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.[3] It also stars Niels Schneider, Thierry Lhermitte, Benoît Magimel, Anamaria Vartolomei, and Simon Russell Beale.[4][5] This is the biggest French film project of 2026.[6][7]

The first part, Résistance (French: L'Âge de fer, lit. 'The Iron Age'),[8] had its world premiere out of competition at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival on 20 May,[9] followed by its theatrical release in France by Pathé on 3 June. The second part, Liberté (French: J'écris ton nom, lit. 'I Write Your Name'),[8] was theatrically released in France on 26 June.[10]

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.[11] 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

Production

Development

A two-part film directed by Antonin Baudry about Charles de Gaulle was commissioned by Pathé in July 2021.[12]

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.[13][1][6]

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.[14] 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.[15][16]

Volker Bertelmann was announced to compose the film's musical score in December 2025.[17]

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.[8]

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.[18][10]

Reception

Box office

The first part, Résistance, grossed $18.7 million at the box office in France and other countries.[19]

The second part, Liberté, grossed $13.7 million.[20]

References

  1. 1 2 "La Bataille de Gaulle : L'âge de fer de Antonin Baudry (2026) - Unifrance". www.unifrance.org. Retrieved May 20, 2026.
  2. ↑ "De Gaulle: Résistance (15)". British Board of Film Classification. July 14, 2026. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  3. ↑ "LA BATAILLE DE GAULLE : L'ÂGE DE FER". Festival de Cannes. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Une série sur Charles de Gaulle en tournage au Maroc". Bladi.net. August 15, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  5. ↑ Carbon, Justine (August 1, 2024). "END CLAP FOR ANTONIN BAUDRY'S "DE GAULLE"". Troiscouleurs.fr. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  6. 1 2 "Pathé mise tout sur cette date symbolique pour sauver son onéreux diptyque sur le Général de Gaulle". Le HuffPost (in French). June 12, 2026. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Box-office : les Français ont-ils répondu à l'appel de "La Bataille de Gaulle" ? | TF1 Info". www.tf1info.fr (in French). June 10, 2026. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  8. 1 2 3 Laffly, Tomris (May 25, 2026). "'De Gaulle: Résistance' Review: Antonin Baudry's Large-Scale Epic is a Conventional yet Consistently Engaging Wartime Biopic". Variety. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  9. ↑ "The Screenings Guide of the 79th Festival de Cannes". Festival de Cannes. May 7, 2026. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  10. 1 2 rédaction, La (June 11, 2026). "La Bataille De Gaulle - J'écris ton nom change de date". Boxoffice Pro (in French). Retrieved June 23, 2026.
  11. ↑ Keslassy, Elsa (January 25, 2023). "Pathe, Logical Pictures Sign Three-Year Co-Production, Co-Financing Deal to Enlist Private Investors (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  12. ↑ Keslassy, Elsa (July 5, 2021). "Pathé Sets Charles de Gaulle Film, Unveils Deals on 'Asterix,' 'Musketeers,' 'King' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  13. ↑ Carbon, Justine (August 1, 2024). "Clap de fin pour « De Gaulle » d'Antonin Baudry". Trois couleurs. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Shooting wraps on Antonin Baudry's diptych De Gaulle". Cineuropa.org. July 31, 2024. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Filming for new Charles de Gaulle biopic takes Paris back in time". Thelocal.fr. September 7, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  16. ↑ Leblanc, Daniel (August 14, 2023). "De Gaulle: the discreet Parisian filming of the new biopic". lepoint.fr. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Volker Bertelmann to Score Antonin Baudry's 'De Gaulle: Tilting Iron' & 'The Sovereign Edge'". Film Music Reporter. December 15, 2025. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  18. ↑ Keslassy, Elsa (December 15, 2025). "'De Gaulle' Teaser: Pathé's Star-Studded Historical Thriller Charts How French General Led Resistance During WWII (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  19. ↑ "De Gaulle: Résistance". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved August 11, 2026.
  20. ↑ "De Gaulle: Liberté". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved August 11, 2026.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Gaulle_(2026_film)