‘Irma Vep’: HBO’s byzantine showbiz satire full of wonderful chaos

Alicia Vikander plays an actress cast as a mysterious, catsuit-wearing criminal in “Irma Vep.” (HBO)

Deep breath, exhale. Are you ready?

The new HBO limited series “Irma Vep” from the French director Olivier Assayas is about the making of a limited series reboot of the 1915-1916 French silent crime serial “Les Vampires,” and it should be noted Assayas previously directed a 1996 film titled “Irma Vep,” which was about a French director remaking “Les Vampires.”