David Farnor | On 09, Dec 2019

Das Boot will return to Sky Atlantic for a second season, with Sky stepping up to become a producer of the show.

Based on the classic film, the show’s first voyage sold to more than 100 territories worldwide, including Hulu in the US, StarzPlay in France and SBS in Australia. It also quickly became the most successful Sky original series ever for Sky Deutschland, as well as being the highest rated launch of a non-Italian Sky original for Sky in Italy, and the most successful non-English Sky original series ever for Sky in the UK.

Now, the series is being taking under Sky’s wing, as a Bavaria Fiction and Sky Deutschland co-production.

Jane Millichip, Chief Commercial Officer, Sky Studios, says: “Sky Deutschland’s phenomenally successful and creatively ambitious evolution of the Das Boot story has proven to be a critical and commercial hit around the world. This deal is a great example of the agile approach Sky Studios is taking to partnership and collaboration with Europe’s top creatives and we are pleased to be working even more closely with our partners at Bavaria Fiction.”

Moritz Polter, Oliver Vogel and Jan S. Kaiser, Executive Producers for Bavaria Fiction, comment: “Sky Deutschland has been an outstanding partner from day one and we’re now more than thrilled to have Sky Studios on board of Das Boot as well, working together with us on this important franchise.”

Directed by Andreas Prochaska (The Dark Valley, A Day for a Miracle), Season 1 began in the Autumn of 1942 with two storylines running parallel on land and at sea. U-612 with their new commander Klaus Hoffmann (Rick Okon) was ready for its maiden voyage and the crew had to cope with the cramped and claustrophobic conditions under water, as they were physically and mentally pushed to their limits. Meanwhile, at the port of La Rochelle, the world of Simone Strasser (Vicky Krieps) spiralled out of control as she was engulfed in a dangerous liaison and forbidden love, torn between her loyalty for Germany and the Resistance.

Season 2 pairs together three tension-fueled storylines with intensive character studies exploring how the human soul can become twisted by war. It’s now December 1942, and U-boat ace Johannes von Reinhartz (Clemens Schick) is handed a new secret mission to transport three saboteurs to the US East Coast on board U-822. When his loyalty is questioned, U-612 – with its CO Wrangel (Stefan Konarske) – is sent in pursuit.

Having escaped certain death out on the Atlantic, former U-612 CO Hoffmann (Rick Okon) finds shelter in New York with Sam Greenwood (Vincent Kartheiser), who owes his life to Hoffmann. He meets sleazy German-born lawyer Berger (Thomas Kretschmann), but will Berger help Hoffmann to return home and clear his name?

Back in La Rochelle, Simone (Vicky Krieps) and her roommate Margot (Fleur Geffrier) battle to secure an escape route for a Jewish family, but Forster (Tom Wlaschiha), Head of the Gestapo, is watching their every move.

The second season is directed by Matthias Glasner (Blochin, Der Freie Wille) and Rick Ostermann (Wolfskinder). It is written by head writer Colin Teevan (Rebellion), Tim Loane, Matthias Glasner, and Laura Grace; directors of photography are David Luther and Philipp Blaubach.

New cast members include Clemens Schick (Casino Royale), Thomas Kretschmann (Avengers: Age of Ultron), Rochelle Neil (Terminator: Dark Fate), Ulrich Matthes (The Downfall), Paul Bartel (Les Petits Princes), Michael McElhatton (Game of Thrones), and Sebastian Hülk (The White Ribbon), who join returning cast members, including Vicky Krieps (Phantom Thread), who was awarded the Golden Nymph from the Monte-Carlo TV Festival and the German TV Award as Best Actress for her performance in Season 1, Tom Wlaschiha (Game of Thrones), Rick Okon (Tatort) and Vincent Kartheiser (Mad Men).

Das Boot is produced with the support of Creative Europe – Media Programme of the European Union, TRIP, the Czech State Cinematography Fund and the Malta Film Commission.

Season 2 will air on Sky Atlantic in 2020.

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