Entertainment
30 January 2025
Link copied to clipboardNetflix presented this year's series, reality shows, documentary and movie highlights last night as part of the Next On Netflix show. For the first time, the annual event took place simultaneously in 12 countries. In a unique world premiere, Netflix's Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria joined live from the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood before the show moved on to the local segments, as major cities around the globe—including Berlin, Copenhagen, London, Rome, Madrid, Paris and Warsaw—presented the incredibly diverse 2025 lineup. The local segment for Germany, Austria and Switzerland, presented from Berlin's Colosseum, featured distinguished guests, as well as Netflix talent and media and industry representatives, sharing exclusive insights. The evening was moderated by Jenny Augusta and host Katja Hofem.
Soccer world champion Lukas Podolski was among the guests. On the Berlin stage, he made an exclusive announcement about his collaboration with Netflix: The documentary Poldi, which is currently in production, will reveal previously unseen aspects of the athlete and the person behind the athlete. At the Next on Netflix event, he shared his first impressions of the shooting. Other projects introduced to the public include the second season of Love Is Blind: Germany and the new project from Dear Child's Isabel Kleefeld. Fun anecdotes about the long-awaited fourth season of How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast) were shared, with Maximilian Mundt, Lena Klenke and Danilo Kamperidis announcing the official start of the finale as April 8. On stage, Ruby O. Fee and Matthias Schweighöfer presented scenes from their movie Brick.
Katja Hofem, Netflix Vice President Content DACH commented on the event and the many highlights presented: "We can look back on an incredible decade in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, with many successful in-house productions, some of which have become global hits, such as The Empress and Dear Child and our Oscar-winning All Quiet on the Western Front, which has made German film history. Next on Netflix outlines where the journey will take us in 2025, and we couldn't be prouder to present these highlights to the world."
In addition to productions from Germany, Austria and Switzerland, guests were given exclusive sneak peeks of international titles, which were live-streamed from Los Angeles and introduced by industry top stars, including Ben Affleck, Tina Fey, Guillermo del Toro, John Mulaney and the Duffer Brothers. Previously unreleased movie scenes, behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with creators in front of and behind the camera offered a wide sample of productions, such as returning audience favorites Squid Game Season 3 (launching on June 27, 2025), Wednesday Season 2, the grand finale of Stranger Things, as well as all-new projects such as Frankenstein and Zero Day.
An extensive overview of the global highlights, with additional details can be found HERE.
Here is a round-up of the highlighted titles presented from the DACH region:
CASSANDRA Limited series, DACH Launch: February 6, 2025 Synopsis: Germany's oldest smart home has remained empty since its owners died under mysterious circumstances over 50 years ago. In the present day, when Samira and her family move in, electronic home assistant Cassandra awakens from her decades-long slumber. Developed in the 1970s to care for a family, she has remained out of commission since the deaths of the house's former residents. Now, Cassandra senses a second chance, one where she can be something more than a fairy godmother who keeps everything running smoothly. Cassandra comes to see herself as an equal member of the family, and she has a single mission: to use every single resource at her disposal to ensure she is never left alone again. Cast: Lavinia Wilson, Mina Tander, Michael Klammer, Franz Hartwig, Mary Tölle, Joshua Kantara, Elias Grünthal, Filip Schnack and more Producers: Eva Stadler, Christian Becker Executive Producer: Amara Palacios Screenplay & Director: Benjamin Gutsche Director of Photography: J. Moritz Kaethner Production: Rat Pack Filmproduktion GmbH Watch the trailer HERE
HOW TO SELL DRUGS ONLINE (FAST) S4 Series, DACH (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) Launch: April 8, 2025 Synopsis: MORITZ is released from prison after four years. He can finally start his own business (legal, this time!) with his best friend, Lenny. But unlike his business ideas, the world has moved on without him. Dan has turned Bonus Life into a successful supplement start-up, and overnight he's become one of the 30 under 30 list of top young entrepreneurs. He is living the life Moritz always wanted. Moritz is steaming! When he learns that Lenny not only works at Bonus Life, but also owns half of the company, it becomes clear to him that must take control of Bonus Life. Together with Ersan, his buddy from prison, he sets out to take over the majority of Bonus Life as an anonymous investor—completely legally. Fortunately, Ersan knows someone who will lend them the million required for the takeover. But by the time Moritz finds out the terms of the loan, it's already too late. As a race against time begins, Moritz has to evade the police and a drug ring's unscrupulous boss, and he finds that the lives of Lisa, Lenny and Ersan are at stake as well. Cast: Maximilian Mundt, Danilo Kamperidis, Lena Klenke, Damian Hardung, Leonidas Emre Pakkan, Lena Urzendowsky, Leonie Wesselow Executive Producers: Philipp Käßbohrer and Matthias Murmann Directors: Arne Feldhusen and Facundo Scalerandi Screenplay: Denise Harkavy, Sebastian Colley, Sebastian Huber, Lena Tusche, Michael Schilling and Patrick Stenzel Director of Photography: Borris Kehl and Joseph Strauch Production: btf View the teaser HERE
ALPHAMÄNNCHEN S1 Series, DACH (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) Launch: Coming soon to Netflix Synopsis: As they undergo a masculinity crisis, four friends in their mid-40s lose everything they have: their privilege, their identity and, above all, their throne. Years ago, they would have been "alpha males" in control of their lives, but they have had to live in the era of equality. Cast: om Beck, Moritz Führmann, Serkan Kaya, David Rott, Mona Pirzad, Franziska Machens, Marleen Lohse, Jaëla Probst, Valentina Leone Executive Producers: Hana Geißendörfer, Jan-Martin Scharf, Arne Nolting Directors: Jan-Martin Scharf, Tobi Baumann Screenplay: Arne Nolting, Jan-Martin Scharf, Tanja Bubbel, Fabienne Hurst Directors of Photography: Felix Novo de Oliveira, Philipp Kirsamer Production Design: Uta Materne Costumes: Pieter Bax Executive Producer: Jana Kreutzer Production: Hana Geißendörfer, Geißendörfer Pictures GmbH
BONE PALACE S1 (working title) Series, DACH (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) Launch: Coming soon to Netflix Synopsis: Former spies Simon and Meret run a safe house hidden in the heart of Berlin. When a threat they thought was eliminated catches up with them, they suddenly have to hide from hit men, Russian agents, the Federal Intelligence Service (BND), ex-lovers and a host of people they have wronged—and try to keep their marriage intact at the same time. Cast: Susanne Wolff, Felix Kramer, Maja Bons, Andreas Pietschmann, Henry Hübchen, Natalia Belitski, Samuel Finzi, Genija Rykova, Anand Batbileg Chuluunbaatar, Laurence Rupp, Seyneb Saleh, Sina Martens und Aaron Altaras Creator/Lead Writer: Paul Coates Directors: Lennart Ruff, Philipp Leinemann Screenplay: Paul Coates, Kim Zimmermann, Alexander Seibt Executive Producers: Andreas Bareiss, Sabine de Mardt Line Producers: Gabi Lins-Segal, Achim Strack Producers: Lina Mareike Zopfs, Isabel Paul Director of Photography: Christian Stangassinger Casting: Cornelia Mareth (BVC) & Maria Rölcke (BVC) Production Design: Myrna Wolff Costume Design: Silke Faber Hair & Makeup Design: Jens Bartram, Anett Weber Head Editor: Carolin Biesenbach Production: Gaumont
KACKEN AN DER HAVEL S1 Series, DACH (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) Launch: Coming soon to Netflix Synopsis: For as long as Toni (Anton Schneider aka Fatoni) can remember, he's wanted nothing more than to leave his hometown of Kacken an der Havel and became a famous rapper. But even after 18 years in Berlin, his career still hasn't taken off and he makes a living working in a pizza parlor. His life gets turned upside down when his mother dies rescuing a duck, and Toni has to return to Kacken. He unexpectedly gets the career opportunity of a lifetime, while also dealing with his younger stepfather Johnny Carrera (Dimitrij Schaad), talking baby duck Tupac (voiced by Jella Haase) and headstrong townspeople. And then, his 13-year-old son Charly (Sky Arndt), whom he never even knew about, suddenly shows up… Cast: Anton (Fatoni) Schneider, Sky Arndt, Dimitrij Schaad, Jördis Triebel, Sophia Münster, Jana Münster, Marc Hosemann, Sherine Ciara Merai, Ruth Reinecke, Vincent Redetzki, Taneshia Abt, Matthias Brandt, Edin Hasanovic, with guest appearance by Veronica Ferres Created by: Dimitrij Schaad and Alex Schaad Directors: Alex Schaad and Jano Ben Chaabane Screenplay: Dimitrij Schaad, Alex Schaad, Jano Ben Chaabane, Mats Frey, Gemma Michalski, Isaiah Michalski and Susann Schadebrodt Executive Producers: Bernd von Fehrn, Kristina Löbbert Executive Producer: Richard Lamprecht Production: Warner Bros. International Television Production
DIE FALLE LS Limited series, DACH Launch: Coming soon to Netflix Synopsis: Famous writer Lisa Konrad hasn't left home since witnessing the murder of her sister Anna almost 10 years ago. When she believes she recognizes the perpetrator on TV, she resolves to set a trap for him—with herself as bait. Screenplay, Director and Creative Producer: Isabel Kleefeld Producers: Tom Spiess and Friederich Oetker Novel Author: Melanie Raabe Production Company: Constantin Film Produktion GmbH
EXTERRITORIAL Film, DACH Launch: Coming soon to Netflix Synopsis: On a visit to the US consulate in Frankfurt, the young son of former Special Forces soldier Sara (Jeanne Goursaud) suddenly disappears without a trace. Stranger still, nobody seems to remember him ever being in the building. Sara is asked to leave, but she knows that the German authorities have no leverage inside the US consulate, and if she leaves now, she might never see her son again. Sara moves deeper into the labyrinthine consulate, desperately searching for her son, unaware of the dangerous intrigue gradually tightening a noose around her neck. Cast: Jeanne Goursaud, Dougray Scott, Lera Abova Screenplay & Director: Christian Zübert Producer: Kerstin Schmidbauer Executive Producer: Oliver Berben Producers: Franziska Suppee, Verena Vogl, Götz Marx Production: Constantin Film
DELICIOUS Film, DACH Launch: March 7, 2025 Synopsis: A German family spends their summer vacation in their villa in the south of France. Everything seems perfect. The façade begins to crumble one evening when they come across a young woman after an accident on a country road and take her in. Behind their initial willingness to help, something completely different soon emerges, as everyone wants to use her for their own purposes. This turns out to be a mistake with bitter consequences, dramatically impacting the family's life. Indeed, the young woman is pursuing her own agenda. Cast: Valerie Pachner, Fahri Yardim, Carla Díaz, Naila Schuberth, Caspar Hoffmann, Julien de Saint Jean, Nina Zem, Miveck Packa, Tom Rey, Sina Martens, Johann von Bülow, Mélodie Casta, Joep Paddenburg Screenplay & Director: Nele Mueller-Stöfen Producers: Janine Jackowski, Jonas Dornbach, Maren Ade Director of Photography: Frank Griebe Production Design: Christian M. Goldbeck Editor: Andreas Wodraschke Costume Design: Anette Guther Makeup: Julia Böhm Original Sound Engineer: Rainer Gerlach Sound Design: Noemi Hampel Mixing: Lars Ginzel Music: Volker Bertelmann, Ben Winkler Production: Komplizen Film
BRICK Film, DACH (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) Launch: Summer 2025 Synopsis: Overnight, an impenetrable black wall suddenly appears, blocking the way out for Hamburg couple Tim (Matthias Schweighöfer) and Olivia (Ruby O. Fee). They are trapped in their own apartment. Together with various neighbors in their building suffering the same mysterious fate, they desperately search for a way out. What's the story behind the mysterious wall? The answer to this question is the key to their salvation—but also an even greater danger. Cast: Matthias Schweighöfer, Ruby O. Fee, Frederick Lau, Salber Lee Williams, Murathan Muslu, Axel Werner, Sira-Anna Faal and Alexander Beyer Screenplay & Director: Philip Koch Producers: Philip Koch, Quirin Berg, Max Wiedemann, Benjamin Munz, Katrin Goetter Production: W&B Television and Nocturna Productions
SHE SAID YES (working title) Film, DACH (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) Launch: 2025 Synopsis: After a failed marriage proposal, Germany-raised Mavi finds out that she's part of a super-wealthy Turkish dynasty from glittering Istanbul. She has to come to terms with the sprawling, newly-acquired family she never knew existed, led by her traditional grandmother. It's a total culture clash! Mavi has to find a balance between her former Hamburg everyday life and this new Turkish dream world, between her new family and her boyfriend Can, as intrigue and glamorous temptations put their relationship to the test. Cast: Beritan Balcı, Sinan Güleç, Serkan Çayoğlu, Katja Riemann, Caroline Daur, Cansu Tosun, Meral Perin, Mehmet Ateşçi, Kerem Can, Ilknur Boyraz, Aykut Kayacık, Berke Çetin, Nursel Köse, Anja Karmanski, Alperen Şahin Directors: Ngo The Chau, Buket Alakuş Screenplay: Ipek Zübert Producers: Saner Ayar, Cengiz Çağatay, Nurhan Şekerci-Porst, Faruk Ozerten Production: CB Medya in collaboration with Dark Bay
FALL FOR ME Film, DACH (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) Launch: 2025 Synopsis: Lilli travels to the sun-drenched island of Mallorca to relax and visit her younger sister Valeria. When Lilli arrives, Valeria reveals her hasty engagement to charming Frenchman Manu, and their plan to invest in a luxurious B&B together. Lilli is suspicious. While trying to find out more about her sister's fiancé, she meets German nightclub manager Tom. Right from the start, there is a tremendous spark between them, and they can't resist the mutual attraction. A thrilling affair unfolds, rife with secrets and danger. Cast: Svenja Jung, Theo Trebs, Thomas Kretschmann, Tijan Marei, Antje Traue, Victor Meutelet, Lucía Barrado Director: Sherry Hormann Writer: Stefanie Sycholt Producers: Christina Henne, Quirin Berg, Max Wiedemann Producers: Friederike Weykamp Production: W&B Television
TOO HOT TO HANDLE GERMANY S2 Non-fiction, DACH (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) Launch: February 18, 2025 Synopsis: Too Hot to Handle Germany is back for a second round! The hottest German-speaking singles come together in a tropical paradise to have the most exciting and erotic time of their lives. But there's a surprise: They hadn't counted on the artificial superintelligence Lana as a chaperone. In Lana's retreat, kissing, masturbation and sex are strictly forbidden! Any breach of the rules will result in a deduction from the €200,000 prize money. Will the hormone-driven hotties manage to forge deeper emotional bonds in this sex-free zone, or are they just…Too Hot to Handle? Producer: Nina Klink Executive Producer: Nora Kauven Producer: Nina Weber Production Leads: Ümit Kulikoglu, Maria Hlavka, Tobias Klein Production Management: Mathis Kreye Visual Producer: Henriette Frey Lead Editor: Deniece Ostenda Director: Philipp Ressel Director of Photography: Dennis Kassing Production: Seapoint Productions (supported by Fremantle) Watch the trailer HERE
KAULITZ & KAULITZ S2 Non-fiction, DACH (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) Launch: Summer 2025 Synopsis: The party is on—again. With the second season of Kaulitz & Kaulitz, our favorites are back in 2025 to share their exciting life between the Hollywood Hills and their home in Germany. But dark clouds are looming over paradise this time. With water damage and heartache, sibling quarrels and concert cancellations, the brothers face a number of challenges. However, the show must go on! Producer: Otto Steiner Executive Producers: Caroline Rußwurm, Per Lars Eppmann Production Management: Wolfgang Stamprech Lead Editor: Janine Hiller Directors: Annika Blendl, Michael Schmitt, Pablo Ben Yakov Directors of Photography: Johannes Obermaier, Mateusz Smolka Production: Constantin Entertainment GmbH
SHIRIN Non-fiction, DACH (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) Launch: 2025 Synopsis: On the eve of her 30th birthday, superstar Shirin David takes us on a personal journey through her breathtaking career. While making this documentary about her life and work, she learns to relinquish control over the personal narrative for the first time, and to allow an outside perspective on Shirin and Barbara. Production Company: LEONINE Documentaries Director & Writer: Michael Schmitt Producer: Jochen Köstler Executive Producer: Janek Romero Line Producer: Andreas Tuerpe Unit Production Manager: Laryssa Stone Director of Photography: Carmen Treichl
LOVE IS BLIND: GERMANY S2 Non-fiction, DACH (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) Launch: Coming soon to Netflix Synopsis: Is love really blind? Thirty German-speaking singles have had enough of superficial dates and are looking for true love in Love is Blind: Germany. To make sure that looks don't distract their attention too much, the first meeting takes place blind. In small booths known as pods, the singles can hear each other, but not yet see each other. At the end of the first round, those who have managed to open up and build an emotional bond through in-depth conversations have to tackle a huge question: “Will you marry me?” If their feelings are strong enough for an engagement, the couple will see each other for the first time. Whether their inner qualities prevail and they can deepen their relationship further is now not only influenced by outward appearances, but also put to the test as they get to know each other's family and friends. Romantic dates vs. the challenge of wedding planning: Who has found their soulmate and is prepared to say “I do” in the end? Production Company: Redseven Entertainment GmbH Producer: Christiane Heinemann Executive Producer: Anna-Lena Zwez Senior Producer: Sebastian Markgraf-Andresen Producer: Sophia Kaub Senior Production Lead: Jens Buhr Production Lead: Robin Senger Director: Heike Schmidt Director of Photography: Frank Irlenborn
POLDI Non-fiction, DACH (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) Launch: Coming soon to Netflix Synopsis: From playing soccer on the street to becoming a world champion, from a childhood as the son of Polish immigrants to the reign of Cologne's Prince Poldi: Lukas Podolski made German soccer history, becoming a hero in the process. Still one of the most popular and authentic soccer players in Germany today, he has also become a successful businessman in the course of his active professional career. The Netflix documentary follows Lukas Podolski to the end of his soccer career, revealing previously unseen facets of a model athlete and human being. Production Companies: btf GmbH, Signature Studios GmbH Director: Kai Sehr Writers: Cody Christensen, Kilian Lieb Executive Producers: Matthias Murmann, Gerrit Hamann, Philipp Käßbohrer Producer: Teresa Messerschmidt Line Producers: Yannick Moll, Hannah Pasikowski Unit Production Manager: Björn Jochum Director of Photography: Frank Schlotterbeck Editor: Florian Böttger