Against the backdrop of Nazi-occupied Paris during World War II, Ben Mendelsohn’s portrayal of Christian Dior seeks to forge a new path in the trailer for the upcoming Apple TV+ historical drama, The New Look.
The 10-episode series, a reunion of Mendelsohn with his Bloodline showrunner Todd A. Kessler, delves into the interwoven narrative of Christian Dior, Coco Chanel (Juliette Binoche), and their contemporaries grappling with the horrors of World War II while pioneering modern fashion. Kessler serves as the creator, writer, director, and executive producer of The New Look.
The trailer hints at the tension between Dior and Chanel as Dior rises to prominence, threatening Chanel’s status as the world’s most famous fashion designer.
“Christian Dior ruined French couture, and I’m coming back to save it,” declares Chanel at one point, dismissively questioning, “You think Dior is fashion?”
John Malkovich’s Lucien Lelong warns Dior, “Chanel can be very treacherous.”
The preview showcases images of Dior’s clothing and designs, capturing the designer at work juxtaposed with scenes of life in 1940s Paris.
Based on true events, The New Look was exclusively filmed in Paris and features Maisie Williams, Emily Mortimer, Claes Bang, and Glenn Close, who reunites with Kessler after their collaboration on the legal thriller Damages. Close, portraying Harper’s Bazaar editor-in-chief Carmel Snow opens the preview with, “Parisian couture could influence how thousands of ordinary women dream and live. But fashion needs a new leader. I keep waiting for the great collection to rise from the ashes of the war.”
Both Dior and Lelong emphasize the power of creation.
“For those of us who lived through the chaos of war, creation was survival,” reflects Dior, later adding, “People need to feel, dream. They need to live again. We can create a new world for them.”
Lelong concurs, stating, “Creation cannot stop the bullets, but creation is our way forward.”
The New Look premieres with three episodes on Apple TV+ on Feb. 14, followed by one episode a week every Wednesday through April 3.
