Irma Vep is a comedy drama television miniseries created, written and directed by Olivier Assayas for HBO. Based on Assayas's 1996 film of the same name, the series premiered at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival on May 22. It debuted on June 6, 2022 and concluded on July 25, consisting of eight episodes.
It stars Alicia Vikander as Mira, an American movie star who comes to France to star as Irma Vep in a television series adaptation of the French silent film serial Les Vampires, and Vincent Macaigne as René, the director of the adaptation. It also features an ensemble supporting cast, including Adria Arjona, Byron Bowers, Jeanne Balibar, Vincent Lacoste, Nora Hamzawi, Hippolyte Girardot, Devon Ross, Alex Descas, Antoine Reinartz, and Lars Eidinger.
Irma Vep received highly positive reviews from critics, who praised Vikander's performance and Assayas's direction.
Premise
Irma Vep revolves around Mira, an American movie star disillusioned by her career and a recent breakup, who comes to France to star as Irma Vep in a television series adaptation of the French silent film serial Les Vampires. Set against the backdrop of a lurid crime thriller, Mira struggles as the distinctions between herself and the character she plays begin to blur and merge.
Cast
Starring
Alicia Vikander as Mira Harberg, a Swedish-born American actress keen to change the direction of her career and shake off a recent tabloid scandal. Vikander also portrays Musidora during flashback scenes. Vincent Macaigne as René Vidal, the director of the television series whose history of anxiety disorders, incoherent artistic vision, and constant clashes with the cast, crew and producers all threaten to derail the project. Macaigne also portrays Louis Feuillade during flashback scenes.
Recurring co-stars
Adria Arjona as Laurie, Mira's ex-assistant and ex-girlfriend. After things did not end well with Mira, she married Herman. Byron Bowers as Herman Ray, a Hollywood filmmaker who is in Paris to promote his latest film Jeanne Balibar as Zoe, a costume designer. She supplies drugs to Gottfried and is attracted to Mira. Vincent Lacoste as Edmond Lagrange, a French actor hired to play Philippe Guérande Nora Hamzawi as Carla, assistant director. Hamzawi also portrays Feuillade's assistant during flashback scenes. Hippolyte Girardot as Robert Danjou, a French actor hired to play the Grand Vampire. Girardot also portrays Jean Ayme during a flashback scene in the fifth episode. Devon Ross as Regina, a cinephile and Mira's assistant Alex Descas as Grégory Desormeaux, a producer. Descas is reprising his role from the 1996 movie. Antoine Reinartz as Jérémie, a camera operator Carrie Brownstein as Zelda, Mira's agent. She is not interested in the Vampires project and does not accept that Mira is uninterested in playing the girlfriend in the upcoming "Silver Surfer" movie, despite Mira's repeated refusal of the role. Lars Eidinger as Gottfried, a drug-addicted German actor hired to play Juan-José Moréno. Eidinger also portrays Fernand Herrmann during a flashback scene in the sixth episode. Tom Sturridge as Eamonn, Mira's ex-boyfriend. He's in Paris for a movie, and they have not seen each other since they broke up. Fala Chen as Cynthia Keng, a rising star from Hong Kong hired by René Vidal to play Irma Vep's provocative accomplice and part of the Vampires' plans. Pascal Greggory as Gautier Parcheminerie, a man who is financing the series so that Mira agrees to work on a campaign for his cosmetics brand Dominique Reymond as René's therapist
Other co-stars
Sigrid Bouaziz as Séverine, a French actress hired to play Marfa Koutiloff, and Edmond's ex-girlfriend Vivian Wu as Jade Lee, René's ex-wife who played Irma Vep in its previous remake. Archival footage of Maggie Cheung from the 1996 movie is used when Jade appears as Irma. Lou Lampros as Galatée, an aspiring actress hired to play Jeanne Brémontier. Lampros also portrays Louise Lagrange during a flashback scene in the eighth episode.
Additionally, Valérie Bonneton portrays Mira's French PR, Élizabeth Mazev appears as Musidora in an interview from 1947, while Jean-Luc Vincent portrays the host. Denis Podalydès appears as the Police Prefect during a flashback scene, Maya Persaud plays Sandra, a member of the production, and Jérôme Commandeur portrays Angus, a production executive. Alexandre Steiger plays Jules, an actor portraying Mazamette, while Stefan Bohne appears as Thor, a bondage consultant on the series, Mélodie Richard as Aurélia, an actress portraying Augustine, and Maud Wyler as Rebekah, an actress portraying Mme D'Alba.