Netflix’s The Hunchback, Soul of Paris is the newest reimagining of an enduring classic character by Victor Hugo, entirely in its native French. Most people probably recognize the character, Quasimodo, from the widely adored Disney animated film from 1996, The Hunchback of Notre Dame. In the Disney musical, Tom Hulce of Amadeus fame voiced the titular figure, while this newest version is performed in full live action by French actor Vincent Cassel. Cassel has a diverse body of work, starring in such films as La Haine, Mesrine, Black Swan, Jason Bourne, The Shrouds, and even Shrek. 

Victor Hugo’s original work, first published in 1831, has had a legacy of adaptations and iterations, the earliest of which was released in 1905. This makes The Hunchback, Soul of Paris the latest work in a century old cinematic tradition, and throughout this tradition, every film has had its share of alterations and or additions to the novel’s narrative. 

In the recently released trailer for the Netflix adaptation, one can see that the film will take place in 1830, despite Hugo’s novel taking place in 1482. This puts the story right on the brink of the historical July Revolution, as well as a suitable time period for two other notable inclusions: a focus on medical experimentation and the author Hugo as a character. 

French class relations may resonate with audiences, being itself reflected in modern French politics. As director Jean-François Richet told Vanity Fair, his film will be about “class struggle, the people, the elites,” along with “medicine, beauty and the beauty of the ugly.”

The film is scheduled to release on Netflix on November 27, 2026.