De Gaulle (2026 film)
French biopic film
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De Gaulle (French: La Bataille de Gaulle) is a 2026 two-part epic biographical drama film directed by Antonin Baudry, co-written with Bérénice Vila, and based on the nonfiction book A Certain Idea of France: The Life of Charles De Gaulle by Julian Jackson. It stars Simon Abkarian as Charles de Gaulle, and follows the general as a leading figure in the French Resistance during the World War II.[4] It also stars Niels Schneider, Thierry Lhermitte, Benoît Magimel, Anamaria Vartolomei, and Simon Russell Beale.[5][6] This is the biggest French film project of 2026.[7][8]
- Antonin Baudry
- Bérénice Vila
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| French | La Bataille de Gaulle |
| Directed by | Antonin Baudry |
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| Based on | A Certain Idea of France: The Life of Charles De Gaulle by Julian Jackson |
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| Music by | Volker Bertelmann (Part 1) and Théo Cascio (Part 2) |
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| Distributed by | Pathé |
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| Budget | €74 million |
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The first part, De Gaulle: Résistance, also distributed as De Gaulle: Tilting Iron (French: L'Âge de fer, lit. 'The Iron Age'),[9] had its world premiere out of competition at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival on 20 May,[10] followed by its theatrical release in France by Pathé on 3 June. The second part, De Gaulle: Liberté, also distributed as De Gaulle: The Sovereign Edge (French: J'écris ton nom, lit. 'I Write Your Name'),[9] was theatrically released in France on 26 June.[11]
Plot
The film follows Charles de Gaulle, who rose from being a French army officer, to leading the French Resistance against Nazi Germany during World War II.[12] The formation of his government-in-exile in London, his tumultuous relationship with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, as well as the Resistance's operations in Africa – especially the Battle of Bir Hakeim – are featured prominently.
Cast
- Simon Abkarian as Charles de Gaulle
- Niels Schneider as Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque
- Thierry Lhermitte as Henri Giraud
- Karim Leklou as Blazej
- Simon Russell Beale as Winston Churchill
- Campbell Scott as Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Benoît Magimel as Marie-Pierre Kœnig
- Félix Kysyl as Jean Moulin
- François Goeske as Klaus Barbie
- Kacey Mottet Klein as Geoffroy Chodron de Courcel
- Anamaria Vartolomei as Livia
- Pip Torrens as Bernard Montgomery
- Daniel Betts as Dwight D. Eisenhower
- Tom Mison as Anthony Eden
- Stephen Campbell Moore as Harold Macmillan
- Anthony Calf as Edward Spears
- Noémie Schmidt as Susan Travers
- Janis Ahern as Florence Conrad, founder of The Rochambelles
- Alice de Lencquesaing as Suzanne Torrès
- Loïc Corbery as René Pleven
- Pierre Aussedat as Georges Catroux
- Hugo Bariller as Professor Dressel (Fernand's teacher)
- Dan Kadosh as Gustavo Camerini
- Cédric Vieira as Michel Debré
- Sami Ameziane as Raymond Dronne
- Christophe Kourotchkine as Marcel Peyrouton
- Pablo Cobo as Colonel Passy
- Soufiane El Khalidy as a Bir Hakeim soldier
- Tom Neal as one of the AMGOT préfets
Production
Development
A two-part film directed by Antonin Baudry about Charles de Gaulle was commissioned by Pathé in July 2021.[13]
It is written by Baudry and Bérénice Vila, and based upon British author Julian Jackson's book, De Gaulle, une certaine idée de la France. It is produced by Pathé in co-production with TF1 Films Production and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Cinéma. The film had a production budget of €74 million, becoming one of the most expensive French films of all time.[14][1][7]
Filming
Filming on the first chapter took place in the summer of 2023 with Pierre Cottereau and Giora Bejach as cinematographers. Filming on the second-part was completed by July 2024.[15] Filming locations included Place du Panthéon and Gare de l'Est and around the Hôtel de Ville station in July and August 2023, and Le Marais area of Paris in September 2023. Filming also took place in Normandy and Morocco.[16][17]
Volker Bertelmann was announced to compose the film's musical score in December 2025.[18]
Release
The two-parts were initially subtitled Tilting Iron and Sovereign Edge, respectively. But were later retitled for the international market as Résistance and Liberté, respectively.[9]
The first part of the film, Résistance, premiered at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival on 20 May and was followed by its theatrical release on 3 June 2026. The second part, Liberté, was planned for release on 3 July the same year but was finally moved to June 26.[19][11]