John Malkovich, Emily Mortimer and Claes Bang have been cast in Apple TV+’s new biographical television series, The New Look, Deadline is reporting. The upcoming World War II-set drama, which also stars Ben Mendelsohn, Juliette Binoche and Maisie Williams, will focus on the lives of fashion icons Christian Dior and Coco Chanel.
The show was written, and is being directed and executive produced by, Bloodline and Damages co-creator Todd A. Kessler. The series is being produced by production company Apple Studios.
The New Look is set during the Nazi Occupation of Paris during World War II, when Chanel’s reign as the world’s most famous fashion designer ended and Dior’s prominence rose. Inspired by true events, the drama focuses on the pivotal moment in the 20th Century when the French capital led the world back to life through the work of its fashion icons.
The professional rise of Dior, who’s being played by Mendelsohn on the show, helped revive the world in the decade after the ending of World War II. During that time, his ground-breaking, iconic fashion dominated the industry. His original work still leaves an influence on current generations.
The New Look, which is being filmed entirely in Paris, will also include the stories of several of Dior’s contemporaries and rivals, including the Chanel (Binoche), Balmain, Balenciaga, Givenchy, Pierre Cardin and Yves Saint Laurent.
Malkovich will play Lucien Lelong, President of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture on the show. The influential fashion house employed Dior and Balmain during the Occupation. Mortimer is portraying Eva Colozzi, a friend, confidante and style inspiration to Chanel, on the series.
Bang will play Hans Von Dincklage, a Nazi operative stationed in the French capital city to both seduce and spy on the Parisian female elite.
The new drama is the first show from the newly formed television producing partnership of Kessler and veteran producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura (Transformers, G.I. Joe film series).