Das Boot Feature Film Set for TV Sequel on Sky

MUNICH: Sky Deutschland and Bavaria Film are developing an eight-part series about World War II that will serve as a sequel to the 1981 epic film Das Boot.

Based on the novels Das Boot (The Boat) and Die Festung (The Fortress) from Lothar-Günther Buchheim, the series will pick up following the events at the end of the movie. It will focus on the submarine warfare that takes place from 1942 onward, after the crew of the U 96 returns to La Rochelle, delivering primarily a German perspective but also looking at the events from the view of the French Resistance and the Allied Forces. The budget is set at around 25 million euros.

Head writers on the project are Tony Saint and Johannes W. Betz
. The series is slated to air on Sky in Germany, Austria, the U.K., Ireland and Italy

 in 2018. Oliver Vogel and Moritz Polter are executive producing for Bavaria Film.

Dr. Christian Franckenstein, CEO of Bavaria Film, noted, “Today, more than ever before, anti-war stories need to be told. The notions of war and terror are ubiquitous. The misguided actions of young men driven to commit acts of terror by false ideologies are obvious. The 1981 film Das Boot is unique, and we are approaching our work with the greatest of respect for this masterpiece. We want to build on the strong brand of Das Boot and continue telling the story in a contemporary manner by making use of every filmmaking and storytelling technique available to us today.”

Carsten Schmidt, CEO of Sky Deutschland, added, With Das Boot—The Series, we have once again found a subject matter that fits Sky perfectly and will excite our customers. We are looking forward to the creative development process. Das Boot—The Series is the next step into the field of original fictional productions at Sky, and others will follow. Sky consistently continues its transformation into an entertainment brand for the entire family.”