Lady Liberty: Secrets of an Icon (2026): Cast, Story and Release

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Lady Liberty: Secrets of an Icon revisits the creation of the Statue of Liberty, from its French origins and public fundraising to its completion two decades later. Combining historical drama with original 3D reconstructions, the film explores the monument’s ties to emancipation, freedom and democratic ideals.

Lady Liberty: Secrets of an Icon examines the origins and construction of one of the world’s best-known monuments. The French documentary-drama follows the Statue of Liberty from its conception as a gift to the young American Republic through the long process that brought it into being.

Directed by Julien Johan, the film combines historical storytelling with original 3D virtual reconstructions of Auguste Bartholdi’s Paris atelier. Its subject is both the statue itself and the ideals of freedom and emancipation that became associated with it.

Lady Liberty: Secrets of an Icon movie details

Story without spoilers

The film traces the Statue of Liberty’s development across two decades, presenting it as a gift from France to the newly established American Republic and describing it as the first crowd-funded monument of its kind. Its historical account returns to the period of the statue’s original construction, including the work connected to sculptor Auguste Bartholdi and the people involved in bringing the project forward.

Through reconstructions and dramatized historical roles, Lady Liberty: Secrets of an Icon places the monument within a broader story about politics, immigration, patriotism and the founding ideals of democracies. The film also highlights the importance of public participation in the statue’s creation.

What to expect

This 89-minute production is classified as Documentary, History and Drama. Viewers can expect a historically focused account supported by original 3D virtual reconstructions, narration and dramatized portrayals of figures associated with the project, including Auguste Bartholdi, Édouard Laboulaye and Joseph Pulitzer.

The subject matter centers on the statue’s French-American origins, its fundraising history and its symbolic connection to freedom and emancipation. The supplied details point to an educational historical presentation rather than a fictional story detached from the monument’s documented development.

Cast and creative team

Julien Johan directs Lady Liberty: Secrets of an Icon. Léonie Simaga provides the voice of the narrator, while Yann Lesvenan portrays Auguste Bartholdi, Laurent Mothe portrays Édouard Laboulaye and Joseph Anthony Naranjo portrays Joseph Pulitzer. The cast also includes Morgane Branchoux as Modèle Liberty, Régis Romele as Président Ulysses S. Grant, James Brack as Mr. Comfort, John Linhart as Mr. Garson, Nicolas de Lavergne as Colonel Forney and Colonel Forney as Miss Botta.

• Léonie Simaga as Self – Narrator (voice)
• Yann Lesvenan as Auguste Bartholdi
• Laurent Mothe as Édouard Laboulaye
• Joseph Anthony Naranjo as Joseph Pulitzer
• Morgane Branchoux as Modèle Liberty
• Régis Romele as Président Ulysses S. Grant
• James Brack as Mr. Comfort
• John Linhart as Mr. Garson
• Nicolas de Lavergne as Colonel Forney
• Colonel Forney as Miss Botta

Release and production context

Lady Liberty: Secrets of an Icon is a 2026 French production with a runtime of 1 hour and 29 minutes. It is listed with a release date of October 15, 2026, and its spoken language is French. The production companies are ARTE, Gedeon Programmes, The WNET Group, Musée d'Orsay, Planète+, Československá televízia Bratislava, ERT and SBS. Its original French title is Liberté, la statue qui voulait changer le monde.

Production companies: ARTE, Gedeon Programmes, The WNET Group, Musée d'Orsay, Planète+, Československá televízia Bratislava, ERT, SBS

Lady Liberty: Secrets of an Icon official trailer

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Lady Liberty: Secrets of an Icon offers a focused historical account of the Statue of Liberty’s creation, emphasizing its French origins, public funding and enduring association with democratic ideals. With its blend of narration, dramatized roles and 3D reconstruction, it provides a concise introduction to the monument’s complicated beginnings.

Film data:
TMDB · IMDb