TV NEWS BULLETIN: NEW HISTORICAL SERIES ON MAD KING LUDWIG OF BAVARIA, ROBIN HOOD RENEWED FOR SECOND SEASON AT MGM PLUS! ED SKREIN JOINS GOD OF WAR

   TV NEWS BULLETIN  

KING LUDWIG II HISTORICAL TV SERIES

Beta Film together with German ARD and Swiss SRF is preparing historical series LUDWIG on Bavarian king Ludwig II who took the throne in 1864 and was considered to be a bit mad spending lavishly on outlandish and extraordinary projects like building castles on the top of the mountains. The series follows psychologist Gustav Zimmermann (Felix Mayr) who is tasked with reviewing a psychiatric report on the King (Luis Pintsch), a document that will ultimately determine whether he is declared incompetent to rule. This work brings him closer to revealing the secrets of the royal ruler: his struggles with power, his longing for freedom and his profound forbidden love. Aaron Friesz, Carlotta Bähre, Jonathan Kriener also star.

 

  ROBIN HOOD RENEWED FOR SEASON TWO

Meanwhile, MGM Plus has renewed their epic series ROBIN HOOD for the second season with Jack Patten, Sean Bean and Connie Nielsen. Season two expands the world beyond Sherwood and Nottingham into the treacherous courts of England, France, and Rome, transforming the outlaw rebellion into a high stakes battle for the soul of a kingdom. As the Angevin empire threatens to tear itself apart, Rob and Marian are drawn into the orbit of kings and queens, forced to wield the very instruments of Norman power to secure a future for the Saxons. 

 

ED SKREIN JOINS GOD OF WAR

Ed Skrein will play Baldur

Ed Skrein has been cast as Baldur in Prime Video's TV series adaptation of GOD  OF WAR game. He is the youngest son of Odin (Mandy Pitinkin), charismatic, unpredictable and armed with a razor-sharp tongue, Baldur lives by his own rules. As a boy, Baldur was cursed; this curse denied him the ability to feel pleasure and physical sensation. This fuels an insatiable anger and bloodlust in Baldur, who favors a brawling fighting style that blends his immense power with the raw impact of his fists. Above all else, he longs for an opponent that can truly match his prowess in battle. An opponent that can finally make him feel something.

SPOTLIGHT ON NEW 18TH CENTURY SET COSTUME DRAMA MOZART MOZART ON THE FAMOUS COMPOSER AND HIS SISTER

   MOZART MOZART  

New series will air on German and Austrian broadcasters

TRAILER FOR NEW PERIOD SET SERIES

Beside the Amadeus series from Sky with a rather strange choice of an Asian guy in the lead role, there is, as you know if you have been following us, another new series on the famous composer arriving next month: Beta Film's MOZART MOZART   a fresh and bold reimagining of the Mozart legacy. Replacing imperial series Sisi, which ended last year after four successful seasons, as the festive treat during the holidays, the series will start on German national broadcaster ARD1 December 12th and during Christmas on Austrian broadcaster ORF.

 

 REMIXING HISTORY

 the witty yet moving six hour series puts the spotlight on the talented Maria Anna Mozart (Havana Joy), the sister of the legendary Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Eren M. Guvercin). When her younger brother begins to spiral outof control, Maria Anna steps into his shoes to save the family’s legacy. When he is fired from a position in Salzburg, she sees a chance to escape the prospect of an arranged marriage by helping him secure a position at the court of Emperor Joseph II in Vienna. But Amadeus’ erratic behavior  jeopardizes their plan. So, she slips into the role of her brother, performing for the Emperor disguised as Amadeus – captivating the entire court and  drawing the envy of Mozart’s greatest rival, Antonio Salieri. But her bold stunt quickly gets out of control. When Maria Anna convinces the Emperor to commission the first German-language opera, she must protect her charade, juggle her brother’s unpredictability, and keep her secret from the love of her   life – who happens to be none other than Antonio Salieri. Bursting with opulence, modern beats, and unforgettable images, this tale of ambition and deception is a touching story of a complex sibling bond full of love, rivalry, and rebellion. Watch the trailer below:

 

Novo trailer de "Mozart/Mozart", minissérie da ARD 🎼

Na trama, Maria Anna Mozart assume o lugar de seu famoso irmão sob disfarce. Ela logo se encontra em uma teia de intrigas, cujo foco é o homem que pretende desmascará-la, mas se apaixona perdidamente por ela: Antonio Salieri pic.twitter.com/ifBSo3DPnu

— Aline (@shipneide_) November 21, 2025

SEE FIRST IMAGES FROM NEW BETA FILM COSTUME DRAMA MOZART MOZART ON THE FAMOUS COMPOSER AND HIS SISTER

   MOZART MOZART  

New series will air on German and Austrian broadcasters

FIRST LOOK AT NEW HISTORICAL SERIES

Beta Film has released first images from their new project MOZART MOZART, a fresh and bold reimagining of the Mozart legacy. Remixing history, the witty yet moving six hour series puts the spotlight on the talented Maria Anna Mozart (Havana Joy), the sister of the legendary Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Eren M. Guvercin). When her younger brother begins to spiral out of control, Maria Anna steps into his shoes to save the family’s legacy. Bursting with opulence, modern beats, and unforgettable images, this tale of ambition and deception is a touching story of a complex sibling bond full of love, rivalry, and rebellion. From the showrunner of the international hit Sisi, this contemporary period series for German and Austrian broadcasters ARD and ORF is driven by a unique musical score that fuses Mozart’s iconic compositions with a contemporary edge. Bavaria Media and Beta Film are handling international sales. This is not the only series we can expect on the famous composer, as I have previously announced Sky's Amadeus in which Will Sharpe and Paul Bettany are taking the lead roles.

OFFICIAL TRAILER AND CHARACTER POSTERS FOR ONE OF EUROPE'S MOST EPIC SERIES EVER RISE OF THE RAVEN DEPICTING THE 15TH CENTURY BATTLE OF BELGRADE

  RISE OF THE RAVEN 

OFFICIAL EPIC SERIES TRAILER IS HERE!

The series will be offered to broadcasters next week

Beta has announced that one of  the most epic European productions of all times, historical series RISE OF TH RAVEN will have its world premiere October 22nd at this year's Mipcom in Cannes, which is just in two days, and to celebrate it they have released a long trailer too and a series of character posters! The series will air next year. So far, we know it will air on TV2 in Hungary and Slovenia and ORF in Austria. I will inform you as soon as we hear news of other international broadcasters or a possible big streamer. In the meantime you can check out the new trailer below the post and tell us what you think.

 

THIS TEN PART SERIES EPIC TV SERIES

 depicts the extraordinary real-life feat of Hungarian army commander Janos Hunyadi (Gellért L. Kádár), who turned back the tide of the Ottoman Empire’s seemingly unstoppable advance into Europe when back in 1456 he won a bloody Battle of Belgrade against a vast Ottoman force twice the size of his troops who were sometimes armed with just slings and patriotic fervor. To this very day church bells ring every day at noon in honour of this victory. Franciska Törőcsik plays his first love Mara, Serbian princess, who had to marry Ottoman Sultan Murad (Murathan Muslu) in order to protect her people.

 

WHO IS IN THE CAST?

Alongside Hunyadi, played by Gellért L. Kádár stands his wife, Elizabeth Szilagyi, portrayed by Vivien Rujder. They are joined by a stellar international cast, including Austria’s Laurence Rupp as King Albert II,  Murathan Muslu, as sultan Murad II, Serbian Hollywood star Rade Serbedzija who plays Serbian despot Djuradj Brankovic, Mara's father, and Giancarlo Giannini. The series is based on a series of books by Ban Mor. Judging by the trailer the series will have a lot of historical inaccuracies, including Despina Mara dressed as an exotic sex slave in sultan's harem. In real history, she wasn't his concubine, but his official wife and sultana and remained true to her faith till death. She dressed in Serbian chaste clothes surrounded by an entourage of Orthodox monks and nuns and later on became one of the most respected noble women in Europe with her own court in Jezhevo. 

SEE WILDLY STUNNING TRAILER FOR ONE OF EUROPE'S MOST EPIC SERIES EVER RISE OF THE RAVEN DEPICTING THE 15TH CENTURY BATTLE OF BELGRADE

  RISE OF THE RAVEN 

FIRST WILDLY EPIC TRAILER IS HERE!

Beta has announced that one of  the most epic European productions of all times, historical series RISE OF TH RAVEN will have its world premiere October 22nd at this year's Mipcom in Cannes and they have released a wildly gorgeous trailer to celebrate it! The series will air next year.

THIS TEN PART SERIES EPIC TV SERIES

 depicts the extraordinary real-life feat of Hungarian army commander Janos Hunyadi (Gellért L. Kádár), who turned back the tide of the Ottoman Empire’s seemingly unstoppable advance into Europe when back in 1456 he won a bloody Battle of Belgrade against a vast Ottoman force twice the size of his troops who were sometimes armed with just slings and patriotic fervor. To this very day church bells ring every day at noon in honour of this victory. Franciska Törőcsik plays his first love Mara, Serbian princess, who had to marry Ottoman Sultan Murad (Murathan Muslu) in order to protect her people.

 

SEE FIRST POSTER FOR EXPENSIVE HISTORICAL SERIES RISE OF THE RAVEN DEPICTING THE 15TH CENTURY BATTLE OF BELGRADE

   RISE OF THE RAVEN  

FIRST EPIC TV SERIES POSTER IS HERE

Beta Film has issued the first poster for their new ten part series RISE OF THE RAVEN an epic adventure series that will air in Autumn 2024 on Hungarian

Rise of the Raven will arrive this Autumn

TV2 network, Austrian ORF and other national broadcasters around Europe.

 

STORY IS SET

 in 15th century Europe, when army commander Janos Hunyadi scores a decisive victory against all odds at the Battle of Belgrade, re-shaping the history of Europe. Hunyadi’s life is plagued by scandal, political power plays, and conspiracies between noble families from Italy, Poland, Austria, Serbia, and Hungary. His strongest allies are the women in his life: Elizabeth, the wife who not only stands by him, but fights alongside him, and Serbian princess Mara Brankovic, his first love, who was forced to become Sultan Murad wife. When the Ottoman Empire mobilises an army of unprecedented size to march west with the objective of conquering the Vatican and Europe, Hunyadi leads his small but mighty army to the battlefield, sealing a hard-fought victory. In celebration, Pope Callixtus III orders that churches all over the world shall ring their bells each day at noon. And even today, more than five centuries later, they still do.

 

 WHO IS IN THE CAST?

Alongside Hunyadi, played by Gellért L. Kádár stands his wife, Elizabeth Szilagyi, portrayed by Vivien Rujder. They are joined by a stellar international cast, including Austria’s Laurence Rupp as King Albert II,  Murathan Muslu, as sultan Murad II, Serbian Hollywood star Rade Serbedzija who, I imagine, plays Serbian despot Djuradj Brankovic, Mara's father, and Giancarlo Giannini. Meanwhile, Franciska Torocsik is Serbian princess Mara, later the Turkish sultana.

🎬🇭🇺Watch the first trailer for 'Rise of the Raven' - an epic #Hungarian drama series which tells the story of János Hunyadi who defeated the Ottoman army in 1456 at the Battle of Belgrade, halting its march across Europe.

Can't wait for the series to air! pic.twitter.com/t1CjNIEt4Z

— Balázs Orbán (@BalazsOrban_HU) April 23, 2023

BETA FILM PRODUCING A TV SERIES ON FAMOUS MOVIE ICON MARLENE DIETRICH AND HER ROMANCE WITH REMARQUE

  MARLENE DIETRICH  

GETTING HER OWN TV SERIES

Out dear Beta Film is uniting with producer Nico Hofmann on a six part series on famous movie icon Marlene Dietrich inspired by Thomas Hüetlin’s upcoming novel ‘Man Lebt Sein Leben Nur Einmal’ (You Only Live Once)!

The series is inspired by Huetlin's book

The novel starts in 1937. The Venice Film Festival has just ended. Hollywood diva Marlene Dietrich is sitting on the terrace of the Hotel Excelsior  with Josef von Sternberg, who made her a global star as the director of “The Blue Angel”. Then a completely different, exceptional artist comes to the table, introduces himself and begins a charming small talk: German writer Erich Maria Remarque, who achieved world fame with his anti-war novel “Nothing New in the West.” At this moment one of the wildest love affairs of the 20th century begins, that lasts only a few years and pushes both of them to their emotional limits. A love story full of pleasures and ecstasies, full of disappointments and new beginnings against the background of the looming human catastrophe of the Second World War. Like tens of thousands of other people, both are on the run from the Nazi terror system in their home country, both are in painful creative and career crises.

BETA FILM TO MAKE A PERIOD SET SERIES ON THE FAMILY OF FAMOUS WRITER THOMAS MANN

  NEW BETA SERIES 

THE MANNS, STORY OF A FAMILY

German Beta Film is planning  a six episode period set series on Thomas Mann based on Tilman Lahme 1920s-set novel ‘Die Manns – Geschichte Einer Familie’ THE MANNS - STORY OF A FAMILY.

The book will be turned into a six episode series

The story will be told through the eyes of the younger generation finding their place in a changing world.

Thomas Mann's literary work towers above the competition - and it dominates the family. His wife Katia has his back and keeps the children away. Her sharp tongue is feared. The beautiful son Klaus wants to be as famous as his father as a writer. Erika, the eldest daughter, loves as passionately as she hates. The shy Golo seeks his happiness away from his family. Michael wants to become a great musician and fights against his short temper and the high demands of his family. Father's favorite, Elisabeth, talks to animals and wants to save the world. And everyone gossips about Monika. The siblings experiment with love and drugs, squander their parents' money - and become serious opponents of Hitler. Wherever fate takes them: the Manns stick together. And they betray each other.

 

SEE 1ST SAM HEUGHAN, ALFRED ENOCH, ELEANOR TOMPLINSON PICS FROM COUPLE NEXT DOOR MINI TV SERIES! EHRENGARD: THE ART OF SEDUCTION TRAILER FOR NEW NETFLIX PERIOD SET COSTUME MOVIE DRAMA PLUS THE AIR DATE

  THE COUPLE NEXT DOOR  

FIRST SAM HEUGHAN IMAGES

Channel 4 has released first images from their new mini series THE COUPLE NEXT DOOR which arrives to the British channel this Autumn with Sam Heughan in the lead role. The series that will air on Starz in USA and Lionsgate + streamer, is a deliciously dark, psychological drama, exploring the claustrophobia of suburbia and the fallout of chasing your deepest desires. The six part series looks at how we never know what goes on behind closed doors. When Evie (Eleanor Tomlinson) and Pete (Alfred Enoch) move into an upscale neighbourhood, they find themselves in a world of curtain twitching and status anxiety. But soon find friendship in the shape of the couple next door, alpha traffic cop Danny (Sam Heughan) and his wife, glamorous yoga instructor Becka (Jessica De Gouw). As time goes on, these two couples get increasingly close to each other and one fateful night, become sexually entangled in a way that will change their lives forever! Our dear Beta Film is distributing.

  TRAILER FROM EHRENGARD  

THE ART OF SEDUCTION MOVIE

The movie will stream September 9th

We have announced this one years ago when it was revealed that the queen of Denmark will be creating costumes for it (which is funny given that the costumes look horrible and ridiculously ugly in the trailer as if they were done by an amateur), but now we have first trailer from EHRENGARD: THE ART OF SEDUCTION movie from Bille August. Based on a Karen Blixen book the film will star Sidse Babett Knudsen, Mikkel Boe Følsgaard, Alice Bier Zandén and Emilie Kroyer Koppel, and will launch globally on Netflix September 9th! Check out the trailer below and tell us what you think, does it look cheap to you as it does to us?

IN THE FAIRYTALE KINGDOM

of Babenhausen, a young, self-appointed expert on love, Mr. Cazotte (Mikkel Boe Følsgaard), is hired by the scheming Grand Duchess (Sidse Barbett Knudsen) to help her secure an heir. While searching for a suitable future Princess, Mr Cazotte teaches the timid and introverted Crown Prince Lothar(Emil Aron Dorph) the art of seduction and lovemaking. But their plan soon backfires, when an heir is conceived out of wedlock and the royal family has to seek refuge in the castle of Rosenbad. Here, as rivals within the royal family close in on their scheme, Cazotte himself falls in love with Ehrengard (Alice Esther Bier Zandén), the maid of honor, and gradually learns that in fact, he’s no expert on love at all.

 

BETA WRAPS PRODUCTION ON EXPENSIVE HISTORICAL SERIES RISE OF THE RAVEN SET IN 15TH CENTURY EUROPE

 RISE OF THE RAVEN SERIES 

BETA FINISHES PRODUCTION!

Beta Film has announced that they have finished production on new ten part series RISE OF THE RAVEN. The story of the epic adventure series that will air in Autumn 2024 on Hungarian TV2 network, Austrian ORF and probably other national broadcasters around Europe, is set in 15th-century Europe, when army commander Janos Hunyadi and his wife Erzsébet Szilágyi must battle scandals, political power plays, and conspiracies from Warsaw to Rome, Belgrade, and Vienna, while the Ottoman Empire threatens to overrun Europe. In honor of Hunyadi's decisive victory at the Battle of Belgrade, which reshaped the history of the continent, the noon bells ring all over the world to this day.

 

STELLAR INTERNATIONAL CAST 

  Alongside Hunyadi, played by Gellért L. Kádár stands his wife, Elizabeth Szilagyi, portrayed by Vivien Rujder. They are joined by a stellar international cast, including Austria’s Laurence Rupp, Cornelius Obonya, Murathan Muslu, Italy’s Francesco Acquaroli, Czech actor Karel Roden, Serbian Hollywood star Rade Serbedzija (Batman Begins, Mission: Impossible II) as well as Italian actors Thomas Trabacchi, Elena Rusconi and Giancarlo Giannini. It is produced by Serendipity Point Films, Twin Media, HG Media, MR Film, and Beta in coproduction with TV2 Network and ORF. See production clip below:

🎬🇭🇺Watch the first trailer for 'Rise of the Raven' - an epic drama series which tells the story of János Hunyadi who defeated the Ottoman army in 1456 at the Battle of Belgrade, halting its march across Europe.

Can't wait for the series to air! pic.twitter.com/t1CjNIEt4Z

— Balázs Orbán (@BalazsOrban_HU) April 23, 2023

STARZ ORDERS SPARTACUS EPIC TV SERIES SEQUEL! TRAILER AND AIR DATE FOR MEGA EXPENSIVE HIGH END PANEUROPEAN SF SERIES THE SWARM!

  SPARTACUS SEQUEL  

IN WORKS OVER AT STARZ

After two flops last year with Becoming Elizabeth and Dangerous Liaisons, it seems Starz is returning to their old, already proven hits by ordering a sequel series to their legendary SPARTACUS from Steven S. DeKnight! The next chapter will explore uncharted territory and new journeys of the original series’ iconic characters. In the aftermath of the defeat of Spartacus and his rebel army in the series finale, the new drama will depict a new tale of treachery, deceit, and blood unfolding beneath the foreboding shadow of Rome.  

   THE SWARM TRAILER  

FOR NEW GERMAN SERIES

The Swarm arrives this March in Europe

Last summer I showed you the first trailer for German ZDF high end ambitious sf series THE SWARM which our dear Beta Film is distributing around the world, and now we have a new trailer and March 6th air date. Nordic, Italian, Austrian, Swiss and French broadcasters will also take part in this European coproduction which will also stream on Hulu for American audience and will first premiere at Berlinale. The eight part series is an adaption of Frank Schätzing’s novel that has been translated into 25 languages and has Game of Thrones' Frank Doelger as the

It will premiere at Berlinale later this month

executive producer. 

 

  THE GLOBAL 

 environmental thriller is set in the present day, where anomalies and unnatural behavior in marine animals are causing upheaval all over the world. Mysterious events from the depths of the oceans are piling up all over the world: whales are destroying boats, deep-sea crabs are attacking beaches, and mussels are paralyzing container ships.  A previously unknown ice worm is destabilizing continental slopes in the oceans and triggering tsunamis, and a deadly pathogen is spreading in drinking water from the coasts. More and more people in the world are in mortal danger. THE SWARM follows a global group of scientists who come together to tackle one of the biggest challenges mankind has ever faced and go on a life-threatening mission on their own. The traces lead them with their research ship into the eternal ice. They make the chilling discovery that deep at the bottom of the sea resides a collective intelligence which has suffered the ravages of civilization on its habitat - and decided to fight back.

 WHO IS IN THE TEAM?

Leonie Benesch plays the marine biology student Charlie Wagner, who collects ocean current data for her professor Katherina Lehmann (Barbara Sukowa) on the Shetland Islands. Alexander Karim plays Sigur Johanson, who is asked by a Norwegian oil company for a biological report and discovers the dangerous ice worm alongside Tina Lund (Krista Kosonen). While French molecular biologist Cecile Roche (Cecile de France) struggles with a deadly bacterium in drinking water, Canadian whale researcher Leon Anawak (Joshua Odjick) tries to explain the whales' unusually dangerous behavior. The international research team also has data analyst Alicia Delaware (Rosabell Laurenti Sellers), space researcher Samantha Crowe (Sharon Duncan-Brewster) as well as the student Amir (Eidin Jalali) and the Japanese philanthropist Mifune (Takuya Kimura). Alban (Oliver Masucci), captain of the technically sophisticated research ship Thorvaldson, and the diving robotics expert Roscovitz (Klaas Heufer-Umlauf) embark on a daring mission into the eternal ice with the scientists. Our boy Jack Greenlees also stars. In USA the series will air on CW probably in late 2023.