David Farnor | On 21, Nov 2018

The creators of Netflix’s Dark may have a second season to make, but they’re already setting sail on a new series.

Jantje Friese and Baran bo Odar inked an overall deal with the streaming giant earlier this year – Netflix’s first European overall series deal, after a string of high-profile deals with US talent such as Shonda Rhimes and Ryan Murphy.

Now, they’ve revealed the details of their first project under that deal. The pair will head into topical waters for the tale of a migrant steamboat in the 1890s. Heading from London to New York, the passengers hail from across Eirppe, united by their dreams for a new century on a new continent. But when they encounter another ship adrift at sea, they find that coming to America isn’t that easy, as dreams turn into a horrifying nightmare.

“What really made us connect to this idea was the concept of having a truly European show with a mixed cast from different countries,” say Friese and Baran bo Odar. “At its heart is the question of what unites us and what divides us — and how fear can be a trigger for the latter.”

Kelly Luegenbiehl, Netflix’s VP Originals, Europe & Africa, adds: ”We are excited to announce this second project with Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese. The fact that this concept is so radically different from Dark is a true testament to their creativity and versatility as creators, and we are excited to continue this journey with them.”

The new show follows the success of German thriller Dark, which saw a tale of two kids disappearing grow into a global hit, becoming Netflix’s most-watched non-English-language original series. The streaming giant swiftly renewed it for a second season, noting its “unexpected fandom” in countries such as Chile, Bangladesh and Canada – for every hour watched in Germany, nine hours were watched internationally. Season 2 is in production for a 2019 release.

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