Review of Prada Fall 2023 Ad Campaign by Creative Director Ferdinando Verderi and Photographer Willy Vanderperre with Talent Benedict Cumberbatch, Hunter Schafer, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Letitia Wright, and Li Xian
Prada speaks with the language of flowers in its new campaign for Fall 2023. The campaign features creative direction by Ferdiando Verderi and photography by Willy Vanderperre.
Once again furthering Prada’s recent and historic practice of working with leading actors, the campaign’s talented cast features Benedict Cumberbatch, Hunter Schafer, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Letitia Wright, and Li Xian.
Set before an inky black backdrop, the campaign imagery finds these actors in conversation with flowers that have been blown up to human size, meeting the protagonists’ gaze at eye level. There are no poppies, peonies, English roses, or trendy anthuriums here; Prada has opted for the freakiest, fleshiest, and most strangely beautiful rare flowers that the earth has to offer. These floral presences both lean into and subvert the typical symbolism of flowers, suggesting tenderness, danger, and sensuality as they respond to the body language of their human interlocutors.
Set to Massive Attack’s darkly cool trip-hop classic “Angel,” the accompanying short film furthers this physical dialog by setting its characters in motion, drawing on the acting chops of its impressive cast to create a wordless interplay of presence, personality, and emotion.
The campaign feels intellectual and evocative in a way that is distinctly Prada, but also creates a lush and striking visual impact through the almost sci-fi, alien presence of the flowers in a way that feels like something of a new look for the brand – yet one that totally works. Uniting emotional and aesthetic impact with one bold thrust, the campaign continues Prada’s conversation into unique artistic territory.
Prada Creative Directors | Miuccia Prada & Raf Simons
Creative Director | Ferdinando Verderi
Photographer | Willy Vanderperre
Talent | Benedict Cumberbatch, Hunter Schafer, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Letitia Wright, and Li Xian
Stylist | Olivier Rizzo
Casting Director | Ashley Brokaw
Music | “Angel” by Massive Attack