Vincent Cassel Is Quasimodo in Trailer for Netflix’s Live-Action THE HUNCHBACK, SOUL OF PARIS
Netflix has released the first trailer for its upcoming French live-action film The Hunchback, Soul of Paris, and Vincent Cassel is taking on the role of Quasimodo in a new version of Victor Hugo’s classic story that mixes romance, revolution, and a deadly epidemic.
The film, also titled Quasimodo, l'âme de Paris in French, takes the familiar tale in a different direction, setting the story in Paris in 1830, where a cholera outbreak is spreading through the city and political unrest has everyone on edge.
Cassel plays Quasimodo, a hunchbacked stonemason who becomes the target of police and medical authorities seeking to use him for experiments. His already difficult life gets even more complicated when he falls in love with a dancer and puts himself in danger to protect her.
The official synopsis reads: "In 1830 Paris, torn apart by cholera and revolution, a hunchbacked stonemason (starring Vincent Cassel as Quasimodo) hunted by the police risks everything to save the dancer he has fallen for, inspiring Victor Hugo's most legendary character."
This is an interesting approach to the material, presenting Quasimodo's story as the inspiration for Hugo's famous character rather than simply retelling the events of the original novel.
Most audiences probably associate the character with Disney's 1996 animated film The Hunchback of Notre Dame, but Hugo's original 1831 novel has inspired numerous film and television adaptations over the years. This new take looks to lean more into the historical drama and darker elements of the story.
The film is directed by Jean-François Richet, whose previous credits include Assault on Precinct 13, Mesrine: Killer Instinct, Blood Father, and Plane. He also directed the Jason Statham action thriller Mutiny.
The cast also includes Benjamin Voisin, Daphné Patakia, Karim Leklou, Noémie Lvovsky, and Eugénie Richet as Cosette. Richet also appears among the credited cast members.
The screenplay comes from Éric Besnard and Edgar Marie, with Clément Miserez and Matthieu Warter producing.
France has been bringing several of its famous literary classics back to the screen lately, including Les Misérables and The Three Musketeers. Now Quasimodo gets his turn, with Cassel stepping into one of literature's most recognizable roles.
I'm curious to see how this version plays out, especially with its decision to place Quasimodo in the middle of a cholera epidemic and a city on the verge of revolution. Cassel is also an interesting choice for the character, and the film looks like it will offer something quite different from the adaptations we've seen before.
The Hunchback, Soul of Paris premieres globally on Netflix on November 27, 2026.