Everything you need to know about 'Kaiser Karl', the forthcoming Karl Lagerfeld series

A new TV series focused on the life and career of the legendary designer Karl Lagerfeld is in the works.

Kaiser Karl will chart the legacy of Lagerfeld – who helmed some of the world's most prominent fashion houses, from Chanel to Chloé and Fendi, before launching his own label – and is set to air on Disney+. The series will follow this year's Met Gala, which is also devoted to the late veteran.

The German designer died in 2019 aged 85 and worked right up until his death. He was one of the most prolific and celebrated names in history, so fashion fans will delight at the chance to feast on a whole series dedicated to him.

Here's everything we know about the upcoming series, from the cast to the plot.

The plot

Set in the fashionable world of 1970s Paris, the six-part series will tell the story of how the designer came to be. According to Variety, it will portray a 38-year-old Lagerfeld when he was just breaking into the fashion scene and had big dreams of becoming the most famous designer in the world. As we know, he succeeds Coco Chanel (a decade after her death) by joining the fashion house that she founded, and spending 36 years at the helm.

Kaiser Karl will also explore the rivalry between Lagerfeld and his contemporary, Yves Saint Laurent – and in particular the tension between Lagerfeld and Saint Laurent’s partner, Pierre Berge, reports Variety. The series will also feature Lagerfeld's lover, Jacques de Bascher, as well as his close friendships and the decadent partying scene that he was at the centre of during those years.

The cast

German actor Daniel Brühl will take on the role of Lagerfeld, with Arnaud Valois and Alex Lutz playing his fashion rivals Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé, reports The Hollywood Reporter. Théodore Pellerin will play Jacques de Bascher and Agnès Jaoui will portray Chloé founder Gaby Aghion, who was famously one of the first to spot Lagerfeld's talent

French cool-girl and Rouje’s designer Jeanne Damas will play the inimitable Paloma Picasso, the daughter of the famous artist Pablo Picasso. She joins others in portraying the creatives of the time, including Paul Spera as Andy Warhol; Sunnyi Melles as actress Marlene Dietrich; and Claire Laffut as designer Loulou de la Falaise.

The air date

The series is currently shooting in France, Monaco and Italy, but has no official release date yet. Kaiser Karl will premiere on Disney+ and is directed by Jérôme Salle and Audrey Estrougo. It will be partly based on the 2019 biography Kaiser Karl: The Life of Karl Lagerfeld, with the author Raphaëlle Bacqué helping Isaure Pisani-Ferry write the script.

This piece originally appeared in Harper's Bazaar UK