Netflix expands German originals slate with factual focus

Exterritorial (Source: Netflix)

Netflix has a unveiled a slew of new German originals, partnering with companies including Banijay and Constantin Entertainment across documentaries, drama and reality shows.

Fight For Paradise: Who Can You Trust is a new reality show from Banijay Productions Germany that follows strangers as they maneuver their way into a luxury paradise and out of a hellish jungle camp. In order to do that, they need to build relationships and gain each other’s trust in a bid to win 100,000 euros. Bonnie Strange will host the show, which is launching on 23 April and is executive produced by Andrea Lange.

Kaulitz & Kaulitz from Constantin Entertainment follows musical twins Bill and Tom Kaulitz as they open up the doors to their private lives for the very first time. Per Lars Eppmann is exec producing.

Meanwhile, Jack Unterweger is a documentary series about one of the most ‘stranger than fiction’ true criminal cases. Celebrated author Jack Unterweger was considered a prime example of the “rehabilitated murderer”, but continued to kill undisturbed. The women who survived him tell how Unterweger entangled his supporters in a web of lies. The show hails from The Thursday Company, with Felix Kriegsheim and Nils Bökamp exec producing.

The Empress (Source: Netflix)

Pinzner: German Hitman looks back at the crimes of contract killer Werner “Mucki” Pinzner, who pulled out a gun at Hamburg police headquarters on July 29, 1986. Beetz Brothers Film Production is producing the show, which will launch later this year.

Netflix has also recommissioned dating show Too Hot To Handle for a second season from Seapoint Productions, with a new generation of singles meeting in a paradise where physical intimacy will reduce the prize fund.

Shrin David follows the titular German rapper as she goes on tour for the first time, taking on the biggest challenge of her career. W&B Television produces.

On the scripted side, Exterritorial (working title) sees the young son of former Special Forces soldier Sara (Jeanne Goursaud) disappear without a trace. Stranger still, nobody seems to remember him ever being in the building. Constantin Film is producing the series, which is written and directed by Christian Zübert and also stars Dougray Scott and Lera Abova.

Nocturna Productions and W&B Television are behind Brick (working title), a feature film in which an apartment block is suddenly surrounded by a mysterious brick wall. Matthias Schweighöfer and Ruby O. Fee star.

The new German originals join a slate of previously announced upcoming releases, including drama series Crooks and Blame The Game, season two of Kleo and season two of The Empress.

The titles were announced at the Next On Netflix show in Berlin on Wednesday night, with Katja Hofem, Netflix’s VP of content in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, commenting: “We have seen again and again how local stories can captivate viewers here and around the world.”