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First Germany-made Amazon TV series to star Schweighöfer

February 11, 2016

A hacker attack and the perils of cyberspace are at the heart of Amazon's first streaming series created in Germany. The show aims to reach international audiences - and stars heartthrob Matthias Schweighöfer.

https://p.dw.com/p/1HtfQ
Actor Matthias Schweighöfer with Germany's Amazon Video director Christoph Schneider, Copyright: picture-alliance/dpa/B.v. Jutrczenka
Actor Matthias Schweighöfer with Germany's Amazon Video director Christoph SchneiderImage: picture-alliance/dpa/B.v. Jutrczenka

In "Wanted," the first television series produced by Amazon in Germany, Matthias Schweighöfer plays a man whose life is turned upside down after a hacker attack.

"We show in this series how a totally normal person can become hunted," Schweighöfer told the press earlier this week.

The 34-year-old actor, one of the most successful names in German film, not only takes the lead role in "Wanted," but will also be directing and producing.

Filming is set to begin in May and take place in Berlin, Munich and New York, with a release scheduled for early 2017. Six one-hour episodes are planned, but makers say there's potential for more.

Though the series will be presented in German, Germany's Amazon Video director, Christoph Schneider, emphasized the project's international potential: "I believe that 'Wanted' can definitely be successful internationally."

Schweighöfer agreed. "We really have to think about making the content suitable not only for German viewers, but also for international viewers," he said, adding that they'll also be competing with the foreign TV shows that are popular in Germany.

kbm/eg (with dpa)