‘1899’: Netflix Unveils New Trailer for Series from Creators of ‘Dark’
TL;DR:
- Netflix has released a new trailer for 1899, the upcoming series from the creators of Dark.
- The show is set on a ship traveling from Europe to America in the late 19th century.
- Showrunner Baran bo Odar says 1899 will be a “puzzle” for viewers.
Netflix has revealed a new trailer for 1899, the new show from the creators of the mind-bending German sci-fi series Dark. The news came during the streaming service’s June 6 Geeked Week presentation.
A group of European immigrants embarks on a nightmarish journey to the promised land in Netflix’s ‘1899’
Dark creators Jantje Friese and Baran bo Odar’s new Netflix series is a period mystery set in the late 19th century. A diverse group of immigrants, including a woman named Maura Franklin (The Pursuit of Love’s Emily Beecham), sets sail from Europe seeking a new life in the United States.
“They’re all running away from something,” Maura says in the teaser. “Why else would someone want to go somewhere different?”
“People are oblivious to reality,” says a character played by Game of Thrones alum Anton Lesser. “They only see what they want to see. When all they have to do is shift their perspective to see the full scope of things.”
The travelers’ journey takes a disturbing turn when they encounter another boat drifting at sea. A shot of a newspaper in the trailer suggests this might be the steamship Prometheus, which has been missing for four months.
Here’s the full 1899 synopsis from Netflix:
A migrant steamship heads west to leave the old continent. The passengers, a mixed bag of European origins, united by their hopes and dreams for the new century and their future abroad. But their journey takes an unexpected turn when they discover another migrant ship adrift on open sea. What they will find on board, will turn their passage to the promised land into a horrifying nightmare.
No premiere date has been announced for the eight-episode series.
The new Netflix series is a ‘puzzle,’ showrunner says
With its twisty tales of time travel and parallel realities, Dark fascinated fans over its three-season run, which ended in 2020. 1899 probably won’t feature any time-travel – “We don’t repeat ourselves, Odar told Deadline last year. But viewers can expect plenty of mystery.
“I think it’s going to be exciting to watch if the audience actually loves this new puzzle too as they liked Dark and if they will figure out what this show is actually really about,” 1899 showrunner, director, and executive producer Odar said during the Geeked Week presentation.
The new series will also feature more action than Dark.
“Dark was not about action at all, but this is really an action show with a lot of violence, beating, running, screaming,” Odar said.
‘1899’ cast includes Anton Lesser and Aneurin Barnard
One key feature that will set 1899 apart from other shows is its diverse, multilingual cast. Each actor speaks in their native tongue in the show.
“Being true to the cultures and the languages was really important, we never wanted to have characters from different countries but everyone speaks English,” Friese told Deadline. “We wanted to explore this heart of Europe, where everyone comes from somewhere else and speaks a different language, and language defines so much of your culture and your behavior.”
In addition to Beecham and Lesser, the cast includes Andreas Pietschmann from Dark, Elite’s Miguel Bernardeau, Aneurin Barnard from The White Queen, and The Witcher’s Maciej Musial. Lucas Lynggaard Tønnesen, Rosalie Craig, Clara Rosager, Maria Erwolter, Yann Gael, Mathilde Ollivier, José Pimentão, Isabella Wei, Gabby Wong, Jonas Bloquet, Fflyn Edwards, and Alexandre Willaume also appear in the show.
For more on the entertainment world and exclusive interviews, subscribe to Showbiz Cheat Sheet’s YouTube channel.
