Movies / News
Unprecedented Ambition: Apple TV+ Dives Into A Megaproject Based On A Successful 14-part Book Series
Jack Lowden stars in Apple TV+'s new crime series adaptation of the popular book series, which has attracted significant attention.
British actor Jack Lowden, known for his role in Slow Horses, takes the lead in a new crime series currently in production at Apple TV+. The series is based on Metropolis, the final book in the globally successful Berlin Noir series by author Philip Kerr. Set in the vibrant yet tense Berlin of 1928, moral boundaries blur, and violence in both street and politics escalates.
The Berlin Noir series, which consists of a total of fourteen parts, has achieved great commercial success internationally. The stories follow Bernie Gunther, a policeman trying to navigate the rapidly changing Germany during the interwar period. Translations have appeared in many countries, particularly achieving high sales figures in the United Kingdom and the United States, receiving praise from crime authors like Michael Connelly and Lee Child. The book Metropolis, released just before Kerr’s death in 2018, serves as a prequel and is now the basis for the series.
The story of Metropolis begins as Bernie Gunther is transferred to the notorious Murder Squad in Berlin. While hunting a serial killer targeting marginalized groups, political tensions and social unrest drive the city toward the inevitable. The Nazis are not yet a direct factor, but their rise is palpable. Gunther constantly balances between justice and survival.
Peter Straughan (Conclave) writes the screenplay and acts as showrunner. The direction is in the hands of Tom Shankland (House of Guinness). The series is produced by Bad Wolf and Playtone, the production company of Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman. They previously collaborated with Apple on the series Masters of the Air.
With Berlin Noir, Apple is once again securing a prestigious book series, following adaptations of works such as Pachinko and Slow Horses. The choice of Lowden as Gunther aligns with expectations, given his previous success with the streamer. Filming will take place in Berlin and is expected to start in the fall of 2025.
The Berlin Noir series, which consists of a total of fourteen parts, has achieved great commercial success internationally. The stories follow Bernie Gunther, a policeman trying to navigate the rapidly changing Germany during the interwar period. Translations have appeared in many countries, particularly achieving high sales figures in the United Kingdom and the United States, receiving praise from crime authors like Michael Connelly and Lee Child. The book Metropolis, released just before Kerr’s death in 2018, serves as a prequel and is now the basis for the series.
Berlin Before The Storm
The story of Metropolis begins as Bernie Gunther is transferred to the notorious Murder Squad in Berlin. While hunting a serial killer targeting marginalized groups, political tensions and social unrest drive the city toward the inevitable. The Nazis are not yet a direct factor, but their rise is palpable. Gunther constantly balances between justice and survival.
Peter Straughan (Conclave) writes the screenplay and acts as showrunner. The direction is in the hands of Tom Shankland (House of Guinness). The series is produced by Bad Wolf and Playtone, the production company of Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman. They previously collaborated with Apple on the series Masters of the Air.
Apple Plays It Safe Again
With Berlin Noir, Apple is once again securing a prestigious book series, following adaptations of works such as Pachinko and Slow Horses. The choice of Lowden as Gunther aligns with expectations, given his previous success with the streamer. Filming will take place in Berlin and is expected to start in the fall of 2025.
