Chanel Unveils Bleu de Chanel Ad Directed by Martin Scorsese, Starring Timothée Chalamet

Chanel has released a highly anticipated 90-second advertisement for its Bleu de Chanel men's fragrance, directed by legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese and starring Timothée Chalamet. The ad, filmed in New York City, showcases Chalamet's journey to self-expression in a dream-like setting.

This marks the first collaboration between Scorsese and Chalamet, and it comes over a year after a viral video showed Chalamet getting hit by a camera during filming. The ad features Chalamet portraying a version of himself on a fast-moving press tour for a film, where he plays a character named Simon.

The commercial is set to Herbie Hancock's 1983 hit 'Rockit' and includes a mix of black-and-white and color scenes. The ad explores themes of celebrity, beauty, and rock 'n' roll music. Chalamet's character is guided by his female co-star, played by Havana Rose Liu, who represents the intermediary between celebrity and art.

The ad's climax features Chalamet's character finding himself on a subway platform, merging with his on-screen persona, Simon. Francesca Scorsese, Martin Scorsese's daughter, appears in the ad as Chalamet's handler. The tagline for the ad is 'Find your blue, find yourself,' which Chalamet embodies as he searches for authenticity in a world of deceit.

Chalamet has described the ad as 'not evocative of other commercials' and stated that he didn't want audiences to 'feel like it's a product.' Scorsese, known for his complex storytelling, emphasized the challenge of creating a compelling narrative in a short timeframe, stating, 'Strong images that tell a story in 60 seconds [or 90] is probably the most difficult thing to do.'

The ad was filmed in April 2023 on the streets of New York City and has been teased by Chalamet and Scorsese over the past year. In an interview with Vogue, Chalamet described the scent of Bleu de Chanel as 'a little pulled back; it's subtle but still assertive, a directed approach to fragrance.'

The release of this campaign marks a significant moment for Chanel, aiming to connect with a new generation and re-introduce the classic fragrance. With Scorsese's direction and Chalamet's star power, the ad is poised to make a lasting impact.

Key Takeaways

• Chanel releases 90-second ad for Bleu de Chanel, directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Timothée Chalamet.
• The ad explores themes of celebrity, beauty, and rock 'n' roll music, set to Herbie Hancock's "Rockit".
• Chalamet plays a version of himself on a press tour, guided by co-star Havana Rose Liu, representing art and celebrity.
• The ad's tagline is "Find your blue, find yourself", with Chalamet searching for authenticity in a world of deceit.
• The campaign aims to connect with a new generation and re-introduce the classic fragrance, marking a significant moment for Chanel.