3-4-5), and the series music was composed by Evgueni and Sacha Galperine. Adapted from the novel “Kaiser Karl” by Raphaëlle Bacqué, published by éditions Albin Michel, “Becoming Karl Lagerfeld” premieres on Hulu on June 7. Watch the first trailer below.