Get ready to pack your chicest wardrobe and brush up on your Italian phrases because Emily Cooper is swapping the sparkle of Paris for the sultry streets of Rome in Emily in Paris Season 5, premiering December 18 on Netflix. After four seasons of navigating cultural faux pas, steamy love triangles, and high-stakes marketing mishaps, the plucky American expat is stepping into uncharted territory: a dual-city life of ambition and amore that promises more drama than a Verdi opera. Creator Darren Star calls it “a tale of two cities,” with Emily jetting between the City of Light and the Eternal City, proving that her heart – and career – knows no borders.
Picking up right after Season 4’s jaw-dropping finale, Emily (Lily Collins) has landed the role of her dreams: heading up Agence Grateau’s new Rome satellite office. It’s a promotion born from her bold ideas and relentless hustle, but it’s also a ticket to explore her sizzling romance with Marcello (Eugenio Franceschini), the charming heir to a cashmere empire. Their connection ignited in Italy last season, full of Vespa rides through sun-drenched piazzas and whispered promises under Venetian canals. Yet, as Emily settles into her Roman apartment, the honeymoon phase clashes with reality. Will Marcello’s family business drama – think cutthroat fashion rivalries and legacy pressures – test their fairy-tale spark? And how does she balance boardroom battles in Italian with her lingering ties to Paris?
Back in the French capital, the chaos is just as intoxicating. Gabriel (Lucas Bravo), the brooding chef who’s been Emily’s ultimate “what if,” is finally confessing his undying love – but only after realizing his impending fatherhood with ex Camille is a false alarm. Too late? Emily’s already knee-deep in Roman romance, leaving fans to wonder if she’ll forgive his hot-and-cold antics or slam the door on their tortured tango.
Meanwhile, Alfie (Lucien Laviscount) returns as a series regular, nursing heartbreak from Emily’s divided affections and possibly dating someone new – cue jealousy-fueled fireworks. Sylvie’s (Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu) empire-building at the agency adds corporate intrigue, with Mindy (Ashley Park) chasing her cabaret dreams and Julien (Samuel Arnold) stirring office pot. Absent from the mix is Camille (Camille Razat), whose arc has gracefully bowed out, focusing on her own path of adoption and self-discovery.
The cast gets a glamorous glow-up with fresh faces injecting even more flair. Minnie Driver slays as Princess Jane, a royal wildcard who could upend Emily’s professional poise with her aristocratic whims. Bryan Greenberg arrives as Jake, a fellow American expat in Paris offering Emily a slice of home amid the expatriate whirl. Michèle Laroque brings elegance as Yvette, Sylvie’s longtime confidante, while Paul Forman and Arnaud Binard reprise Nico and Laurent G., promising reconciliations and revelations. Filming kicked off in Rome in May 2025 before looping back to Paris and Venice, capturing the visual feast fans crave: think haute couture against ancient ruins, espresso-fueled brunches, and sunset gondola confessions.
But beneath the glossy escapism, Season 5 dives deeper into themes of growth and reinvention. Emily’s no longer the wide-eyed newbie; she’s a savvy strategist grappling with the cost of chasing dreams across continents. As Star teases, “Old patterns clash with new complications,” forcing her to confront if true fulfillment lies in one city – or one man. With 10 binge-ready episodes dropping all at once, this installment amps up the emotional stakes while delivering the signature Emily in Paris cocktail of humor, heart, and high fashion. Will Emily conquer Rome without losing Paris? Or will her princess-like poise crumble under the weight of it all? Mark your calendars – the chaos is coming, and it’s fiercer than ever.
