First images from the series "Becoming Karl Lagerfeld", 7 June on Disney+.

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).

"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.

A story told for the first time on screen and inspired from the bestseller "Kaiser Karl" by Raphaëlle Bacqué (published by Albin Michel) that brings together a star-studded cast.

Around the actor Daniel Brühl ("Nothing New in the West", "Captain America: Civil War", "Rush", "Inglourious Basterds", "Good Bye, Lenin!") as the couturier, parade Théodore Pellerin ("Continental Draft (South)", "Solo", "Franklin", "Beau is Afraid") as Jacques de Bascher and Arnaud Valois (most talented new actor at Festival Lumière 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; Honorary César in 2024; "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 made a major contribution to his fame.

Jérôme Salle ("Kompromat", "Totems", "The Odyssey", "Zulu", "Anthony Zimmer") is at the helm of this major series, directing episodes 1, 2, and 6. He shares artistic production duties with Jour Premier producer 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, with Jennifer Have ("Unfaithful", "The Red Band Society") and Raphaëlle Bacqué. Isaure Pisani-Ferry is also the series' writing director; she co-wrote all episodes with Dominique Baumard ("Le Jeune imam", "Ganglands", "The Bureau"), Jennifer Have, and Nathalie Hertzberg ("Le Procès Goldman").

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 features to Paloma Picasso, and singer-songwriter and model Claire Laffut to those of Loulou de La Falaise. Legendary actress Marlene Dietrich is played by Sunnyi Melles, seen in the 2022 Palme d'Or winner "Triangle of Sadness". Andy Warhol is played by Paul Spera ("On the Line", "On the Basis of Sex", "Marie-Antoinette").

Rounding out the couture 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.

Music for the series has been entrusted to Evgueni and Sacha Galperine (“Oussekine”, "By the Grace of God", "The Undoing", "Baron noir", "The Night Doctor", "Happening", "Scene from a Marriage").

“Becoming Karl Lagerfeld” is born under the impulse of Christophe Riandee, Vice CEO of Gaumont, production company led by Sidonie Dumas. The serie is produced by Isabelle Degeorges for Gaumont and Arnaud de Crémiers for Jour Premier.

The first two episodes of the series will premiere at the Canneseries Festival.