British actor and HERO 16 star Joe Alwyn, has been announced as the face of Prada‘s SS18 campaign.

Titled Ascension, the visuals mark the first chapter of Prada’s SS18 campaign. Shot by photographer Willy Vanderperre on the roof of Fondazione Prada’s Osservatorio exhibition space, the images show Alwyn as “a contemporary hero of graphic novels”. Think back to Prada’s SS18 show – featuring a collaboration with illustrator James Jean (who created a special HERO 18 limited edition Prada cover) – and this reference makes perfect sense. 

The series is accompanied by a short film that borrows from the worlds of Ingmar Bergman and German Expressionism; low angles, sharp lines, constant battle between between light and shadow, and at the centre of it all – the portrait. Scored by Essaie Pas, the film expands on the juxtaposition between Alwyn’s character and a grandiose 19th century structure in Milan.

You can view the full campaign here.

Read our full HERO 16 interview with Joe here.