The Hunchback, Soul Of Paris: Netflix names its Vincent Cassel retelling

The Hunchback is not the story you are expecting

The film heads back to Paris in 1830, just before the July Revolution, but it does not retell Victor Hugo’s original novel. The story focuses on the real man who is believed to have inspired Hugo’s famous character, with the city also dealing with a growing cholera epidemic and political unrest.

That should make the film feel quite different from the many versions that have already been made, especially Disney’s much-loved animated adaptation. Hugo’s original story has become so familiar that another faithful live-action remake could struggle to offer anything new.

When Irish viewers can watch it

With Netflix only confirming an autumn 2026 release, Irish viewers can expect The Hunchback, Soul of Paris to arrive on Netflix Ireland before the end of the year, although an exact date has not been announced yet.

The film joins Netflix’s growing line-up of new releases, with Vincent Cassel likely to be one of its biggest selling points. The French actor leads the period drama as the man linked to the origins of Quasimodo, giving the film a much more serious tone than the family-friendly versions audiences may be used to.