Daniel Brühl to Direct Biopic “Break” About German Tennis Champion Gottfried von Cramm

Posted on July 2, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Daniel Brühl is returning to the director’s chair.

The 46-year-old German-Spanish actor will hem the biopic Break starring Felix Kammerer as real-life German tennis champion Gottfried von Cramm who found himself in the crosshairs of the Nazi regime as his sporting star rose in the 1930s.

The production reunites the team behind German WWI drama All Quiet On The Western Front, which was nominated in nine categories at the Academy Awards in 2023 and won in four, including Best International Feature Film.

London and LA-based The Ink Factory and partners Marc Platt and Adam Siegel at Marc Platt Productions are joining forces on the production with producer Malte Grunert at Amusement Park and the Oscar-winning film’s director and producer Edward Berger at Nine Hours.

The film will follow von Cramm’s breathtaking sporting career under the Nazi regime from 1933 to 1945, as he navigates political and personal complexity and a high-stakes love triangle, which meant he went into the 1937 Davis Cup in Wimbledon playing for his life.

The film is adapted by Hossein Amini from Marshall Jon Fisher’s 2009 book ‘A Terrible Splendor: Three Extraordinary Men, a World Poised for War, and the Greatest Tennis Match Ever Played’. The story will be told in German and English.

“Gottfried’s life offers a thrilling prism to look at the history of Europe on the cusp of war – but more than that, it is the story of a deeply personal moral conflict and a dangerous romance – and the life-and-death stakes of greatest tennis match ever played,” said Simon and Stephen Cornwell at The Ink Factory.

“The combination of Hoss’ mesmerizing script, Daniel’s deeply thoughtful directorial eye, and Felix’s raw talent is a heady mix. We are thrilled to be partnering with our old friends Adam Siegel, Marc Platt and Malte Grunert, and to have the opportunity to work with the incomparable Edward Berger. It’s thrilling to be part of bringing the All Quiet team back together to tell this utterly compelling, hugely relevant story,” they added.

Break marks German-Spanish acting star Brühl’s second feature directorial credit after the 2021 drama Next Door, a drama exploring the impact of gentrification on contemporary Berlin.

He previously appeared alongside Kammerer in All Quiet On The Western Front, on which he also took an executive producer credit. The pair have also just been on set together in Ron Howard’s upcoming movie Eden.

Brühl has been seen most recently as the titular iconic designer in Disney+ show Becoming Karl Lagerfeld.

“From a contemporary perspective, the extraordinary story of Gottfried von Cramm is one that demands to be told. Gottfried is a hero for our times. I’m thrilled – and grateful – to be embarking on this cinematic journey, and to travel it together with my friends Felix Kammerer and Malte Grunert will make the pleasure greater still,” said Brühl who is also a partner at Amusement Park.

Brúhl’s long time collaborator and Amusement Park MD Grunert said von Cramm’s story chimed with the times.

“The story of Gottfried von Cramm is one of personal heroism displayed with unassuming elegance. At a time when the freedom and liberty we enjoy are once again under threat from rising nationalism and far right politics, it feels as timely as ever,” he said.

“Reuniting with Daniel, Felix and Edward together with our friends at The Ink Factory and Marc Platt Productions in order to bring Hossein Amini’s fantastic script to the screen will be a joy. I can’t wait to get started and get on the court as part of this great team.”

Daniel Brühl to Star as Late Fashion Designer Karl Lagerfeld in Disney+’s Series “Kaiser Karl”

Posted on March 9, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Daniel Brühl is taking on a fashion legend…

The 44-year-old Spanish-German actor and filmmaker will star as late fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld in Kaiser Karl, the anticipated Disney+ original series which Gaumont is currently producing.

The six-part series is currently shooting in France, Monaco and Italy.

The series will chronicle the rise of Lagerfeld through the world of 1970s Parisian high fashion. In 1972, a 38-year-old Lagerfeld aspired to become the most famous French fashion designer, at a time when Yves Saint Laurent reigned supreme. Lagerfeld went on to become the head designer and creative director of Chanel, Fendi and his own label.

The series will also explore the rivalry between Lagerfeld and Yves Saint Laurent’s partner Pierre Berge, as well as his love story with Jacques de Bascher.

Along with depicting the clan rivalries and ego battles of the high fashion world, the series will also portray the epic partying and decadence, tragic love affairs and friendships, which marked Lagerfeld’s life.

Jérôme Salle, the well-known French director, will be the “artistic mastermind” behind the series and is set to direct Episodes 1, 2 and 6, while up-and-coming director Audrey Estrougo will helm the other three.

Brühl, one of Germany’s biggest and most internationally driven stars, will headline the series alongside Théodore Pellerin as de Bascher; Arnaud Valois as Yves Saint Laurent; Alex Lutz as Pierre Bergé; and Agnès Jaoui as Gaby Aghion, the founder of the Chloé brand who helped elevate Lagerfeld.

A showcase of queer subculture and the glamorous Parisian world of fashion, the upcoming premium series will mark the first dramatic series on the famed designer, who has previously been the subject of documentaries.

Kaiser Karl was created and adapted for television by Isaure Pisani-Ferry, Jennifer Have and Raphaëlle Bacqué, author of the bestselling biography of the same name.

A movie biopic is also being made on Lagerfeld with Jared Leto attached to play the designer.

Penélope Cruz to Serve as Co-Chair of 2023 Met Gala

Posted on January 19, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Penélope Cruz has Met her match…

The 48-year-old Spanish Oscar-winning actress will serve as a co-chair of this year’s Met Gala, an annual exclusive fashion exhibition for the benefit of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Cruz is among a list of celebrity co-chairs that includes Dua Lipa, Roger Federer and Michaela Coel.

They’ll be joined by Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, who has led the event since 1995.

Co-chairs serve as ambassadors for the event, according to Vogue. They provide input on the eclectic guest list, decor and the overall vibe of the event, which is invitation-only and to which tickets are priced at $35,000.

The 2023 theme for the fashion event is “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty.”

On the evening of the May 1 event, celebrities will honor Lagerfeld’s legacy. He led the fashion houses Chanel, Fendi, and Chloé before his death in 2019.

Jared Leto to Star in Film About Acclaimed Fashion Designer Karl Lagerfeld

Posted on October 6, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Art will soon imitate fashion soon for Jared Leto.

The 50-year-old part-Spanish American actor/singer will star in a film about the acclaimed fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld.

Leto will co-produce the project with Lagerfeld’s House of Karl Lagerfeld. Leto will produce alongside his partner, Emma Ludbrook, through their production company Paradox.

The late fashion icon’s trusted confidants, Pier Paolo Righi, Caroline Lebar and Sébastien Jondeau, will partner as executive producers of the film.

For over 35 years, Lebar worked closely with Lagerfeld as an advisor for both his brand and personal communications, while Righi has served as CEO for Lagerfeld for over 10 years. Jondeau spent 20 years as the designer’s personal assistant and bodyguard, and continues his collaboration with the brand today as a Style Consultant.

“Karl has always been an inspiration to me,” says Leto. “He was a true polymath, an artist, an innovator, a leader and, most importantly, a kind man. When we came together with the Karl Lagerfeld team, we immediately shared a creative vision of doing a respectful ode to Karl while pushing the artistic boundaries of what a biopic can be. I’m so grateful to Karo, Pier and Seb for allowing us to go on this journey together.”

The exact storyline remains confidential, though the film will cover the key relationships in Lagerfeld’s life, told through an unpredictable lens, much like the man himself. Producers are currently in conversation with filmmakers.

“Over the years, we have been approached by several Hollywood producers who suggested to partner on a movie about Karl’s iconic life,” says Righi, CEO of KARL LAGERFELD. “It has been only since we met Jared and Emma that we felt truly confident about the story being told in the artistic way Karl would have loved to see. Throughout our conversations, we have created an equally trustful and inspiring creative relationship that will allow us to work together very fluidly on this beautiful project.”

The famed fashion designer died in February 2019 and continues to be revered as one of the most fascinating and celebrated creatives of this century.

More recently, on Friday, September 30, Anna Wintour (Chief Content Officer & Global Editorial Director of Vogue) and The Metropolitan Museum of Art announced the theme of the 2023 Costume Institute Exhibition and Met Gala will be Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty. Dedicated to Lagerfeld’s iconic work and six-decade career, the exhibition will explore his creative process, the evolution of his designs, and his everlasting impact on fashion.

Lopez: This Halloween’s Best-Costumed Latina Celebrity

Posted on November 2, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

There’s no doubt celebrities know how to go all out for All Hallows‘ Eve. And some don’t hold back at all.

Here’s a look at the most spook-tacular Halloween costumes by Hispanic celebrities this year, including this year’s best-dressed Latina Jennifer Lopez.

The 46-year-old Puerto Rican singer/actress and American Idol judge, who is prepping for her Las Vegas residency, was nothing short of drop dead gorgeous as a self-described “haute couture skeleton.”

Lopez and her boyfriend Casper Smart attended Heidi Klum’s annual Halloween bash in New York City.

She may say she’s “trouble,” according to her Instagram account, but Gina Rodriguez looked like she’d found trouble in her costume.

The 31-year-old Puerto Rican actress and Jane the Virgin star dressed up as a broken china doll.

It may be Halloween, but it was more like The Nightmare Before Christmas for Nicole Richie.

The 34-year-old part-Mexican American television personality and fashionista dressed up as Mr. Jack Skellington, the king of Halloween Town in the classic animated film from Tim Burton.

It appears one costume wasn’t enough for Alessandra Ambrosio…

The 34-year-old Brazilian supermodel and Victoria’s Secret Angel traded in her wings for horns as she donned a racy red devil costume to host her Heaven And Hell party in Los Angeles.

But Ambrosio didn’t just flaunt her supermodel figure and set temperatures soaring in her red costume, she also proved to be one hot momma.

She shot a selfie of herself dressed as Little Red Riding Hood, with her son dressed as an adorable fire house dalmatian.

She may be the head of The Honest Company, but Jessica Alba is claiming she invented Post-Its.

The 34-year-old half-Mexican American actress and her BFF Kelly Sawyer wore matching costumes worn by the characters on the poster for the classic chick flick Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion.

Fergie proved to be the cat’s meow in her Halloween costume.

The 40-year-old part-Mexican American singer and Black Eyed Peas member and her actor-husband were a match made in heaven as Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld and his beloved cat Chopette at the Casamigos Tequila Halloween party in Los Angeles Dascha Polanco.

Dascha Polanco knows how to “work it, work it, own it.”

The Dominican actress and Orange Is the New Black star dressed up as Julia Roberts in the iconic ‘90s flick Pretty Woman in New York City.

Blahnik to Receive Couture Council of Artistry and Fashion Award from the Fashion Institute of Technology

Posted on April 10, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a special first for Manolo Blahnik…

The 72-year-old Spanish designer and founder of the self-named, high-end shoe brand will receive a “career-crowning” Couture Council of Artistry and Fashion Award from the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT).

Blahnik is the first footwear designer to receive the prestigious international award for lifetime achievement.

Blahnik, who celebrated his namesake label’s 40th anniversary in 2012, became a late-career household name, thanks, in part, to Sex and the City, which name-dropped him reverently.

It’s one of the few international honors in fashion, decided by a committee of editors, retailers and journalists. In years past, it has been received by Karl Lagerfeld, Valentino, Oscar de la Renta and Carolina Herrera.

Herrera Receiving Special Fashion Group International Award

Posted on July 17, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

There’s no doubt that Carolina Herrera is a superstar in the world of fashion… And, now she’ll have an award to prove it!

The 73-year-old Venezuelan-American designer, who has designed a limited edition T-shirt for this year’s Key to the Cure campaign, will be honored by the Fashion Group International this fall as the recipient of their Superstar award.

Herrera—one of 24 noted designers creating a holiday collection for Target and Neiman Marcus— will receive the honor at the group’s annual Night Of Stars gala on October 25

“Carolina is an international icon and a brilliant businesswoman. For over three decades, she’s remained true to her elegant design aesthetic in everything — from her signature collection to her bridal, accessories and fragrance collections — while presiding over a global business with a singular focus on excellence,” says Fashion Group president Margaret Hayes. “She has an innate understanding of what smart, chic women everywhere want when it comes to style and beauty.”

Last fall, Herrera gained international attention from new generation of fashionistas and increased her star power when she designed the wedding dress Kristen Stewart’s character Bella wore in the The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part I.

Past recipients include Giorgio Armani, Karl Lagerfeld, Oscar de la Renta and Donna Karan.

In addition to Herrera’s Superstar prize, Haider Ackermann, Gareth Pugh and Derek Lam will also be honored with special awards, and the Marmotti Family of Max Mara will receive the Brand Heritage Award.

Smalls Starring in Chanel’s Latest Ad Campaign

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

She’s a rising star in the modeling world… And, now Joan Smalls has landed an oh-so-coveted campaign…

The 23-year-old Puerto Rican model appears in the spring 2012 campaign from luxury label Chanel.

Captured by the label’s creative director Karl Lagerfeld, Smalls and Saskia de Brauw appear as high fashion gymnasts in the campaign. The dynamic duo hit the beach wearing lightweight dresses and outerwear in the classically styled images shot at the Hôtel du Cap Eden Roc.

Smalls—who recently walked the runway for designers Oscar de la Renta and Diane von Furstenberg—even performs acrobatics high above the ocean.

Don’t worry! As evidenced by the behind-the-scenes video, Smalls wasn’t exactly risking her life for Lagerfeld’s lens. But she still had to rope climb, mount a high bar and swim—all in Chanel!

Images courtesy of Chanel/Karl Lagerfeld.

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