Exclusive Sneak Peek: 2026 General de Gaulle Biopic Trailer Drops Before Cannes Premiere!

This year, the Cannes Film Festival will feature several historical films, such as Moulin and The Battle of Gaulle. These films belong to a trend in French cinema that revisits the nation’s political and literary heritage by highlighting prominent figures known internationally.

The Battle of Gaulle will be released in two parts. The first film, “The Battle of Gaulle: The Age of Iron,” is set for release on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, and the second, “The Battle of Gaulle: I Write Your Name,” will follow on Friday, July 3, 2026. The films will debut exactly a month apart. Before its general release, “The Battle of Gaulle: The Age of Iron” will be presented out of competition at the Cannes Film Festival.

Check out the official trailer for the film:

What’s the official plot of the films?

June 1940. France collapses and signs the armistice. Amidst the chaos, one man refuses to give in. Alone against all, this unknown general escapes to London to preserve what remains of a dream: freedom. Without an army, without support, without hope. But with an unwavering belief: France, his France, has not surrendered. He makes one final bet: to convince the world that the battle for France is neither over nor lost.

Reality is stubborn and proves him wrong. But gradually, in England, France, and Africa, shadowy resistance fighters, rebellious students, and determined soldiers rise. Their faith, their audacity, their thirst for freedom challenge the history that seemed already written.

The screenplay, adaptation, and dialogue are penned by Bérénice Vila and Antonin Baudry. The films are based on the book by British historian Julian T. Jackson, De Gaulle: A Certain Idea of France.

A Star-Studded Cast

Simon Abkarian (The Fourth Wall, Kabul Kitchen) stars in the lead role, supported by a vast cast including Benoit Magimel, Thierry Lhermitte, Niels Schneider, and the breakout star Florian Lesieur.

It’s worth noting that the most recent actor to portray General De Gaulle on the big screen was Lambert Wilson, in 2020, in Gabriel Le Bomin’s film simply titled De Gaulle. But who were the actors who played the president before Simon Abkarian and Lambert Wilson?

Antonin Baudry is the director behind the acclaimed The Wolf’s Call, featuring François Civil, Omar Sy, and Mathieu Kassovitz, released in February 2019, which attracted 1.5 million viewers.

The 79th edition of the Cannes Film Festival will take place from Tuesday, May 12, to Saturday, May 23, 2026.

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